All Aboard for Ocean Literacy: Marine Outdoor Environmental Learning in the South West of England

Abstract

The ocean and seas are emerging as a new focus for environmental concern both globally and locally with issues such as rising sea temperatures, increasing levels of acidity and pollution alongside declining biodiversity and shifting baselines in fisheries. This chapter advocates a ‘marine outdoor environmental learning’ (MOEL) approach with the synergistic goals of enhancing: human-marine connectedness; human well-being (physical and mental); and ‘Ocean Literacy’. The chapter first considers the opportunities and challenges of promoting MOEL before going on to outline one initiative that attempts to do this—Ocean Discoverability, a programme combining sailing with marine science and awareness of maritime activities for young people with special needs.