Page 156 - Economia Azul - versão: inglês

a basis for innovative and sustainable de- and well-being are related to the coast, content in American school programs. As edge and expanding into dimensions
sign. Directing strategic business planning promoting a blue economy benefits not ocean literacy spread in different cultural that demonstrate the complexity of the
in science, technology and innovation to- only the environment, but brings business and social contexts and research began relationships between society and the
wards ocean science will bring new oppor- and society closer together. on its importance, the concept gained ocean, including knowledge, conscious-
tunities for a long-term transformation that Understanding and strengthening the expression on various continents and the ness, attitudes, communication, activism,
not only benefits ocean sustainability but blue economy demands that all sectors introduction of new perspectives. Initially behavior, emotions, access, experience,
allows for the restoration of commonly ex- involved in the production process of the developed around knowledge and formal trust, transparency and adaptive capacity
ploited land and freshwater resources. blue economy, in the public and private education, ocean literacy has evolved, (BRENNAN et al., 2019; MCKINLEY, BUR-
The behavioral change necessary to sector, such as managers, administrators, moving away from a focus of knowl- DON, 2020).
leverage the circular economy, blue econo- technicians, extractors, processors, market-
my and sustainability involves understand- ing and sales teams, distributors, resellers
ing the business structure, actors involved and consumers understand the concept of Figure 1. The 7 principles of ocean literacy
and communication and engagement pro- the blue economy and its role for sustain-
cesses. The production process is done by ability, sustainable national development
people and for people. The greater the and improved quality of life. Conscious citi- 1. The Earth has one big ocean with many features
recognition of the positive relationship be- zens and professionals will be able to make
tween production and the life of each indi- decisions that value and contribute to the
vidual, the greater the sense of belonging development of the blue economy. In this
and recognition of the benefits of the prod- scenario, the necessary change requires the 2. The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of the Earth
uct. When we think of a society in which promotion of ocean literacy as a tool to in-
most of the population lives in the coastal crease knowledge and the engagement of
zone and the culture of leisure, vacations all sectors of society. 3. The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate

3. Ocean Literacy as a transformation axis
4. The ocean makes the Earth habitable
Ocean literacy can be defined as the un- Ocean literacy is translated from En-
derstanding of the ocean’s influence on our glish to Portuguese as “cultura oceânica”
lives and our actions on the ocean. In this in Brazil or “literacia do oceano” in oth-
way, ocean literacy is an essential concept er lusophone countries. It has a defined 5. The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems
so that all individuals and institutions, near structure with 7 principles (Figure 1),
or far from the sea, can understand their which deal with the different dimensions
relationship with the ocean and make deci- of the ocean and its relationship with the 6. The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected
sions in favor of sustainability. If the strength- planet and society. It also has related con-
ening and promotion of the blue economy cepts, often considered synonymous, such
demand that all sectors involved in the blue as maritime mindset, marine and coast- 7. The ocean is largely unexplored
production chain, including consumers, have al environmental education, and marine
the knowledge for sustainable decision-mak- educommunication.
ing, then the promotion of ocean literacy for Ocean literacy emerged in the US at the
these sectors becomes an essential axis for beginning of this century as a response
the development of the blue economy. to the lack of ocean-related scientific Source: Own elaboration

154 BLUE ECONOMY Ocean Literacy for the Blue Economy 155