The Youth Panel is calling for greater progress in efforts to protect the ocean. They emphasize, in particular, the need for more diverse expertise, clearer accountability for destructive industries, and the genuine inclusion of young people in decisions that shape the future.
Every year during One Ocean Week, the One Ocean Youth Panel issues an official statement outlining its recommendations. This year, they have focused on several key areas where they believe progress has been too slow. One of their main demands is that decisions regarding the ocean must be based on a broader knowledge base than is currently the case.
“We must ensure that different knowledge systems actually have a voice when decisions are made. Indigenous knowledge and local knowledge must be included on an equal footing with Western science, particularly in international processes,” says Joshua Steib from Germany.
The panel emphasizes that Western research is important, but not sufficient on its own. For ocean policy to be representative of the entire world, more perspectives must be brought into the decision-making process.
Accountability in the industries
Another key message is the need to hold destructive industries more clearly accountable. Overfishing, unregulated fishing, and the exploitation of loopholes in regulations threaten our oceans.
“The authorities must close these loopholes and ensure that those who are destroying our oceans are actually held accountable,” says Steib.
– The inclusion of young people is essential
Genuine youth participation is a recurring theme in the statement. Roughly half of the world’s population is under thirty, yet young people are severely underrepresented in political decision-making processes. At the same time, young people have few lobbying structures of their own, while powerful business interests wield significant influence.
The Youth Panel believes that involving young people is essential to generating new momentum in climate and ocean initiatives.
When young people participate in national delegations and have a seat at the decision-making table, both the discussions and the priorities change.
In the coming years, the youth panel will collaborate with other youth organizations to strengthen and further develop meaningful youth participation in marine policy.
– I hope that people of all ages and from diverse backgrounds will read the statement. I hope that decision-makers will read it and that they will be open to engaging in dialogue with us and with the people around them. Another hope we have for the statement is to give it multiple forms of expression, not just as a written document. We want to convey the message through many different channels, drawing heavily on creativity and art, said Amber Le Blanc from Canada.
About the One Ocean Youth Panel
The One Ocean Youth Panel is a group of young people aged 18-30 who challenge today's decision-makers and mobilize for global cooperation and action on important issues concerning the ocean. The members of the One Ocean Youth Panel come from all continents and represent a diverse group with different backgrounds and areas of expertise. They include researchers, activists, students, and young leaders from coastal areas, all of whom share a deep sense of belonging and a strong responsibility for the ocean as crucial to our common future.
