When people feel connected to aquatic life and the oceans — known as marine identity — it can help society’s relationship with the seas, according to a study published in the journal People and Nature.
An international team of researchers, led by Dr Pamela Buchan from the University of Exeter, met to discuss marine identity – based on testimony and photos from multiple countries. They found many common cultural themes, including traditions and dependency on the ocean for recreation, entertainment, livelihoods, and sustenance. However, there were also some differences, including negative ways the ocean can influence people’s identities, particularly for those at risk from extreme weather.
According to the group, marine identity is “an identity rooted in how the ocean as a place supports the sense of self.” This is the first time a group of researchers has agreed on an international, cross-cultural definition of marine identity.
“Challenge 10 of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) calls for the restoration of society’s relationship with the ocean,” said Dr Pamela Buchan, a marine social science researcher. “We know identity drives people more than values – and people react to threats to their sense of self. As a result, marine identity could have a powerful impact on protecting and restoring the ocean. While many people feel deeply connected to the ocean, they may not think of this in terms of ‘marine identity.’”
By clearly defining the term, the team hopes to promote “marine citizenship,” where people are encouraged to be involved in marine decision-making and take responsibility for the ocean.
“We can foster this by encouraging easy access to the ocean for everyone, from a young age. “In the UK, for example, as an island nation, many people have a strong marine identity – but often the sea is seen as something remote, to visit then retreat from,” said Dr Buchan. “We see conservation and management of marine resources as a matter for government policy, and we do not have policies that directly enable local stewardship. We hope our research will help strengthen the concept of marine identity, empower people to protect the ocean, and encourage decision-makers to actively consider the relationships that people have with the sea.”
Buchan P, Glithero L, McKinley E, Strand M, Champion G, te al. (2024) A transdisciplinary co-conceptualisation of marine identity. People and Nature, https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10715