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Barbados’ Ocean Literacy: Educating and Inspiring Future Generations

November 15, 2024 por Donna King-Brathwaite - Renice Medford - Jennifer Doherty-Bigara Leave a Comment


Following the Debt for Nature Conversion in 2022, the IDB continues to support the Marine Spatial Planning Process of Barbados; one key milestone and fundamental pillar is Ocean Literacy.

Did you know that the ocean produces over half of the world’s oxygen? Yet, despite its critical role, our understanding of the ocean remains limited. The ocean has become a critical player given the increased interest in blue economy, blue carbon, and debt for nature transactions targeting marine protected areas, amongst other topics. This is why, in today’s world, ocean literacy plays a crucial role in increasing the understanding of this ecosystem as well as its importance and, therefore, the need to protect our oceans and marine resources. From the intricate organisms that thrive beneath the surface to the challenges facing marine life due to human activities, being knowledgeable about the ocean is essential for creating a sustainable future. Whether you are a student, a teacher, or simply someone who cares about the environment, here’s why ocean literacy matters and how we can all make a positive contribution to our marine environment.

Understanding Marine Ecosystems

Ocean literacy allows us to appreciate the beauty and complexity of oceans. The underwater world is brimming with a diversity of life forms, from colorful coral reefs to majestic whales. Having a level of understanding about how these ecosystems function is key to our ability to conserve them. By learning about marine biodiversity and the interconnectedness of species, we can develop a deeper respect for the ocean and all its inhabitants.

Furthermore, ocean literacy provides us with the knowledge needed to address the various threats facing our oceans today. Pollution, overfishing, climate change, and habitat destruction are just some of the challenges that marine life faces, and without a basic understanding of these issues, it is impossible to take effective action.

It has been shown that campaigns such as those launched on World Oceans Day, have fostered a sense of global stewardship and have increased engagement levels in conservation activities by 50%.

The literature suggests that increased ocean literacy intervention directly correlates with behavioral changes regarding ocean-friendly behavior, with one study reporting a 30% increase in actions such as reducing single-use plastics and advocating for sustainable seafood choices.

By educating ourselves and others about the importance of ocean conservation, we can work towards implementing sustainable practices and policies that will protect marine ecosystems for future generations.

Marine Education in 10 Primary Schools in Barbados

It is against this backdrop that the Barbados Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) process in Barbados has been undertaken with the leadership of the Government of Barbados, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Nature Conservancy. The first activity all partners embarked upon was an ocean literacy pilot program for 10 primary schools across Barbados through its Marine Environmental Education (MEE) Workstream. These 10 schools were chosen from among the rural parishes of the island, along with two inner City schools.  

Each school intervention comprised interactive presentations, which introduced the importance of the marine environment, coral reefs as key marine ecosystems and mangroves as associated ecosystems. These classroom interventions were followed by tours to the Folkestone Marine Reserve, and an underwater classroom experience, in partnership with Atlantis Submarines. 

Approximately 400 children between the ages of 8 and 11 years and their teachers -approximately 40 teachers-
were exposed to the Marine Environmental Education as a powerful tool for change. The Marine Spatial Planning’s program on education team emphasized the importance for every individual to understand that they all have a role to play in the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.

Looking Ahead on Ocean Literacy in Barbados

As of now, the Barbados Primary Schools Science Curriculum introduces the marine environment at the junior school level, however, in the absence of teachers trained in the specific subject area, they welcomed the contributions of the team via this MSP-MEE program.

As a result of this program, which included 400 primary school students and 40 teachers, 20 classroom interventions, and a total of 20 field trips across 10 Primary Schools, the responses were positive and augered well for the continuation of such activities. The recipients were encouraged to take on a stewardship role for the protection of the marine environment by participating in marine-based activities through their schools and communities. At the same time, teachers expressed appreciation for the incorporation of marine activities into the science curriculum in a practical and stimulating way as a means of inspiring the next generation of ocean stewards.


Ocean literacy is paramount to our survival in Barbados, a Small Island and Developing State. The ocean not only provides us with food, income, livelihoods, and recreation, but also serves as a source of inspiration and cultural-heritage significance. By fostering a culture of ocean literacy in Barbados, we can ensure that our coastal communities thrive and that our marine resources are protected for years to come.

This experience underlined the need to remember that if we all join forces to learn, educate, and inspire others to take action, we can make a positive impact on the ocean and create a sustainable future for Barbados.

If this blog inspired you, join us on this journey towards ocean literacy, support the development of the Barbados Marine Spatial Plan, and let’s make a difference together!


Filed Under: Climate change, Uncategorized Tagged With: biodiversity, Blue Economy, climate change, oceans, sustainability

Donna King-Brathwaite

Donna is an Environmental Education and Community Engagement Specialist who holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Master of Science in Natural Resource Management, and a certificate in Public Relations. Her extensive knowledge and experience over a thirty-year career in environmental stewardship, marine education, and sustainable living within national and international organizations, allows her to contribute valuable insights to the MSP process. From 2002, she led the Government of Barbados’ Environmental Education Programme, and has been instrumental in the promotion and mainstreaming of environment and sustainable development into Barbados’ education system. Between 2018 and 2022, Donna was seconded to the United Nations and served as the National Coordinator for the Barbados PAGE programme, which resulted in the design, development and implementation of workstreams supported by UNEP, UNDP, UNIDO, ILO and UNITAR, in collaboration with the Government of Barbados.

Renice Medford

Renice, an accomplished Commonwealth Scholar, is a Communications and Sustainability Specialist with a distinction from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. She holds a Master of Laws in International Law and Sustainable Development, focusing on sustainability and climate change. Certified in sustainable tourism and branding, Renice's expertise lies in tourism and environmental conservation. Notably, she has contributed to Barbados' tourism sector's strategic development at the Barbados Tourism Product Authority and the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. Renice is deeply involved in communication for conservation and sustainability projects, collaborating with local, regional, and international agencies to advocate for biodiversity and sustainable resource management. As an entrepreneur, she co-founded VisionaRE Communications Inc., directing sustainability communications. Currently, Renice serves as the Marine Spatial Planning Communications Consultant, aligning her passion for sustainability with her professional endeavors.

Jennifer Doherty-Bigara

Jennifer Doherty-Bigara is a policy advisor and climate change specialist at the Inter-American Development Bank, based in the country office of Barbados. With over ten years of experience in the sustainability agenda, she has mainly focused on climate governance and national and local climate change policies (NDCs, LTS, SDGs), fiscal policy and green budgeting, climate finance and long-term planning exercises with an adaptation approach. Jennifer has gained analytical and operational knowledge advising governments through the coordination of the NDC Invest Platform and afterwards mainstreaming climate change considerations in the IDB portfolio of Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, ensuring the design and implementation of sustainable development projects. She also gained key insights as an external appointee in the Agence Française de Developpement (AFD), coordination the efforts of the Adapt ‘Action Platform in the Gulf of Guinea and the Indian Ocean. She has also worked on climate finance and coordinated fundraising efforts as part of the SECCI Funds, ACL, PROADAPT, and bilateral donations. Jennifer holds a master´s in International Development Policy from the McCourt School of Public Policy (MSPP), University of Georgetown and a Master’s in International Affairs from Sciences Po Toulouse. Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @jdohertybigara @jdohertybigara

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This blog is a space to reflect about the challenges, opportunities and the progress made by Latin American and Caribbean countries on the path towards the region’s sustainable development.

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