Ocean Literacy
Ocean literacy is an understanding of the ocean’s influence on you and your influence on the ocean.
An ocean-literate person:
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understands the essential principles and fundamental concepts about the ocean;
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can communicate about the ocean in a meaningful way; and
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is able to make informed and responsible decisions regarding the ocean and its resources.
Principles
There are seven Essential Principles of Ocean Literacy comprising 45 Fundamental Concepts.
The National Marine Educators Association have more details on the the Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts which can be viewed here:
https://www.marine-ed.org/ocean-literacy/overview
This talented bunch have also developed an Ocean Literacy Guide Ocean Literacy Framework to fulfill and go beyond the Next Generation Science Standards. It provides a vision for a coherent progression of learning about the ocean from the earliest grades up through integrated science courses at middle and high school, and even into college.
Earth has one big ocean with many features
The ocean makes the earth habitable
The ocean is largely unexplored
The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of the earth
The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems
The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate
The ocean and humans are inextricably connected