January 2025

Explore what our project team got up to in January, from collaborating with Seasearch and Amgueddfa Cymru, saying goodbye to the One Ocean Forum, and sharing project learnings at a national conference.

Learning to identify marine species

January was a busy month for the Ocean Connection Programme, with 12 events delivered with 280 people.

A particular highlight was the series of Seasearch events, including three short, virtual talks, which are a “valuable engagement tool” for the Seasearch team.

The first in-person collaborative event with Seasearch also took place, with participants heading down to Barkby Beach to take part in the Big Rockpool Challenge and see what species they could find on their local beach.

Credit: Ciara Taylor

To complement these marine identification skills sessions, the team from Amgueddfa Cymru brought its marine exhibition to Prestatyn Library, where school groups, library regulars and some newcomers learned all about marine life along the North Wales coast. It was brilliant to see the Mayor of Prestatyn, Mayor Cllr Adrian West, at the event at Prestatyn Library; connecting with local decision makers is a key goal of the HYYM project.

Amgueddfa Cymru with HYYM at Prestatyn Library

Credit: Hiraeth Y Yn Môr

Saying goodbye to the One Ocean Forum

Members also supported the HYYM team to evaluate the success of the One Ocean Forum as a model of community engagement by sharing opinions on what had worked well and what could have been improved.

Sharing learnings at the Coastal Futures Conference

The HYYM team had the amazing opportunity to travel to London for Coastal Futures Conference 2025, the largest ocean conference of its kind in the UK. Ffion Mitchell-Langford, the HYYM Legacy Lead, delivered a fantastic presentation on the HYYM Project and lessons that could be taken forward by other organisations to deliver successful community engagement and ocean literacy projects. Not only this, but Ffion also won the Bob Earle Early Career Impact award – something which was very well deserved.

Credit: Hiraeth Y Yn Môr
Credit: Hiraeth Y Yn Môr
Credit: Hiraeth Y Yn Môr

Recognising the importance of ocean literacy

Becky Gittins, MP for Clwyd East, spoke about HYYM in a video recorded after the debate on the Climate and Nature Bill, with specific mention of ocean literacy and the importance of connecting people to their local environment. After not being called on to speak, she explained her video was “a quick summary of some of the things I would have said about the vital issues of the climate emergency and conserving our natural environment. A special thank you to the incredible range of community groups who do so much for our local environment here in Clwyd East.”

Alongside this, ‘Y Môr a Ni’, the Welsh Ocean Literacy Strategy and the first national ocean literacy strategy in Europe, was launched. The HYYM team played a key role in developing this strategy alongside a range of partners in Wales. Through the HYYM project, we’re working towards our collective vision that "people are connected to, understand and value our coasts and seas in Wales, making informed decisions that support a safe and sustainable relationship between them”.