Public Ocean Literacy What residents of Southern California should know. October 26, 2005 The results of a CORE-Sponsored Workshop Organized & Facilitated by MCRI Aquatic Forum Report the Aquarium of the Pacific’s Marine Conservation Research Institute Reference Number 2005-2 Public Ocean Literacy What Residents Of Southern California Should Know The Results of a CORE-Sponsored Workshop Organized & Facilitated by the Aquarium of the Pacific's Marine Conservation Research Institute This is a Dynamic Document J. R. Schubel Corinne Monroe Adam Lau MCRI Aquatic Forum Report October 26, 2005 Reference Number 2005-2 Edition Contents Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................ii Introduction ...............................................................................................................................1 The Southern California Bight ..................................................................................................3 Key Concept 1...........................................................................................................................8 The Earth has one world ocean with many basins, seas, bays, lagoons, estuaries, and other features such as submarine canyons, seamounts, volcanoes, and marine ecosystems. Key Concept 2 ........................................................................................................................37 The ocean and life in the ocean shape the Earth. Key Concept 3 ........................................................................................................................41 The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate. Key Concept 4 ........................................................................................................................48 The ocean makes Earth habitable. Key Concept 5 ........................................................................................................................49 The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems (e.g. kelp forests, coral reefs, and hydrothermal vent communities). Key Concept 6 ........................................................................................................................62 The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected and the life of every human is affected by the ocean. Key Concept 7 ........................................................................................................................73 The ocean is largely unexplored. Workshop Teams ...................................................................................................................79 Appendix I ..............................................................................................................................82 i Acknowledgements Our thanks to: RADM Richard West, President of CORE (Consortium for Oceanographic Research Education) for providing the financial support for the workshop. Captains of the Science Teams Logistical Support Team Dr. Wolfgang Berger Greg Cole Dr. Linda Duguay Adina Metz Dr. James Fawcett Dr. Reinhard Flick Report Design and Layout Team Dr. Steven Gaines Brian Gray Dr. Thomas Garrison Fahria Qader Dr. Ronald O'Dor Andrew Reitsma Facilitators We also thank Dr. Charles Reed, Chancellor of the Amy Coppenger California State University System, and David Adam Lau Stanton for making their facilities available, Mark Agi Lontai Sandoval providing complimentary City parking, and Bruce Monroe SMG supporting the reception. Corinne Monroe Leah Young Assisted in Preparation of the Final Report Professor Wolfgang Berger Professor Gerard Capriulo Professor Paul Dayton Professor Ari Epstein Professor Tom Garrison Professor Dennis Kelly Jennifer Liebeler Dr. William Patzert Professor William Reeburgh M. H. Schubel ii Introduction This report summarizes the results of a workshop The workshop brought together about 40 scien- held at the Aquarium of the Pacific on June 15, tists to develop the first summary of what they 2005. The workshop was held in response to the thought all citizens should know to be "ocean liter- call for greater ocean literacy by the U.S. ate." The focus was on the general public and the Commission on Ocean Policy (USCOP) report, the workshop took as its point of departure the principles U.S. Ocean Action Plan, and the Pew Oceans and topics developed by the Centers for Ocean Commission report. In the past several years, a Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE) and the number of reports and research papers have pointed National Marine Educators Association (NMEA). The out that while people love the ocean, they neither primary audience was the general public in contrast know much about it, nor believe that their actions to that of COSEE and NMEA, which was K-12. affect its health. That is, they are not "ocean literate." Based on the assumption that people are more It was also pointed out that there is a need to devel- apt to be interested in something with which they are op ocean education programs targeted not only at familiar and to which they can relate, the focus of the the formal education sector, but also at the general workshop was regional—from Santa Barbara to the public—from pre-schoolers to senior citizens. U.S. Mexican border. National and global ocean Aquariums have been identified as a major and issues were given southern California “hooks," where trusted source from which the public acquires knowl- appropriate. The intention was that the workshop edge about the ocean, its inhabitants, and the need could be a model for other regions of the U.S., to for conservation of its resources. Aquariums in the educate the general public about the ocean, how it U.S. reach approximately 40 million people each affects them, and how they affect it. year, and most major aquariums are affiliated with The workshop, a partnership between CORE and networks designed to connect the public to aquatic the Aquarium of the Pacific, was moderated by issues, both marine and fresh water. These net- RADM. Richard West, President of CORE, and Dr. works include: the American Zoo and Aquarium Jerry Schubel, President of the Aquarium of the Association (AZA), NSF's Centers for Ocean Pacific. All CORE member and associate member Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE), Coastal institutions within the Southern California region were America Ecosystem Learning Centers (CELC), and invited to send representatives, as were organizations the Ocean Project. affiliated with CORE, including the National Offices of The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy (USCOP) COSEE and the Census of Marine Life (CoML). report states that a knowledgeable public is essential Representatives of two CORE industrial members to generating the kinds of political and financial sup- participated. The full list of participants and observers port needed to reverse the declines in coastal is included as Appendix I. resources and promote ocean stewardship: The Aquarium of the Pacific held a follow-on "Strengthening the Nation's awareness of the workshop on October 11-12, 2005 with experts in importance of the oceans requires a heightened informal science education and outreach. The focus focus on the marine environment, through formal and of that workshop was to use the output of the June informal education efforts. …informal education 15 workshop to identify and describe the best strate- aimed at the entire population is needed to foster gies to engage the public in learning about the ocean. lifelong learning." The strategies will be prototyped and tested at the Aquarium of the Pacific. 1 What is Ocean Literacy? ecosystems (e.g. kelp forests, coral reefs, and hydrothermal vent communities). There are many definitions of ocean literacy. They differ more in style and level of detail than in 6. The ocean and humans are inextricably intercon- substance. At the workshop, ocean literacy was nected and the life of every human is affected by defined as: the ocean. "Ocean literacy is understanding the ocean's influ- 7. The ocean is largely unexplored. ence on you and your influence on the ocean." This report is structured around these themes. An ocean-literate person understands the funda- mental concepts about the functioning of the ocean and about the influences that affect the ocean. REFERENCES Because we are interested in ocean-literate citizens 1. COSEE and NMEA Ocean Literacy Initiative becoming better stewards of the ocean, we would (www.coexploration.org, Key Concepts, Draft for add that an ocean-literate person uses this under- Public Review) standing to make informed and responsible personal 2. Free-Choice Learning and the Environment, decisions regarding the ocean and its resources, and Institute for Learning Innovation, in preparation communicates this understanding to others. (www.ilinet.org) Workshop Process 3. NEEP/Roper report (www.neetif.org/Roper/elr.org) In advance of the workshop the scientists were divided into six teams with a leader for each team. Their observations were submitted prior to the work- shop and incorporated in a workbook that was used for discussion at breakout sessions of the teams. The seven guiding principles provided by COSEE were collapsed into six, by combining their numbers three and four. The wording of COSEE's initial seven concepts was also somewhat revised to arrive at the following: 1. The Earth has one world ocean with many basins, seas, bays, lagoons, estuaries, and other and other features such as submarine canyons, seamounts,