the decade of ocean science
began in 2021, designed by UNESCO and the UN as a shared, global effort that builds on decades of achievements in ocean science: a framework dedicated to “The science we need for the ocean we want.”
The Ocean Decade is rooted in the fact that the Ocean holds the keys to an equitable and sustainable planet.
It is pioneering transformative ocean science solutions for sustainable development, connecting people and our ocean.
As a way to join, I created “Citizens of Surf”. This is a long term strategy for surfers to engage in Ocean science and conservation, and in Dec 2021, Citizens of Surf was endorsed as an official Ocean Decade Activity.
Citizens of Surf
aims to equip surfers with the knowledge, understanding, support and tools to become active and engaged citizen scientists.
With 35+ million people known to immerse themselves in breaking waves on a global scale, Citizens of Surf will connect recreational Ocean users to Ocean science, so they can contribute toward the Ocean Decade and help achieve “The Science We Need; for the Ocean We Want”. Citizens of Surf’s longterm vision of transforming 35 million surfers into citizen scientists by 2030, will play a significant part in creating a step change in humanity’s relationship with the ocean.
Our Ocean Decade strategy has four key objectives, which will be delivered across five sequential phases:
key objectives
highlighting synergies
where recreational ocean users and surf ecosystems meet Ocean science - bridging the gap between surfers and scientists. We will focus on three key areas: climate change, marine plastic pollution and biodiversity, and use ocean literacy as a common language.
formiing alliances
Once we have established networks between potential partners, we aim to design collaborative, participatory (short and long term) research projects. This will directly involve and engage surf communities across the world, within the scope of the three research areas.
models making sense
The Ocean Literacy framework helps us understand the knowledge accumulated whilst surfing regarding ocean, coastal, weather and wave processes, whilst the social-ecological systems framework breaks down how that knowledge is accumulated.
Science needs data
We are using surf specific tools that can collect, conduct and drive research in our three key areas. We’ll be piloting methodology such as: eOceans app, Smartfin, surf manta trawl and green gravel, and developing baseline studies so we can start monitoring surf ecosystems, and continue those studies over longer timelines.
Key phases
phase one: PUBLISHED PAPERs
In the absence of any scientific literature on this subject, our primary task was to provide scientific evidence of how surfing is a complex and dynamic social-ecological system and mechanism for ocean literacy.
Paper One: Ocean Literacy and Surfing: Understanding How Interactions in Coastal Ecosystems Inform Blue Space User’s Awareness of the Ocean (May, 2021)
Link: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Sports and Health: Attitudes and Issues in Creating Sustainability within the Mountain Biking and Surfing Communities)
Paper Two: Supporting Sustainable Development Goal 14 “Life Below Water” through understanding surfing communities with a Social-Ecological Systems lens: How do Ocean Users fit into SDG14 and the Ocean Decade? (Dec, 2021)
Link: “Higher Education and SDG 14: Integrating Ocean Research for the Global Goals” This unique publication, a joint project between the University of Bergen, Lead in the IAU HESD Cluster for SDG 14, and the IAU, includes 11 papers with concrete examples of meaningful research, strategies, initiatives and projects 6 strengthening ocean science, education, and the links between SDG 14 and other SDGs.
Status: COMPLETE
phase two: SURF FILM
Citizens of Surf partnered with surf retreat Soul & Surf to produce a short documentary called The Convergence Zone. The film introduces the #7 Ocean Literacy Principles, along with the connection between surfing and ocean literacy. Surfers are the target audience, and it was made to inspire them to think about their own ocean awareness, and highlight community engagement opportunities where they might get involved with the Decade of Ocean Science. The Convergence Zone was recently shared on the Ocean Decade Instagram.
Status: COMPLETE
From @theoceanagency image bank
phase three
Building partnerships is key to designing participatory and multidisciplinary projects, with scope to scale up smaller pilots to reach the global surf community. This phase will focus on connecting the UN's Decade of Ocean Science to surf ecosystem research, surfing NGO’s and coastal communities with shared visions. A “Citizens of Surf” cohort, made up of interdisciplinary surfing scientific experts, will help guide the project from the field of ocean literacy to marine citizen engagement.
In December 2021, Citizens of Surf learnt of a funding opportunity through the surfing scientist cohort email thread. We then formed a coalition between x4 Portuguese organisations, compiled an extensive proposal, applied for the funding and in March 2022 we were successful grant recipients! Head over to the ReGeneration Surf website to learn more about the project, the partners and our activities.
phase four
Citizens of Surf is currently seeking opportunities to develop a specialised and longer term phd research project testing the feasibility of citizen science data, collected by surfers within surf ecosystems. The three main areas include:
Climate change indicators
Microplastic contamination
Biodiversity loss
Status: IN PROCESS
From @theoceanagency image back
phase five
The final stage will include integration and implementation of further research studies, an educational/awareness media campaign and a global surfing citizen science programme that monitors Ocean Health indicators within surf ecosystems across International locations.
Status: STARTS 2025
Say hello to the Citizens of Surf cohort
Coming soon!