Ocean Literacy Opportunities in Urban Marine Ecosystems: Gorgonian Populations in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain)

Abstract

Urban marine ecology, an emerging field in marine research, presents new opportunities to promote ocean literacy and contribute to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030). Seeking to advance these objectives, the Gorgonia Barcelona project, launched in 2021, adopted a collaborative and inclusive approach to foster collaboration among marine scientists, local scuba divers, fishers, policymakers, industry, academia, and citizens, co‐producing knowledge concerning marine benthic ecosystems dominated by Gorgonians in Barcelona. This study presents the findings and methodology developed throughout four successful years of the project, offering insights that could inspire similar initiatives elsewhere. Additionally, a Q‐sorting exercise was conducted to assess Barcelona divers’ alignment with ocean literacy dimensions, providing a tool that can be applied in diverse contexts—an identified research priority in ocean literacy. Three main diver profiles emerged: optimistic, pessimistic, and neutral. Divers expressed concerns about the urban marine environment, demonstrating a strong desire for its improvement. The study also incorporates testimonials from visitors to the project’s experimental aquatic zone, emphasising the role of older generations in fostering sustainable behaviours. Discussions with a representative of Barcelona’s fishers highlight the valuable local ecological knowledge they provide, despite often feeling overlooked and left out of marine conservation and ocean literacy discussions. The findings help close knowledge gaps and highlight the need for stronger conservation efforts, as well as more sustainable and inclusive governance models in urban marine areas. They also demonstrate how coastal cities can serve as key players in advancing ocean literacy through responsible research and innovation‐driven approaches that encourage sustainable actions.