UNDERSTANDING OCEAN LITERACY IN CANADA Pacific Regional Report UNDERSTANDING OCEAN LITERACY IN CANADA PACIFIC REGIONAL REPORT JUNE 2020 1 UNDERSTANDING OCEAN LITERACY IN CANADA Pacific Regional Report 1 Executive Summary Introduction: Framing Our 2 Canada-wide Study Pacific Region: Background 4 Context Exploring the Term 6 ‘Ocean Literacy’ TABLE OF Mapping Ocean Literacy 7 Initiatives CONTENTS Key Findings: 9 Strengths of Ocean Literacy Key Findings: 16 Barriers to Ocean Literacy Preliminary 19 Recommendations to Advance Ocean Literacy 21 Conclusion 23 References Cover Photos: ©Jackie Hildering; www.TheMarineDetective.com Pexels.com Background Photo: Pexels.com © Yumgulova, L (2020) Understanding Ocean Literacy in Canada: Pacific Regional Report. Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0International License. 2 UNDERSTANDING OCEAN LITERACY IN CANADA Pacific Regional Report Executive Summary This report is one of five regional reports that The primary barrier to OL identified in B.C. was support a Canada-wide study conducted by the funding and the competition for it. Other barriers Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition (COLC) to include inequitable access to the ocean and establish a baseline seascape of ocean literacy OL initiatives, fragmented governance, and a (OL) in Canada. The study’s results will be disconnect from nature. used to develop an evidence-based national OL strategy and implementation plan. Eight preliminary recommendations to advance OL in the Pacific Region emerged This report shares the findings from the Pacific from the study. These include: investment Region, which for the purposes of this study in OL; more coordinated collaborative action focuses exclusively on British Columbia (B.C.). across the region; recognition of Indigenous B.C. is Canada’s most biologically diverse knowledge as essential for OL; inclusion province, and home to 198 distinct First Nations, of experiential OL in school curricula; with varied cultures, histories, and traditions. better communication of the connections The majority of its 5.1 million citizens live in between ocean, climate change, biodiversity, urban, coastal areas. sustainable economies, and health; increased accessibility and inclusivity; bridged inland/water Although OL is widely practiced in the region, perspectives with coastal/ocean; and expansion it is not a term that is commonly used or that of OL to include the political visibility of the resonates. Ocean stewardship, knowledge, ocean. connection, and relationship were found to be much more commonplace terms encompassing Acknowledgements OL in B.C. Lead Author: Lilia Yumagulova Several key strengths of OL were identified in Editor: Lisa (Diz) Glithero this region including First Nations stewardship Reviewers: Special thanks to the following and leadership; long-running OL initiatives individuals for their guidance and support: and reach; place-based, experiential learning; David Zandvliet, Steve Macdonald, Chiaxsten multi-faceted research; and multi-sectoral Wes Nahanee, Danika Strecko, Christy Wilson, partnerships. Christianne Wilhelmson, Fiona Beaty, Leslie James, Jackie Hildering, Melanie Knight, Nathalie Chouinard-Nolet, Julia Ostertag, and CarolAnne Black. Partners COLC would like to thank NIVA Inc. for their in-kind contribution on the publication design. Heading Photo:Life by the ocean in the Metro Vancouver region ©Lilia Yumagulova * The above partners directly contributed to supporting this region’s research. See Appendix G for complete list of all funding partners. © Yumgulova, L (2020) Understanding Ocean Literacy in Canada: Pacific Regional Report. Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0International License. 1 UNDERSTANDING OCEAN LITERACY IN CANADA Pacific Regional Report introduction: FRAMING OUR CANADA-WIDE STUDY Canada has the longest coastline in the world The Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition (COLC) and jurisdiction over an area of ocean equivalent is an alliance of organizations, networks, to about 55% of the country’s landmass.1 For the institutions, and communities working together 6.5 million Canadians living in a coastal zone2 to better understand and advance ocean literacy the ocean is deeply embedded in the fabric of (OL) in Canada. Widely accepted internationally, community livelihoods, food security, and well- OL is defined as understanding“ our impact being. Across Canada, the ocean is a major on the ocean and the ocean’s impact on us.4” economic driver, the backbone of weather and COLC’s primary project, since its inception in climate systems, and a recreational playground 2018, has been to lead a Canada-wide research for millions of Canadians and global visitors. initiative to better understand Canadians’ varying Ocean conservation is increasingly highlighted relationships with the ocean and to examine how as a priority, as signalled by Canada’s pledge to OL is understood and practiced across different establish marine protected areas covering 25% regions and sectors. The aim of this work is to of our ocean waters by 2025 and 30% by 2030.3 establish a baseline seascape of OL in Canada, and in so doing, to co-develop an evidence- The ocean space is not just about species and based national OL strategy and implementation industries; it is also about people, livelihoods, plan. relationships, and identity. A knowledgeable and engaged citizenry is required to support This report presents the results for the Pacific and ensure ocean and community health, Region – British Columbia (B.C.). It is one of a sustainable ocean economies, and social equity. set of 5 regional reports and one national report that are available at www.colcoalition.ca. Heading Photo: ©David Zandvliet © Yumgulova, L (2020) Understanding Ocean Literacy in Canada: Pacific Regional Report. Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition. Creative Commons Photo: ©Lilia Yumagulova Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0International License. 2 UNDERSTANDING OCEAN LITERACY IN CANADA Pacific Regional Report Our Approach and Methods Through a collaborative research approach, and Data was primarily collected from participants drawing on qualitative and quantitative methods, who are directly engaged in OL, or in other the study focuses on five Canadian regions ocean-related work that (1) advances ocean (Atlantic, Inuit Nunangat, Pacific, St. Lawrence, knowledge systems (e.g., scientific, Indigenous, and inland Canada), as well as nationally. The expert, local, etc.), (2) strengthens ocean study moves beyond an examination of OL in values (e.g., life sustaining, economic, personal, the context of formal education and youth to communal, etc.), and/or (3) implements ocean consider the practice of OL within nine sectors: actions (i.e., individual behavioural change, Government, NGO and Advocacy, Academia social justice actions, policy changes, etc.). and Research, Industry, Education, Community, Media, Cultural Heritage, and Health. The study was guided by three central research questions. 1 What is the current understanding and state of OL in Canada? 2 What are the current strengths and barriers of OL in Canada? 3 What are the key recommendations to advance OL in Canada? 5 Regions 9 Sectors 3 Dimensions of OL Figure 1: The conceptual framework used for the study, integrating the five regions, nine sectors, and three dimensions of OL – ocean knowledge, values, and actions. © Yumgulova, L (2020) Understanding Ocean Literacy in Canada: Pacific Regional Report. Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0International License. 3 UNDERSTANDING OCEAN LITERACY IN CANADA Pacific Regional Report Below, Table 1 outlines the eight data collection methods used in the study, and provides the sample total for each method, nationally and for the Pacific Region. SeeAppendix E for further details on research methodology, ethics, and links to research tools. Table 1: COLC Research by the Numbers Data Method Description Total Data (National) Pacific Data National online survey with COLC members’ Canadian Ocean Literacy networks & interested 1,359 respondents 341 respondents Survey (COLSurvey) Canadians (For Findings Report PDF) National poll conducted with random sample Nanos Research Poll 1,010 respondents 153 (For Findings Report PDF) Documents and reports 332 50 documents (see Focused Document Scan reviewed for context (256 regional/76 national) Appendix A) + references Semi-structured, one- 36 participants Interviews on-one, 45 minutes 188 (Appendix B) (Appendix C) Organizational-level Ocean Literacy Mapping 53 participants* online survey for OL 136 respondents Survey (OLMSurvey) (Appendix D) providers Researcher facilitated, semi-structured focus 3 workshops – 200 youth Youth Workshops National scale only groups (For Youth Report total PDF) Public interactions with art work and research 5 interactive art works - Arts-based engagement 1 art work- 42 responses question (For Arts Report 250 responses PDF) Coarse-scale analysis of 1,253 articles; 77 Media & Social Media topics discussed in influential accounts National scale only Scan Canadian media & twitter (800+ followers) (For Media Report PDF) *53 organizations participated in the OLMSurvey and an additional 67 organizations/initiatives were identified by these participants and/or the research team to include in the Pacific Region OL Asset Map Table. See Mapping OL Initiatives section. © Yumgulova, L (2020) Understanding Ocean Literacy in