ocean & Society survey
- How do people around the world value the ocean?
- What are the mechanisms influencing the behavioural intentions, actions, and commitment of society, in relation to the Ocean; including motivators, enablers, and barriers?
Our Goal? To co-administer the survey across countries and over time, to inform how public perceptions, values, attitudes, and behavioral intentions toward the ocean are changing.
Why it matters? With a common framework for monitoring change, we can shape timely, evidence-based approaches that drive purposeful action and support an ocean-literate society.
Who can use it? Researchers, practitioners, communicators, and decision-makers across various sectors, including:
✔ Organizations & Nonprofits
✔ Academic Institutions & Researchers
✔ Governments & Policymakers
✔ Businesses & Philanthropic Foundations
Why get involved?
- Contribute local insights to a shared database: Help identify regional trends and patterns that inform ocean research and action.
- Access shared knowledge & resources: Collaborate with an international network of partners to exchange data-driven insights.
- Strengthen decision-making & advocacy: Use real-time public perception data to guide policies and initiatives that mobilize healthy human-ocean relationships.
Long-Term Impact: In the second half of the Ocean Decade (2021-2030), the aim is to have as many countries as possible participate to monitor and understand how public perceptions of the ocean are evolving over time, helping to inform what motivates people to take action–or what holds them back–to go beyond merely raising awareness toward much needed action.
Get Involved Today
- Support the initiative: Help fund or secure funding to administer the survey through our networked public opinion survey platform. While we are working toward a self-administration option, joining the international partner network ensures access to a common platform with comparable datasets, strengthening collective impact.
- Tune into the UN Ocean Conference (June 2025, Nice, France): Hear insights from the first wave of participating countries and learn how this data is shaping global ocean literacy efforts.
- Join the Ocean Literacy Research Community (OLRC): Connect with fellow researchers, practitioners, and communicators to maximize the survey’s impact and share results effectively.
- Stay updated: Bookmark this page for future resources, administration tools, and opportunities to participate.
- Contact us: Have questions? Reach out to Jen McRuer at jen@colcoalition.ca to learn more!
Join us in shaping a future where people everywhere better understand, value, and care for the ocean. 🌊
