Turks and Caicos, May 23, 2025 – Ocean literacy is defined as ‘an understanding of the ocean’s influence on us, and our influence on the ocean’. For small-island nations like the TCI, having an ‘ocean literate’ society is crucial especially in the face of climate change. Throughout the world, small-scale fishers and fish workers have a greater direct interdependency on the ocean than any other group of people, and this is certainly the case in the TCI. Therefore, developing ocean literacy among TCI’s fisherfolk is essential for their livelihood security and for the conservation of ocean biodiversity. Local nonprofit organisation FisherFolkFirst has been promoting ocean literacy among TCI’s commercial fishers and fish workers. In recognition of this work, FisherFolkFirst was recently invited to join the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Blue Thread, a global network for initiatives putting ocean literacy in action. The Blue Thread serves as a symbol of commitment to sustainable ocean stewardship, inclusive participation, and innovative approaches to solving ocean-related challenges.
“We are delighted to join UNESCO’s global ocean literacy network,” said Marta Calosso, executive director and co-founder of FisherFolkFirst. “It is always very rewarding working with TCI’s fishers and fish workers. They have an enormous wealth of knowledge about the TCI’s marine environments and they recognise the link between healthy seas and decent livelihoods. Unfortunately, fishers are often vilified as being part of the conservation problem. But I strongly believe they are part of the solution. Ocean literacy helps to empower fisherfolk to advocate for their rights, livelihoods, and traditions at a time when these are increasingly under threat”.
FisherFolkFirst partners with both the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources Management and the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources. FisherFolkFirst’s recent work includes promoting TCI fishers’ access to Invest Turks and Caicos’ MSME programme, ensuring that the fishing community’s voices are reflected in the laws that regulate the fishing industry, and broadly publicising the TCI’s fishing regulations and explaining the ecological reasons behind them through brochures, posters, pull-up banners, a website, and videos (all in English, Spanish, and Creole and catering to those whole struggle with literacy). Find out more on the FisherFolkFirst website www.fisherfolkfirst.org.
