As diverse as the ocean itself, blue careers took the spotlight on World Ocean Day for Schools

World Ocean Month returned in June, prompting us to reimagine our connection to the blue planet we rely on for our health, cultures and economies.  

This year, we once again marked the month by supporting World Ocean Day for Schools as a lead partner, bringing thousands of schools around the world together through Plastic Clever Schools to connect with and celebrate our blue planet. 

But World Ocean Day for Schools isn’t just about connecting with the ocean, it’s about inspiring the next generation of leaders to make ocean protection a central part of their lives for the long term.  

Now in its ninth year, World Ocean Day for Schools (‘WOD4S’) was launched in 2018 by Protect Blue. This year, over 9,000 schools globally joined together for a full day of interactive learning and activities connected to the ocean. 

For 2026, the theme of WOD4S was ‘Future Blue Careers’ – activating young people as the next generation of people to dedicate their professional lives to protecting the ocean from the most urgent challenges it is facing.  

Through sharing first-hand stories of individuals working across different disciplines that contribute to ocean stewardship, students were invited to see a future for themselves in the movement to build a sustainable blue economy.   

The Common Seas Education team also had the pleasure of leading a session: Exploring Blue Careers: Behind the Scenes with Common Seas and Plastic Clever Schools. Amy, Stacey and Konstantina shared with students what ocean literacy means, their favourite aspects of working to raise awareness about the impacts of plastic pollution, and what a “typical” day at the office looks like.  

We were delighted to see so much interest from young people, with over 800 views and a reach of over 30,000 students for our sessions!  

The main takeaway for our young participants? Blue careers are as diverse as the ocean itself, and everyone belongs. 

And this year, young people showed that they are ready to chart their own course towards a healthy blue future. Over the course of the day, 47,440 kids joined in with sessions, and 3,839 schools across 128 countries mapped their blue spaces.  

Beyond the day itself, we were delighted to see many schools taking the next steps to join our global community of schools taking action to protect our ocean all year round.  

To support this continued momentum, we are supporting over 1,300 teachers to continue embedding ocean literacy into their curriculum planning, with a follow-up resource pack and a video guide to planning blue field trips – both available here. 

Common Seas’ Education Officer Konstantina reflects: “This is a powerful demonstration of what is possible when young people are given the space and tools to act. As someone who grew up loving the ocean and the beauty of marine biodiversity, it is wonderful for me to experience how future generations are taking the lead to protect marine spaces.” 

Underpinning the success of World Ocean Day for Schools was a strong emphasis on collaboration. Protect Blue brought together educators, artists, nonprofit organisations and ocean experts to provide young people with an engaging and informative way to build ocean literacy and foster an interest in future stewardship. 

Alongside Ocean Conservation Trust, Marine Stewardship Council and PangeaSeed, we shared dynamic stories, accessible resources and real-word pathways inro blue careers. The stories shared spanned numerous backgrounds and diverse regions, demonstrating to students that anyone can become an ocean hero, whether their interest lies in science, art, campaigning or virtually any other discipline. 

One such story we were especially proud to showcase came from Edwin Flourish Kollie, an ocean educator and Plastic Clever Schools champion based in Liberia. Edwin reflected on his childhood, growing up with the ocean on his doorstep and becoming enchanted by its flora and fauna. He shared how he came to work with communities and youth, leading advocacy to protect his home and the ocean it relies on from the grassroots level up. 

Our collaboration with Edwin came from a place of real passion for a healthy ocean. Back in 2024, Edwin registered the school where he teaches for the first ever Plastic Clever Schools International Day of Action. Through his students’ creativity and commitment, the school was awarded in our School Action Fund to support their community-driven initiative called “Ending Plastic Pollution in Schools,” focused on reducing single-use plastics and promoting environmental responsibility among students and families.   

Since then Edwin has been a real champion of the PCS movement. His story is a perfect example of how you don’t need a lab or a seat in parliament to become an ocean leader – community-led expertise can build transformational change.  

The impact of events like these doesn’t end in the classroom. Plastic pollution is a multi-generational issue, and a growing body of research shows that there is a strong link between education and sustainable behaviour change. This makes it even more important that young people are equipped and empowered to protect the ocean – wherever in the world they live. 

Education plays a crucial role in fostering the knowledge, values and actions needed to support ocean protection, particularly among young people and local communities who will carry this crucial work forwards at the grassroots level. 

For us, World Ocean Month was a reminder that protecting the ocean and the people who rely on it is not a passing moment, but a movement we must sustain over generations. 

Because how else can we reimagine our connection with the ocean except with young people – our future ocean leaders – front of mind?  

Young people are powerful advocates for change. Schools need not just inspiration, but practical, ongoing pathways for action, and that is precisely what we are committed to providing. 

As we look ahead following this fantastic milestone for our education collaborations, we’re excited for our next moment of global youth action. This November, the Plastic Clever Schools International Day of Action is back for its third year, and this year we’re taking on plastic and climate change in one energising day!