Sea Ranger Service

⚓ Building marine resilience also means building clear pathways for young people into the blue economy.

The Sea Ranger Service is working to strengthen access to marine careers in South Wales through the Welsh Government’s Local Places for Nature: The Marine Resilience Challenge Fund, administered by WCVA.

This project is helping adapt the training to the Welsh context, develop new curriculum modules and work with partners across sectors to better understand what accessible, practical career pathways into the blue economy can look like.

Recently, we brought together local government, employers and other stakeholders in South Wales to explore opportunities in fields ranging from marine conservation and coastal restoration to offshore wind and seafaring. The discussions focused not only on skills and training, but also on the barriers young people can face when trying to enter these sectors.

As Sanne Boekhoff, Head of People at the Sea Ranger Service, said:
“It is one thing to talk about the blue economy, but at our recent event, we brought together an inspiring cross-section of the sector, from local government to employers, to explore what jobs in this field actually look like in practice. When so many different voices come together and listen to the lived experiences of young people, it becomes possible to shape career pathways that are genuinely accessible.”

As Wietse van der Werf, Founder, CEO of the Sea Ranger Service, explains:
“Building marine resilience is not only about restoring ecosystems and strengthening coastal areas, it is also about investing in people. With this project, we are updating the Sea Ranger curriculum to better prepare young people for the future of the blue economy, while working with partners to remove the barriers that too often keep talent on the sidelines. We want to help create clear, practical pathways into meaningful maritime careers that support both nature and society.”

By combining curriculum development with collaboration across the sector, we are working towards a future where more young people can access meaningful maritime careers while contributing to healthier seas and stronger coastal communities.

Neath Port Talbot Council

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Behind every conversation about the blue economy are young people trying to find a real way in.

As part of our work in Wales, we are not only developing training modules and mapping career pathways, but also listening closely to the experiences of young people who know what those barriers feel like first-hand.

At our recent event in South Wales, Sea Rangers Naomi Roesner and Danielle Bishop shared their experiences of unemployment and the difficulty of finding a route into meaningful work in the marine sector. Their stories were a reminder that making marine careers more accessible starts with listening, then building pathways that reflect reality.

“2150 hours, that’s how long I have stood on the shoreline of the UK job market looking for a way back in. I am a firm believer that every “no” gets you closer to a “yes” but faith doesn’t pay rent and perseverance doesn’t pay the bills… Despite all those hours of “no”, I am looking at the horizon and I am genuinely excited for the offshore developments in Celtic Sea. The solution to the job market is not an easy fix but it starts with action today ensuring that the next person standing on that shoreline does not just have faith but a way in,” says Naomi Roesner.

That is what this project is about: connecting training with real opportunities, bringing employers and local stakeholders into the conversation, and helping ensure that marine resilience also means social resilience.

This project is funded by the Welsh Government’s Local Places for Nature: The Marine Resilience Challenge Fund, administered by WCVA. This work is helping lay stronger foundations for the next generation in Wales.

Neath Port Talbot Council

🌊 Today, we celebrate World Oceans Day and the vital role the ocean plays in sustaining life on Earth.

This year’s theme, “Reimagine”, invites us to rethink our relationship with the ocean and move from passive appreciation to active care. It is a reminder that protecting the ocean means restoring marine habitats, supporting biodiversity, taking climate action and investing in long-term solutions for healthier seas.

Through offshore environmental work, seagrass restoration and youth employment, Sea Rangers show what a practical approach to ocean conservation looks like, turning an issue many see as intangible into hands-on action on the water.

To mark World Oceans Day, we’re offering 20% off all items in the Sea Ranger Service online shop for one week.

Visit our website: https://searangers.org/products/

UN World Oceans Day
Conservation Optimism