We talk a lot about the blue economy's potential, but very little about who actually gets to participate in it.
A new paper led by 2023 Ocean Leader João Canning-Clode introduces a novel, creative approach to engaging young people with the blue economy, grounded in a philosophy of youth empowerment and equitable access to ocean literacy. This project is a wonderful example of global collaboration across the Edinburgh Ocean Leaders community, with co-authors including 2023 OL Barkha Mossaë, 2022 OL Imogen Napper, and the EOL co-directors Meriwether Wilson and Sandy Tudhope.
In The missing link in the blue economy: Empowering the next generation through blue skills and ocean literacy, the authors outline their vision for a global network of ‘Blue Skills Academies’ and ‘Blue Campuses’; the Academies focus on training and skills development, and the Campuses are the space (physical and intellectual) where activities take place and ideas are shaped. Through facilitating access to a range of ocean-positive training and skills development for people from all backgrounds, their goal is to help foster a new generation of interdisciplinary, creative and socially engaged ocean professionals.
Community-rooted & globally connected
João describes the Blue Campuses as “community-rooted and globally connected.” He also emphasises the role of the arts: “They’re one of the most powerful ways to get people, especially young people, genuinely engaged with the ocean.”
“For me, this comes down to three things: ocean literacy, youth empowerment, and creativity. We talk a lot about the blue economy’s potential, but very little about who actually gets to participate in it.”
Scaling up: The Madeira Blue Skills Academy as a model environment
Over the past three years, a Blue Skills Academy has already been piloted in Madeira, an island in the Atlantic Ocean, with the support of Baillie Gifford. Despite having a strong maritime identity, access to ocean-related education and career pathways is limited here. The Academy, which is linked to MARE-Madeira, is working to address this gap and improve access for local young people in Madeira, and has already hosted pilot workshops for a huge range of participants. The long term vision is to create a physical Blue Campus in Madeira, to support the Academy through learning spaces, equipment and resources.
“The next step is trying to scale it. We’re already exploring this with partners like WIOMSA, EOL and IUCN, and I’m hoping to bring the conversation to a wider stage, including at the UN Ocean Decade Conference in Rio next year.”
Read the full Perspective piece – published in Cambridge Prisms: Coastal Futures – here!
Paper reference:
Canning-Clode J, Esson D, Monteiro JG, et al. The missing link in the blue economy: Empowering the next generation through blue skills and ocean literacy. Cambridge Prisms: Coastal Futures. 2026;4:e25. doi:10.1017/cft.2026.10042
