Established in 2016 and formally incorporated in 2023, the Irish Ocean Literacy Network (IOLN) brings together a diverse community passionately committed to our ocean. Our core mission is to nurture a sustainable community of ocean-literate citizens across the island of Ireland. We believe that by working together, we can improve coordination and capacity building to help achieve our common vision of an ocean-literate society.
The Network has achieved something unique. While other countries and EU states are still exploring how to coordinate national efforts, Ireland already has a sustainable, established network of practitioners delivering on-the-ground work. We enable our Members to coordinate these existing efforts and share practical knowledge. By connecting active practitioners, we ensure that our collective action achieves tangible, measurable impacts on society.
The Network consists of a broad range of sectors, including NGOs, public bodies, researchers, educators, private enterprises, and individuals across the island. Through advocacy, public awareness campaigns, and outreach, our Members collaborate to advance ocean literacy and protect our shared marine environment.
The IOLN would like to acknowledge the generous support of the Marine Institute/Foras na Mara towards the Network. Since the establishment of the IOLN, the Marine Institute has played a significant role in enabling and advancing the work of the Network. In particular, the Marine Institute provided essential seed funding that supported the Secretariat from 2016–2022, thereby sustaining the IOLN’s coordination, development, and outreach throughout its formative years. This support continues today, with the Marine Institute serving as both Sponsors and founding Members of the IOLN.
By 2030, the IOLN will have a thriving network of ocean champions and organisations deeply engaged with local communities across the island. These communities are “Ocean Literate” and as such actively participate in ocean conservation efforts and embrace sustainable practices, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility for the marine environment.
The mission of the Network is to cultivate and nurture a sustainable community of ocean literate citizens, enabling seamless collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the effective coordination of marine outreach and ocean literacy endeavours throughout the island.
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In November 2023, the IOLN developed a Network Strategy (2024–2030) in consultation with Members and stakeholders. Five strategic objectives were identified to address the priorities that emerged from an analysis of the IOLN’s first six years of activity as an informal network.
1. Enhance Network Capacity: Build capacity and expertise within the IOLN network to support work with local communities through targeted training, skill development, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
2. Promote Engagement and Collaboration within IOLN Membership: Cultivate a culture of active participation and collaboration among IOLN members, fostering a dynamic and supportive network that takes collective action.
3. Facilitate Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination: Foster increased engagement and cooperation between IOLN members and coastal communities, identifying alignment and synergies that lead to collaborations and partnerships to help achieve the IOLN Vision.
4. Champion Best Practices in Ocean Literacy & Community Engagement: Act as a beacon for promoting and showcasing exemplary ocean literacy practices across the island, inspiring excellence in ocean education, outreach, and conservation.
5. Establish a Sustainable Funding Model: Establish a resilient and diversified funding model to ensure the long-term sustainability of a Network secretariat and funding to support activities and initiatives by IOLN and its members.
Our strategy focuses on building a stronger and more sustainable Network. For our Members, this means more resources, better support, and more impactful opportunities to work together.
The Irish Ocean Literacy Network was established as a non-formal network in 2016. Its activity and development was guided by a steering group, made up of a diverse group of Ocean Literacy advocates. They came together up to four times a year to plan the actions of the network in communication with the Secretariat Galway Atlantaquaria (2018-2023).
The previous sectretariat from Susan Heaney from Blue Inspiration (2016-2018). Seed funding for the secretartiat role from 2016-2022 was provided by the Marine Institute. Support was also provided by Bord Iascaigh Mhara from 2021-2022. It should be noted that many of the members have provided large amounts of in-kind contributions since 2016 to bring the IOLN from where it began to where it is now.
