Ocean literacy as a governance tool : international survey, policy instrument and fundamental marine environment education. A pilot study of ocean literacy survey of secondary school students in Mombasa County, Kenya
Date of Award
2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Master of Science in Maritime Affairs
Specialization
Oceans Sustainability, Governance & Management
Country
Kenya
First Advisor
Claudio Aporta
Abstract
The triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, pollution and climate crisis have led to global impetus for better management of natural resources, including the ocean. As such, ocean literacy has gained traction as a way of addressing these challenges, thus ensuring better ocean stewardship. Research and preliminary informal interviews were conducted to establish the scope for ocean education in Mombasa County, Kenya. This study involved a mixed-method approach, including semistructured interviews with two ocean literacy practitioners in Europe, and a survey questionnaire to high school students in Mombasa, guided by a modified version of the International Ocean Literacy Survey (IOLS) model.
Research results showed that although most students displayed adequate knowledge of the ocean, most could not accurately relate to critical ocean species in their local marine habitats, highlighting the need for adoption of global best practice as employed by IOC UNESCO and the Marine Education Centre in Sweden. Additionally, the use of educational material that was learner friendly and in the local language, proved to be an effective learning tool for students.
The study also examines challenges and proposed solutions to delivering these alternative learning techniques. It concludes with recommendations for a wider IOLS study in Kenya, including a collaborative approach between formal and informal approaches, the development of national and international partnerships, effective stakeholder involvement, and the implementation of a new Ocean Literacy Toolkit (OLT) framework designed to enable adoption, tracking and reviewing of OL parameters suitable for flexible applications. The importance of ocean literacy and blue curricula in schools, and the emergence of an ocean-literate society, are v identified as key to make responsible decisions impacting ocean use, sustainability and resources, for the sake of planet, people and progress.