Maybe you’ve seen the recent Channel 4 docudrama ‘Dirty Business,’ or maybe you’re simply aware of the importance of clean water for healthy communities. Whatever the case, we’re living in a time when water quality and pollution is top of a lot of people’s minds. With that in mind, the Ocean Conservation Trust can offer some good news: 40 councils from across the UK have now passed the ‘Motion for the Ocean’, a motion of pledges declaring an urgent need for Ocean recovery.
By passing it, local authorities pledge to make Ocean-friendly decisions when crafting policies and to grow Ocean literacy and marine citizenship in their regions, and each council (including some that are inland) has tailored it to fit their own remit. This includes things like flood and coastal erosion risk management, and extends through all local strategies and actions – from educational approaches to water, waste & land management. In short: these 40 councils have pledged to recognise the vital importance of the Ocean as a fundamental part of climate regulation and human health.
“We are so proud to be part of the Motion for the Ocean movement, because we wanted a simple way for citizens to take action for the Ocean” said Nicola Bridge, Head of Ocean Advocacy & Engagement at the Ocean Conservation Trust and one of the co-authors of the Motion for the Ocean. “When a council passes an Ocean Recovery Declaration, there’s literally a list of things that they promise they’re going to do when governing their local space, all of which relate in some way to Ocean protection. And the existence of that list means citizens have something tangible that they can ask the council to justify if they fail to deliver on any of those promises.”
Where did the Motion begin?
The evidence-based ‘Motion for the Ocean’ was born from scientific research and was co-written by researcher Dr Pamela Buchan, who at that time was a local councillor, with support from the Local Government Association Coastal Special Interest Group (LGA Coastal SIG), and the Ocean Conservation Trust.
The Motion was first passed by Plymouth City Council in November 2021. Plymouth was soon followed by Falmouth Town Council and South Tyneside Council in January 2022. East Devon District Council voted to pass the motion in December, which brings the total number of councils to have made an Ocean Recovery Declaration to 40. Collectively, those councils represent over 5 million UK residents!
Why is the Motion important?
Data collected as part of the 2025 Ocean & Society Survey shows that the majority of people feel that the biggest threat to the Ocean is pollution. In response to the question “when you think about the health of the Ocean, how does it make you feel?”, the majority of survey respondents answered “concerned.” Nine in ten respondents cited the government as having the biggest responsibility to address Ocean threats. The survey results also show that Ocean protection is the top environmental priority for most people – and the widespread adoption of Motion for the Ocean shows that local authorities feel this way too.
“The need for Ocean recovery to mitigate some of the worst impacts of the climate emergency and support the wellbeing and prosperity of coastal communities is urgent,” said Dr Pamela Buchan, who initially brought the motion to the Plymouth City Council. “For too long, the Ocean has been side-lined in climate debates and taken for granted by our island nation, but people and politicians are beginning to understand that we can’t mitigate the impacts of climate change without addressing how we use and manage our coastal and Ocean environments.”
Pamela is a marine social scientist and her research has shown that a healthy Ocean isn’t just good for ecological and economical reasons, it’s also beneficial for the emotional and physical wellbeing of human populations. The Motion, therefore, is a political mechanism that could benefit society and the planet in a multitude of ways.
“We need to change our approach to how we use the sea so that it can recover from our harmful impacts, and coastal communities can benefit from sustainable marine industries and businesses and the wellbeing that the coast offers,” said Pamela. “I hope that people from all around the UK will feel empowered to act as marine citizens and ask local councillors to support and adopt the model Ocean Recovery Declaration Motion.”
Coastal and marine responsibilities
The Motion for the Ocean embraces the Source-to-Sea approach, highlighting the direct connection that we all have to the sea through rivers and drainage, and the important impact of land-based carbon emissions on Ocean health. This makes the Motion relevant to all councils, even those inland.
And the best thing about the Motion is anyone can take it to their local authority. If you want to get involved, click here to get started.
