Progress report for
OLIST: Ocean Literacy in Sail Training
Achievement at a glance
Commitment 1: ACHIEVED. The informal meeting was conducted at the Association of Sail Training Organisations conference 2018. It included representatives from seven UK Sail Training organisations. The aim was to feedback findings from the 2017 European Marine Science Educators Association conference and the IOC-UNESCO International Ocean Literacy conference to encourage ways to implement high-level strategies. From this, several Sail Training NGOs adopted showcasing Ocean Literacy principles and SDG14 within their own initiatives. Some implemented Marine Citizen Science activities into the already established programmes. Others have adopted initiatives to educate, promote and actively reduce the use of Single-use plastics.UK and international examples include (but not limited to*):
Challenge Wales
The Island Trust
ABraVela (Portugal)
Tall Ships America (USA)
Sail Training International has reviewed its well-established Blue Flag Scheme (a collaboration with the Foundation of Environmental Education).
Ocean Literacy related sessions have been included in the ASTO UK Sail Training conference proceeding since 2018 and STI conference since at least 2013 (my first attendance).
Commitment 2: ON-TRACK. The book chapter was successfully submitted in August 2018 to the editors to go to print. No further update at this time regarding a publication launch date.
Commitment 3: OFF-TRACK. Due to a significant personal matter, the 2020 target was not achieved. It had been decided to move each incremental deadline forward by one year.
Commitment 4: INACTIVE. The aim is to begin planning in the calendar year Q4 2021/ Q1 2022. The current deadline is based on the principle that it is a secondary duty project alongside my building my new company.
*The organisations identified in this report have provided prior consent to be named. Thus far, IRO of 15 organisations have worked with Ocanie on a variety of Ocean Literacy in Sail Training micro-projects since 2017).
Challenges faced in implementation
The most significant challenge the Managing Director of Ocanie Ltd has been the unforeseen personal circumstances of 2019 that forced a 12-month sabbatical.Another significant challenge appears to be the limited knowledge of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in general. Along with the ability for public interpretation so they feel they are something within their ability to contribute to for collective, global achievement.
Communication can also be a barrier. The preliminary work required for successful contribution and target setting prior to the high-level events attended on behalf of the Sail Training domain, has been during the busiest part of the Sail Training season (July - September in the Northern Hemisphere). Therefore, many of the key stakeholders required to be included are either at sea or dedicated to post events/ peak season operational delivery. To date this has caused small participation numbers.
Challenge forecasting:
Funding streams: Many operators are small charities with limited finances. Some may feel they do not have the capacity to implement or contribute to future work.
Time restraints: Similar to other charities, operators do not function without volunteers. Operators and volunteers have time limitations. The sail training operation is intense and highly demanding. The primary goal of any operator is to ensure the vessel is operational and financially capable to go to sea so the Sail Training programme can be delivered. The primary goal of the Sail Training programme is Youth Development. As this is conducted at sea, there are several other factors that may take precedence (e.g. weather). Any Ocean Literacy/ SDG14 activities must be embedded with minimal/ no additional work to the professional crew. The professional crew have operational requirements that must be achieved set by their respective Maritime Administration. Also, Sail Training programmes can vary from 1 day - a whole semester.
Beneficiaries
Sail Training operators: assisting operators to identify how they already achieve elements of SDG14 and Ocean Literacy principles, enabling them to showcase added value to their existing service.
Supporting organisations, local business, sponsoring youth groups: educating them about SDG14 and how to interpret them to enable them to develop their own initiatives within their respective organisations.
Schools: Inspiring links between Sail Training programmes, Ocean Literacy activities, and SDG14 that teachers can implement into their classroom teaching.
The youth, volunteer and professional crew: further education of SDG14, best practice behaviours that need to be adopted to live on-board a vessel that can be utilised back ashore (water conservation, reducing/ reusing/ recycling waste, energy consumption, sustainable living, responsible food consumption, and menu planning).
Actions
Several case studies of best practice operators for EMSEA conference presentations and the academic book chapter.An ad hoc consultancy has been provided to interested operators enabling them to implement their own SDG14/ Ocean Literate initiatives.
Acted as a business connector, introducing small operators to high-level 3rd party stakeholders when appropriate.
Presenting at the Tall Ships America conference in February 2020, the focus is on Marine Education and creating Ocean Literate Sail Trainers.