Ocean Literacy as a Socioscientific Issue for Hope in the Anthropocene

The influence of humans is markedly changing Earth systems, including ocean. Ocean literacy (OL) is a critical socioscientific issue, drawing attention to the ethical dimension of our relationship with the world’s oceans. As human activities such as overfishing, plastic pollution, and climate change continue to degrade marine ecosystems, it becomes clear that our ethical responsibilities extend beyond merely understanding the ocean’s role in the Earth’s system. Focusing on OL as a socioscientific issue supports individuals and societies to address questions of fairness, justice, and the equitable distribution of resources, particularly in the context of communities heavily impacted by ocean-related challenges. Empowering young people with OL in schools is fundamental for making them conscious of ocean problems and equipping them with tools to carry out actions that help to protect the ocean. This chapter presents a framework for OL as a socioscientific issue for Hope in the Anthropocene, and a brief overview on the current state of SSI and OL in our respective countries, Spain and Cyprus. Based on this framework, a learning sequence on OL to engage pre-service teachers with the topic of white pellet pollution is provided. The moral importance of OL is discussed, addressing some implications on research, practice, and policy.