World Oceans Day - 'Marine Identity' is officially a thing!

Todays is World Oceans Day (thanks to Stephen Schwab for the reminder!), and a perfect time to think about the concept of 'marine identity', which has been endorsed as part of the UN Ocean Decade.

So what exactly is 'marine identity'?

The concept of 'marine identity' has been suggested by Dr Pamela Buchan, a researcher and marine social scientist at the University of Exeter. She defines it as "an identity formed when a person feels so passionately about the marine environment that they depend on a healthy ocean to support their sense of self".

She argues that it is key to 'marine citizenship' as it encourages people to take action and consider their relationship with the ocean much more, so they can contribute to improving ocean and climate health and sustainability.

The UN Ocean Decade was designated to try to safeguard our marine environments for future generations - this seems particularly apt when the last 12 months have seen numerous reports of sewage being dumped into the seas surrounding the UK, yet as I spent the weekend in Suffolk visiting my parents, seeing the number of swimmers in the sea at Felixstowe reinforced just how important the ocean is for the mental well-being of so many.

Dr Buchan's concept of 'marine identity' is all about transforming humanity’s relationship with the ocean - and is an important one to consider when we think about how we can look after oceans in the future. She argues that this concept being officially recognised and endorsed will improve how we think about the oceans for the better.

You can read more about Dr Buchan and her important work here - https://geography.exeter.ac.uk...

You can read more about the UN's Ocean Decade here - https://oceandecade.org/