Marine ‘identity’ could boost ocean protection

This emotional attachment and “dependency” on the ocean (or thalassophilia) comes from positive experiences and can lead someone to become a “marine citizen”.

Marine citizenship means participating in the transformation of the human-ocean relationship towards sustainability – for example by campaigning for ocean conservation and encouraging others to do so, or by individual action like ethical consumer choices.

The findings come from a PhD thesis by Dr Pamela Buchan, of the University of Exeter, who argues that focusing solely on individual behaviours limits the potential for citizens to get involved in marine environmental issues, and that environmental education could be more effective if it included political and civic elements.

“It’s not so much about educating people to care about the sea, as connecting them with it and supporting them more in civic participation,” Dr Buchan said.

“Many people are concerned about degradation of the ocean, but the most commonly talked about solutions focus on individual consumer actions like eating less fish, buying more sustainable products and re-using plastic.

“Marine citizenship is about more than individual or private choices. The most deeply engaged marine citizens take a risk by putting their values out in the open. They work to help people connect with the sea and create change by bringing people with them.

“Deeply engaged marine citizens even become politically involved in local marine issues and decision-making, such as through local planning consultations, national marine designations and campaigns.”

Dr Buchan said “anyone can be a marine citizen”, and “emotional affinity to the ocean” is the common thread linking a diverse mix of marine citizens.

Dr Buchan has published an accessible report summarising her PhD Thesis, Citizens of the Sea, which is free to read online.