"From sea to street": initiating change for stronger connection with our ocean

Abstract

The Earth’s vital ocean is constantly changing and is at risk due to pollution, overfishing, and climate change (Pörtner et al. 2022). Research highlights the importance of personal attachment to the sea in fostering responsible stewardship (Chawla 2020; Pyle 2003). In urban areas, opportunities for human-nature interactions are limited, making mediated experiences, i.e., indirect interactions a crucial tool for fostering ocean stewardship. Murals, a form of street art, are prevalent in many cities around the world (Schacter and MacDowall 2023) and have been suggested as tools to promote community engagement and raise environmental literacy and awareness (see Mattern 1999; Sanchez et al. 2020; Schneller and Irizarry 2014). Based on the lessons learned from the project “From Sea to Street”, we hypothesise that murals evoke emotions, thoughts and memories, thereby shaping and strengthening people’s connection to the marine environment.