By Elizabeth Mills, Young Sea Changers Scotland
“50% of young people do not understand how the ocean impacts them or in turn how they impact the ocean.”
In February 2025, Back to Blue released their findings from a global ocean literacy survey of over 3,500 responses aged 18-24 and highlighted what they referred to as the ‘great disconnect’ between young people and our seas. Ocean literacy is defined as the understanding of the ocean’s influence on us and our influence on the ocean.
All young people deserve to be able to connect, learn and be heard in spaces where decisions are made around our seas. This blog reflects on what environmental organisations can learn from this study to help address this gap for the young people of Scotland.
It’s so important to ensure we have high levels of ocean literacy among young people as they will inherit our seas. Only with an ocean literate society can we truly understand how important healthy and resilient seas are for our society and how we can restore and protect them for future generations.
One of our Young Sea Changers Scotland members, Cat Ferguson, reflects on one barrier to this:
“It isn’t mandatory in school to understand how interconnected our health is with the planet’s. The reliance of fish stocks, clean water and a regulated climate on the continued stability of our ocean system risks never being discussed in some circles or being lost in the mass of information bombarding young minds.”
For those working in the environmental sector, it is sometimes easy to take for granted how much access to knowledge surrounding our oceans we have, how easily we are often invited into spaces to learn more, input on decisions and are supported to do so by our organisations. But with this access to knowledge, we must also ensure that others, particularly those who are often underrepresented in those areas, including young people, are given opportunities and space to engage with science and nature.
The Back to Blue survey found that around half of young people rely on print media, social media and film for ocean information, while only around one in three turn to educational courses. But these statistics also highlight a great opportunity for environmental organisations to help address the ocean knowledge gap through sharing ocean-related content on their social media platforms. Well-curated and engaging educational content can spark young people’s curiosity into what is going on beneath the waves and motivate them to take action. As Cat concludes, “with the increase in social media use and trends, there are opportunities to take ocean and planet health to the forefront of young people’s minds.”
But knowledge does not automatically lead to behaviour change. Access to – and connection with – our oceans is just as crucial.
“As a young person, your mind is pulled in a hundred different directions when navigating the transition from teenage years to adulthood. Finding time and opportunities to visit or cultivate appreciation and understanding for the ocean is difficult when you’re only just managing in so many other areas” Cat highlights. The Back to Blue survey found that 38% of people cited lack of time, 35% lack of transportation and 25% lack of opportunity barriers to connect with the ocean.
This has implications then for support for ocean action. As the old saying goes, “you can’t protect what you don’t love.” That’s why at YSCS we have launched the Youth Ocean Action Fund to support activities that foster connection, community, and creativity, as well as opportunities to become upskilled in marine advocacy.
As Cat powerfully shared: “I sometimes consider it to be quite difficult for me to engage with the ocean in a way that isn’t dread. So many conversations surrounding the ocean and climate focus on everything that is wrong, but the majority of my love for the deep blue has been cultivated quietly and with the privilege of spending lots of time there as a child. Even in Glasgow, not far from the sea, many children and young people hardly see it, let alone have time to worry about the problems facing it. With no time to create a bond with our seas, and the narratives being predominantly negative, why would young people spend hard-earned money and time on it?”
This reflection gets to the heart of the issue: if young people aren’t given the time, tools, and space to build a meaningful relationship with the ocean, how can we expect them to care for it?
I encourage everyone to read the rest of Black to Blue report, which offers a powerful breakdown of the gaps between young people and ocean literacy. We have a collective responsibility to bridge this gap by removing the barriers and pressures that have led to the ‘great disconnect’. Every organisation in this space has the chance to lead the way in making ocean engagement more accessible and empowering.
And personally, when I too feel discouraged about the future of our oceans, I only have to look at my experience engaging with young people through my work at YSCS. I have seen first hand how powerful it can be to support and uplift young people. It is much easier to see hope for our oceans knowing the next generation is stepping up with the skills and support to make change.