Open letter: A call to celebrate and advance ocean education on 21 May

Open letter: A call to celebrate and advance ocean education on 21 May | Photo: Tim Marshall

To educational communities, media, civil authorities, and ocean guardians in Colombia, Latin America, and around the world.

21 May is not just another date on the calendar; it is the echo of a wave that began in 2021, when over 15 countries participated in the First Latin American Ocean Education Meeting, led by the Latin American Network for Ocean Education, RELATO OCÉANO. Since then, this day has become a celebration of ocean awareness and a space to envision a bluer, fairer, and more connected future.

As a marine educator and changemaker, these words are written with the firm belief that ocean education must begin in childhood and adolescence. Today, the world faces a triple crisis of awareness: misinformation, lack of interest, and ignorance concerning the ocean. Despite living on a blue planet, humanity often behaves as if the sea were not an essential part of life.

Oceanographer Sylvia Earle expressed it wisely: “We need to respect the oceans and take care of them as if our lives depend on it. Because they do.” At Proyecto Acuática, education is seen as the compass that can guide us towards a thriving ocean. For this reason, all are invited to join this educational journey.

An urgent call is made to:

• Integrate ocean literacy into school curricula through playful, scientific experiences that spark curiosity and a love for the sea.

• Actively involve children and young people in marine conservation and exploration projects rooted in local realities.

• Build strong alliances between schools, organisations, authorities, and communities—because everything is connected, and collective inspiration is needed, like a school of fish.

As Francesca Santoro of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission warns: “We are at a critical moment and must urgently integrate the ocean into education policies. Only by expanding access to ocean knowledge and fostering a culture of care can we empower communities to face the major challenges of our time.”

Yolanda Sánchez, president of RELATO, reinforces this message: “Ocean education is essential to reconnect people with the sea and inspire actions that ensure its conservation.”

On 21 May 2025, all are invited to take an active part in this wave of change. Share, teach, create, speak out. Every action matters, and every voice contributes to this collective mission for a living, known, and cared-for ocean.

With hope, commitment, and the power to dream of an ocean that truly belongs to all.