Ocean Literacy is an understanding the ocean’s influence on you and your influence on the ocean. An ocean-literate person understands:
- the essential principles and fundamental concepts about the ocean;
- can communicate about the ocean in a meaningful way; and
- is able to make informed and responsible decisions regarding the ocean and its resources.
There are 7 Principles of Ocean Literacy – ideas scientists and educators agree everyone should understand about the ocean.
Principle 1: The Earth has one big ocean with many features.
Principle 2: The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of Earth.
Principle 3: The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.
Principle 4: The ocean makes the Earth habitable.
Principle 5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.
Principle 6: The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.
Principle 7: The ocean is largely unexplored.
Everything associated with Ocean Literacy has been made freely available in the US and has already been used to address many of the issues that initiated the whole process in that nation. Ocean Literacy, the 7 Principles and the extensive Scope and Sequence are also highly relevant to Australia and Australian marine educators and scientists have full access to all of this great work at http://oceanliteracy.wp2.coexploration.org.