Hi Hannah, thanks so much for joining us on the ECOP Programme blog! Can you tell us what exactly is SeaVoice?
SeaVoice is a storytelling platform run by the Cultural Heritage Framework Programme (CHFP) and endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade. It is dedicated to amplifying the voices of academics, artists, and activists at the intersection of culture, climate, and water. We celebrate and highlight our connection to blue spaces through creative storytelling, bringing together inspiring narratives from global voices to explore the past, present, and future of our oceans.’
Each of our three yearly volumes explores a unique, diverse theme connected to the ocean.Our online magazine features all of our stories, available to read for free. We also publish the SeaVoice Annual once a year on World Ocean Day, a carefully curated collection from across the volumes, celebrating creativity and rich imagery that showcase our deep connection to the ocean.
How did you get involved in the initiative?
I got involved with SeaVoice while working on my PhD at the University of Edinburgh, where I met Georgia Holly, our founder. My PhD focuses on how marine cultural heritage is valued in society and the role culture plays in ocean connection. SeaVoice, as a magazine, highlights this pivotal connection, focusing on how culture and the ocean intersect in meaningful ways. I started in June 2023, establishing our online platform and reaching out for stories with Georgia, and by August 1st, we had our first articles published!
Why do you think the art of storytelling is so important and how do you think it can it contribute to resting positive change for the Ocean?
Storytelling is powerful because it brings the ocean’s challenges to life, making them more relatable and personal. While facts can inform, it’s stories that inspire action. For instance, knowing that nearly 90% of global fish stocks are overfished is alarming, but it’s easy to feel disconnected from the numbers and to shut down when hearing depressing facts. That’s where stories come in.
Imagine a small coastal community where fishing has been a way of life for generations. As fish populations decline, families who’ve relied on the sea for both their livelihood and cultural identity find themselves struggling. Their connection to the ocean isn’t just practical, it’s deeply emotional and tied to their traditions. By sharing both the hard facts and the personal narratives, storytelling creates a deeper understanding, empathy and urgency. It’s through stories that we can encourage people to care, fostering a collective mindset that helps protect the ocean and the communities that depend on it.
Can you tell us a bit more about your own story? How would you describe your relationship with the Ocean, what’s been your journey to arrive here?
My path to the ocean sector wasn’t the most straightforward. Though I’ve always loved the ocean, I gravitated more toward humanities subjects, and felt as though working in the ocean world was only for ‘science people’. Humanities or science? This oversimplification, ingrained in many of us at school, overlooks the complexities of real-world issues. We see this a lot in western society, for example, in the separation of nature and culture in ocean management. To effectively protect our blue spaces, we need to focus on the whole: the interactions between nature and people. This is something SeaVoice addresses, exploring the intersection of culture, science and water through storytelling.
Working through my imposter syndrome, which I’ve realised many others experience too, I started volunteering, first with the Marine Conservation Society. It was my first step into the sector I had always wanted to be in. This experience highlighted the importance of merging humanities and science in ocean conservation and led me to pursue an MSc, where I found my niche in marine social science. Now, as a PhD student exploring the value of marine heritage, I’m also an avid diver with experience in ecological monitoring and habitat restoration. Through SeaVoice, our team uses storytelling to ensure diverse voices are heard in our blue spaces.
Since embarking on SeaVoice what has been the most powerful story you have heard or out of all the people featured, which character has truly inspired you?
The story of Coral Catch in Indonesia really resonated with me. This inspiring project trains local women to lead coral restoration efforts, building a network of empowered “Superwomen” committed to safeguarding their reefs.
What stands out is how these women, despite facing societal barriers, come together to learn and share their knowledge within their communities. Their journey fosters both marine conservation and gender equality, creating change in the marine science sector and in their local area. Seeing them grow into advocates for their ecosystems is a powerful reminder of how inclusive initiatives can have a lasting impact on protecting our oceans.
What advice do you have for ECOPs who would like to share their own story and improve the way they communicate about the work they are doing towards the Ocean Decade Challenges?
At SeaVoice, we place humanity’s relationship to water at the heart of our storytelling. As ECOPs, sharing your journey can inspire others to engage with ocean conservation. Focus on the moments that sparked your passion for the ocean, maybe it’s a childhood memory, a transformative experience, or a community project. Highlight the challenges and triumphs you’ve encountered and weave in the voices of those around you to enrich your narrative. By sharing your unique perspective, you contribute to a collective understanding of our ocean’s significance, helping to forge deeper connections and inspire impactful action towards the Ocean Decade Challenges.
Can you tell us how people can read and get their hands on SeaVoice?
Certainly! Our online magazine showcases all of SeaVoice’s diverse ocean stories and people can also grab a copy of our published book, the Annual, a curated selection of 20 stories from 16 countries with beautiful imagery bound in eco-friendly seaweed paper. We also have contact details on our website if anyone would like to get in touch or collaborate. Our founding organisation, CHFP, is the only Ocean Decade programme dedicated to cultural heritage. It endorses projects that highlight the vital role of heritage in fostering sustainable oceans and you can read more about their work here.
Our latest volume, Sense, was released on 1st November 2024. Read it now! This volume explores stories that celebrate the senses —touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste—and their role in shaping our relationship with the ocean. SENSE delves into how sensory experiences create intergenerational wisdom, highlighting how our senses can connect us to the sea. The collection of stories, poems and interviews from an amazing range of contributors reveals how repeated sensory encounters lead to a deeper, more intuitive understanding of our blue spaces, where knowledge is built not just through observation, but through a lived and embodied connection with the marine world.
Also check out SeaVoice on socials too: Instagram, LinkedIn and X.
