AAEE - Australian Association for Environmental Education

Ocean Literacy

The 7 Ocean Literacy Principles

Ocean Literacy means understanding the ocean’s influence on you and your influence on the ocean. There are 7 principles of Ocean Literacy — ideas scientists and educators agree everyone should understand about the ocean. Join the Network to build a more ocean literate society!

SeaWeek is Australia's major national public awareness campaign to focus community awareness, provide information and encourage an appreciation of the sea. SeaWeek gives us a fantastic opportunity to promote educational issues of relevance to the marine environment.

  1. The Earth has one big ocean with many features.
  2. The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of Earth.
  3. The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.
  4. The ocean makes Earth habitable.
  5. The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.
  6. The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.
  7. The ocean is largely unexplored.

To learn more about the Ocean Literacy principles, visit Oceans IQ and Ocean Literacy in Australasia, visit the Marine Stewardship Council's website, read our 2021 ozEEnews stories and/or visit the Ocean Literacy for All website.

The 7 Ocean Literacy Principles poster

"The 7 Ocean Literacy Principles" poster available as a free download in our resources section.

1

The Earth has one big ocean with many features.

2

The ocean and life in the ocean shapes the features of the Earth.

3

The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.

4

The ocean makes the Earth habitable.

5

The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.

6

The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.

7

The ocean is largely unexplored.