Join the EMSEA Masterclass for an insightful session on Ocean literacy, policy and community voices.

This Masterclass builds further on one aspect of another of the key topics from our annual conference in Zadar 2024: "Ocean literacy and Education".

Much excellent work has been done over the years in conveying the key concepts of Ocean Literacy, through both formal in informal education, especially with young people. There has also been a long tradition of marine projects and initiatives that strive to empower local communities in influencing marine decision-making processes, from local to national and international levels.

We believe that the most sustainable marine policies are those which have 'buy in', ownership and agency from those communities that the policies will impact. From fishers to beach walkers, local businesses to community groups and all marine-users in between, all voices should be encouraged and supported to participate from the outset.

This masterclass will first explore the work of the Scottish Wildlife Trust in delivering the Oceans of Value project, which took an innovative, social-science approach to amplifying community voices in local and national marine planning policies. As well as sharing learning from the project, including successes and challenges, the Trust will discuss how its outcomes have shaped a new ocean literacy project called Sea the Connection.

Through an interactive workshop, attendees will then have the opportunity to share their own challenges and successes from previous, current and new community projects from across Europe which have striven to meaningfully impact policy change and increase ocean literacy. We will together discuss some of the best practices we are already putting into action and reflect on the key challenges that still lay ahead. Attendees are encouraged to bring the details of their own projects to share at the meeting through links to their own websites and/or published literature.

Our members, Elouise Dalziel from the Scottish Wildlife Trust and Dr. Mark Ward (EMSEA Board Member) from Somerset Wildlife Trust will guide you through this inspirational session.