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REVIEW article

Front. Commun.

Sec. Science and Environmental Communication

Volume 10 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fcomm.2025.1641970

Bridging the gap between marine science and policy: communicating for an informed society and decision-making

Provisionally accepted
Angel BorjaAngel Borja1*Julie BremnerJulie Bremner2Kathrin KopkeKathrin Kopke3Sigi GruberSigi Gruber4Martin AlessandriniMartin Alessandrini5Alice EstrelaAlice Estrela6Erasmia KastanidiErasmia Kastanidi7Miguel LealMiguel Leal6Maria C UyarraMaria C Uyarra8Michael ElliottMichael Elliott9
  • 1Marine Research Division, AZTI Foundation, Marine Research Division, Pasaia, Spain
  • 2Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, United Kingdom
  • 3University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
  • 4European Commission, Brussels, Belgium
  • 5Fondation Tara Ocean, Paris, France
  • 6Science Crunchers, Lisbon, Portugal
  • 7Elleniko Kentro Thalassion Ereunon, Anavyssos, Greece
  • 8Fundacion AZTI, Pasaia, Spain
  • 9IECS Ltd, Hull, United Kingdom

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This paper emphasizes the role of effective science communication in bridging the gap between marine research and policymaking. It highlights the need for clear, objective, fitfor-purpose and engaged communication of scientific findings to policymakers and society to counter misinformation and promote informed decision-making processes. Hence, it is essential for scientists to use multiple communication channels to reach diverse audiences with clear, jargon-free language and engaging methods, tending to a holistic approach combining logical evidence-based with emotional engagement of society. Ocean literacy is key in raising public awareness and promoting behavioral changes for a new narrative on the future of the ocean. We recommend increasing funding for science communication, engaging with target audiences early, ensuring high-quality scientific evidence, and presenting positive and negative aspects of findings, showing the emotional side of the stories. Public support for marine protection and conservation policies can be enhanced, leading to effective management of marine ecosystems.

Keywords: science to policy, social-traditional media, Ocean literacy, ocean advocacy, narrative about the ocean

Received: 06 Jun 2025; Accepted: 15 Jul 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Borja, Bremner, Kopke, Gruber, Alessandrini, Estrela, Kastanidi, Leal, Uyarra and Elliott. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Angel Borja, Marine Research Division, AZTI Foundation, Marine Research Division, Pasaia, 20110, Spain

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Supplementary Material