In 2025, the Ocean Decade Public Awareness Campaign was jointly launched by the Ocean Decade International Cooperation Center (ODCC), China – an Implementing Partner of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (‘Ocean Decade’) – together with Tencent Charity and other social partners. The campaign aims to make knowledge on marine protection accessible and actionable for the wider public by translating scientific concepts into practical activities that encourage participation across society. To date, it has engaged over 200,000 participants through diverse and inclusive engagement approaches and raised 1 million yuan in dedicated public welfare funds. In parallel, the initiative is committed to enhancing ocean literacy and supporting Qingdao West Coast New Area in developing a “City of Ocean Decade Science Popularization.”
During the 2025 Global Ocean Development Forum (1-3 September), the exhibition titled “‘Azure Symbiosis’ Marine Environmental Protection Art Carnival” offered a creative platform for public engagement. Structured around three thematic sections – “Net · Rebirth,” “Abundant Fisheries Year After Year,” and “New Life in Spring Rains” – it explored the profound significance of marine conservation from diverse perspectives. Discarded fishing net fragments were transformed into artistic installations such as mermaids and jellyfish; children expressed their love for the ocean through paintings; individuals with disabilities depicted the ocean and nature in their hearts with simple brushstrokes. This fully demonstrates that everyone can be a guardian of environmental protection.
Running alongside with the exhibition, a series of public engagement activities under the theme “Guarding the Ocean” invited visitors to learn about marine conservation knowledge through immersive experiences as well as deepen their awareness and understanding of the current state of marine ecosystems.
On 5 December, 2025, marking the 40th International Volunteer Day, the Ocean Decade Mobile Public Awareness Buses officially commenced operation across the entire Qingdao Weast Coast New Area. Running along five bus routes, the vehicles – clad in “ocean blue” – serve as mobile platforms for science outreach traversing the city’s main thoroughfares. Through bus branding and onboard promotional materials, these buses disseminate marine science knowledge, conservation concepts, and information related to the Ocean Decade Public Awareness Campaigns, turning everyday public transport into a sustained channel for engagement and awareness.
Beach cleanups were regularly conducted throughout the year, engaging the local community in hands-on conservation. By removing trash and pollutants, volunteers gained firsthand experience of the value and fragility of coastal ecosystems, inspiring a sense of environmental responsibility. These activities were complemented by marine science outreach, including information on seagrass bed conservation to further raise public awareness of marine conservation.
Looking ahead, the ODCC will continue to work closely with the Qingdao West Coast New Area to roll out a series of long-term activities aimed at building a City of Ocean Decade Science Popularization. These include installing Ocean Decade public awareness signage along the coastline of the New Area, thus integrating the love for the ocean into the city’s DNA; hosting the “Wenhai (Inquiry into the Ocean)” series of science outreach salons, where marine scientists and environmentalists will share engaging stories about the ocean with youth; holding an ocean science competition to spark young people’s curiosity about the mysteries of the sea; continuing regular beach cleanup volunteer activities to protect the coastline through hands-on action; and organizing seagrass bed science outreach along with seagrass planting and restoration experiences, allowing the public to personally understand the vital value of these “ocean grasslands” and participate in ecological restoration work. Together, these efforts aim to build a complete cycle of “awareness-engagement-action,” embedding the concept of marine conservation and stewardship into everyday life and strengthening community-led contributions to ocean sustainability.
Contact: Wei Zheng (zhengwei@fio.org.cn)
