ocean & Society survey
Welcome to the Ocean & Society Survey (OSS)
The OSS is a collaborative research tool designed to answer two key questions:
- How do people around the world connect with and value the ocean?
- What influences peoples’ interests and concerns about the ocean, and their willingness and capacity to take action for the ocean?
What is the goal?
To administer the survey in at least 100 countries by 2030 to better understand public ocean perceptions, specifically how people understand, value, and/or engage with the ocean.
Why does it matter?
By understanding the connections between people and the ocean, we can better identify what motivates people’s behaviour, what helps them take action, and what might get in the way. These insights can help guide, for example, ocean communication strategies, effective community engagement practices, and broader ocean decision-making and investments in ways that consider peoples’ lived experiences and realities.
Who is it for?
The survey is designed to support the interests of a wide range of users – whether ocean researchers, communicators, educators, and/or policymakers.
At the same time, we are striving for the survey to be administered in 100 countries before 2030, starting with 20+ before the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in June, 2025. To achieve these goals, we seek support from:
✔ Organizations & Nonprofits
✔ Community Practitioners
✔ Academic Institutions
✔ Governments & Agencies
✔ Businesses & Foundations
The survey is tailored to respondents age 18 years and older, and it can be adapted for various cultures, languages, and contexts.
Please see Administration section below for more detail.
Countdown to UNOC 2025
Why get involved?
- Mobilize shared resources: Contribute data to an open-access database on how people understand, value, and/or engage with the ocean over time and across global regions (i.e., track ocean literacy progress);
- Collaborate and exchange: Join a global team of transdisciplinary researchers and partners to identify regional and global insights;
- Enhance decision-making and advocacy: Use evidence-based insights to inform people-centred and solution-focused ocean campaigns, engagement initiatives, decision-making, and investments .
Contact us with any questions: jen@colcoalition.ca (Jen McRuer, Research Manager, Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition, Lead Coordinator of the OSS)
Participating Countries since January 2025
Canada, US, UK, Brazil, Spain, Norway, Finland, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, New Zealand, Indonesia, India, South Africa, Bangladesh, Senegal, Tanzania, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Cabo Verde, Sweden, France
How to access the OSS?
After exploring the OSS guidebook sections below, interested users can access the OSS by completing and submitting a short form. Our team will contact you to discuss administration-specific needs and next steps.
OSS Coordination and partners
- Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition (Dalhousie University) – Jen McRuer and Diz Glithero
- Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC) – Jordi F. Pagès
- Communications INC – Natalie Hart, Sophie Hulme, and Eliott Barfield
- Connecticut Sea Grant and University of Connecticut – Diana Payne
- Fundaçäo Grupo Boticário – Janaina Bumbeer
- Instituto do Mar–Universidade Federal de São Paulo – Ronaldo Christofoletti and Ivan Machado Martins (early contributions from Bárbara Pinheiro and Marilia Bueno Fernandes)
- IOC-UNESCO and Research for Purpose Ltd – Vinicius Lindoso
- Lawrence Hall of Science – Craig Strang
- MarSocSci and Cardiff University – Emma McKinley
- Ocean Conservation Trust – Nicola Bridge
- Nordlandsforskning, Nordland Research Institute – Liz Morris-Webb
- Simon Fraser University – David Zandvliet
- University of Gothenburg – Géraldine Fauville
