The importance of marine ecosystem health and marine resources has been increasingly recognised, most significantly in its inclusion in the SDGs (SDG14). The ocean acts as a carbon sink, as a source of livelihood, nutrition... [ view full abstract ]
The importance of marine ecosystem health and marine resources has been increasingly recognised, most significantly in its inclusion in the SDGs (SDG14). The ocean acts as a carbon sink, as a source of livelihood, nutrition and food security, and as the source of potential for a ‘blue economy’ that includes sustainable fisheries, marine renewable energy resources, eco-tourism and traditional ways of life. Threats to marine ecosystem health and the livelihoods dependent on it include overfishing; illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing; ocean acidification, sea-level rise, ocean warming and coral bleaching; and loss of social cohesion in coastal communities resulting in trafficking, piracy, terrorism and poaching. An adequate response requires an approach to education that fosters appropriate knowledge and understanding, skills and applications, values and attitudes, as well as commitment to remedial action. Recently, the Commonwealth Secretariat has developed a draft Commonwealth Curriculum Framework for the SDGs (CCF4SDGs) for consideration by education ministers at the 20th Commonwealth Conference of Education Ministers (20CCEM) in Fiji in 2018.
This paper will consider the development of the CCF4SDGs and the role of education in securing the transition towards sustainable marine resource use and conservation, the foundation for consensus-building, and long-term sustainable use. The importance of critical evaluation skills, ecosystem understanding, evidence-based management practices, the ability to communicate effectively and exercise voice in policy participation are all important in consensus-building and developing solutions. These need to be underpinned by respect for the value of healthy ecosystems and the services these provide, resulting in support for related policy measures and empathy with those dependent on ocean resources for their livelihoods and ways of life, and an appreciation of the culture of traditional fishing communities.
