Picture this: A group of bright-eyed students, oversized flippers on their feet, stand on the shores of Portland, Jamaica’s fairy-godmother blue waters. They stare at the horizon with wonder and trepidation.
One clutches a snorkel like a magic wand, another insists, “Mi nah go in deh!”
“Why?” I ask.
“Sea full a monster, Miss!”
And there it is, a stark reminder of our disconnection from the ocean, tangled in myths and inherited trauma. Despite breathtaking coastlines, many Caribbean people lack ocean literacy. Why can’t most Jamaicans swim in a nation dubbed the land of wood and water? Could the scars of the transatlantic slave trade have left us with historical amnesia around water? Statistics show up to 85% of Jamaicans cannot swim, a chilling reality we must change.
Somewhere in the Caribbean Sea, where turquoise waters embrace the sun and secrets swirl like seaweed, a tale of beauty and urgency awaits. For Jamaicans, the ocean is more than a resource, it’s a muse, a lifeline. But do we truly know it? Can we protect what we don’t understand? This question lies at the heart of ocean literacy.
Ocean literacy isn’t just a buzzword; it’s understanding how the ocean influences us and how we influence it. The ocean produces over 50% of our oxygen, regulates the climate, and cradles biodiversity. Yet many young people know more about TikTok trends than the sea sustaining them. The ocean connects Caribbean nations, binding cultures, economies, and ecosystems through shared waters. Enter the Caribbean’s wave-makers, a powerhouse of youth advocates, scientists, and leaders bridging the ocean literacy gap.
Dahvia Hylton: Making waves with the Planet Ocean Campaign
If Jamaica’s youth advocacy had a soundtrack, Dahvia Hylton would be the fiery lead vocalist. As President of the Jamaica Climate Change Youth Council (JCCYC), Dahvia and her team steer the Planet Ocean Campaign, a dynamic initiative that raises awareness about marine ecosystems, plastic pollution, and the threats of climate change.
The International Seabed Authority (ISA), headquartered in Kingston, regulates global international waters and their resources. Meetings with 168 countries have sought to develop regulations for “Deep Sea Mining,” a process foreseen to be extremely detrimental to the environment. The JCCYC, in opposition, has partnered with international bodies like Greenpeace to educate and mobilize resistance. Their deep-sea mining protests, both in-person and virtual, have been bold demonstrations of power.
Reflecting on these efforts, Dahvia states, “I don’t think the facts are resonating. People engage initially, but real change requires repeated learning. If ocean literacy were taught well from an early age, we might not be facing these issues today.”
However, rallying consistent support for protests has been challenging.
“Jamaicans think protesting once is enough. No, change requires consistency. We need a revolution. Everyone must get involved.”
Photo credit: Photo © Martin Katz/Greenpeace: Solidarity on the waterfront: the 28th Session of the International Seabed Authority started on March 16 with world delegates gathering in Kingston, Jamaica less than two weeks after the Global Ocean Treaty was agreed at the United Nations.
Ashawnté Russell: Rewriting the narrative of ocean literacy in The Bahamas
Ashawnté Russell, the Caribbean Front Coordinator for the World’s Youth for Climate Justice, has dedicated her work to rewriting young Bahamians’ relationship with the ocean, a relationship marked by fear and disconnect. “In The Bahamas, we have more water than land, yet many youth fear the sea,” she explains. This fear is rooted in historical trauma, passed down from slavery and segregation.
To break this cycle, Ashawnté has partnered with NGOs to incorporate swimming programs into the educational narrative, helping youth reclaim the sea. “We take them to the reef to see where their fish come from,” she shares. But it’s more than just swimming; it’s about healing the emotional weight of water. “Drownings happen almost every other day during summer. We need systemic change.”
Her work extends beyond education. Through collaborations with UNESCO, she’s pushing for climate adaptation programs to be integrated into government policies. “It’s about preparing youth for the future and rewriting the narrative that fear once wrote for us.”
Reanne McKenzie: Empowering youth for ocean conservation in Jamaica
Not all superheroines wear capes; some wear diving suits. Reanne McKenzie, a Trinidad and Tobago native now based in Jamaica, is a marine biologist dedicated to restoring and protecting marine ecosystems. She engages local youth in coral reef restoration, empowering them to become ocean stewards.
“When youth understand the threats to marine ecosystems, they don’t just feel concerned, they want to act,” she says.
Through coral gardening and conservation training, Reanne ensures the next generation is equipped to lead. “The health of our oceans directly affects our economy, food security, and climate.”
Dr. Lorna Inniss: Charting the course with Ocean Literacy for All
Where advocacy meets science, you’ll find Dr. Lorna Inniss, Head of IOC UNESCO and a visionary behind tools like the Ocean Literacy for All Toolkit and A Blue Curriculum. She underscores a stark reality: “We are the generation that must live climate change.”
From storm surges battering coastal communities to coral reefs gasping for survival, the ocean’s distress signals are impossible to ignore. In her Planet Ocean presentation, she emphasized that “the ocean regulates climate… what is going on with climate change in my view is really the ocean being sick. We have damaged the ocean so much that it is no longer able to regulate the climate and weather the way it usually does.”
Her work empowers educators, policymakers, and advocates with accessible resources to integrate ocean education into schools and communities. She envisions a future where a “blue curriculum” is as essential as math or language arts, ensuring Caribbean youth recognize the ocean as a vital, living system rather than just a place for recreation. Through her leadership, she’s shaping this world, and the Caribbean is listening.
Dr. Inniss passionately asserts, “The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected… Without the ocean, we would not be here. We depend on it for food security, particularly in the islands, and now even for many of our medicines.” By reinforcing our deep reliance on the ocean, she calls for collective action to restore its health, ensuring that future generations inherit a thriving marine ecosystem.
sabriya simon: Honoring the ocean’s spirit with gratitude
Jamaican-born and raised partly in Antigua, sabriya simon is a writer, photographer, poet, spiritual herbalist, and curator of sacred healing spaces. In the African Traditional Religion of Ifa, she is a daughter of Yemaya, the mother of all Orishas who dwells in the ocean.
Viewing the ocean as a wise grandmother, she reflects, “We go to the ocean to feel lighter and wash away our burdens, but we rarely say thank you.” Her ritual of writing “thank you” in the sand and allowing the waves to receive it embodies her belief in gratitude as a transformative act—one that shifts people from passive enjoyment to active stewardship.
sabriya imagines shoreline theatrical productions where characters like elders, fishermen, and playful children engage audiences with narratives about human interaction with the ocean. “It will help younger generations build that bridge between cultural storytelling and theatrical humor, creating a different and more involved relationship with the ocean,” she shares. She recalls a moment at Bob Marley Beach when a fisherman, after observing her morning rituals, realized he had never thanked the ocean despite depending on it for his livelihood. Inspired by her practice, he vowed to express gratitude and share more of what he received.
Beyond spiritual reverence, sabriya calls for structural change in beach conservation. While cleanups are necessary, she stresses proactive measures: “There should be individuals paid to monitor beaches… A rule could be: Whatever you bring, you leave with. If warnings are ignored, there should be fines.” She urges people to examine their personal and ancestral relationships with the ocean, addressing fears and accessibility issues. “Once we find the root that needs to be observed and examined, we can then work on the healing that’s needed,” she states, advocating for curated spaces, workshops, and discussions to deepen our connection to the ocean.
Financing climate & gender justice: A missing piece of the puzzle
Climate finance is essential for scaling ocean conservation and climate justice initiatives, enabling coral restoration, blue education, and coastal protection. Small Island Nations, though least responsible for climate change, bear its harshest impacts while struggling with limited resources and external interests exploiting their coastlines. Gender justice is deeply tied to climate justice, as women in coastal and rural areas face heightened risks due to societal norms and economic disparities. Bridging ocean literacy with financial support ensures vulnerable communities, especially women, can lead climate action, adapt, and thrive.
The call to action: Respect the ocean’s voice
The ocean speaks through bleached corals, eroding coastlines, and dwindling fish stocks, yet hope lies in advocates and grassroots leaders driving solutions. The ocean doesn’t need saving, it needs understanding, because once we truly know it, we’ll fight for it as if our lives depend on it. From swimming programs that heal historical fears to climate justice efforts amplifying marginalized voices, a resilient, ocean-conscious future is being shaped. Now, it’s your turn to act: educate yourself, support conservation efforts, and uplift women leading sustainability. Even small waves create mighty ripples.
What will your ripple be?
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This story was published with the support of the Caribbean Climate Justice Journalism Fellowship, which is a joint venture between Climate Tracker and Open Society Foundations.
