Divers volunteering for the Aegean Rebreath Greek organisation retrieve rusted shopping carts from ... [+] the sea in the port of the Ionian island of Zakynthos on November 23, 2019. - Within three hours a team of a dozen volunteers from Aegean Rebreath, a Greek organisation formed in 2017 to protect Aegean biodiversity from waste, collects four tyres, two shopping carts, a street lamp, metal boxes, plastic bags, dozens of plastic bottles and several kilometres of fishing line. In its two years of operation, Aegean Rebreath has amassed 9,000 plastic water bottles, 3,6 tons of fishing net and 289 tyres. The Mediterranean, a partly closed sea, accumulates 570,000 tons of plastic annually from surrounding countries, according to the World Wildlife Fund. (Photo by LOUISA GOULIAMAKI / AFP) (Photo by LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesThere is an alarming disconnect between how young people recognize the oceans role in tackling climate change and the priority they think measures to help it should be given, according to a new survey.The study by ocean health initiative Back to Blue reveals the concerning gaps in ocean literacy levels among 1824-year-olds in 35 countries.Three quarters of respondents said they are concerned about the state of ocean health, yet nearly two thirds (61%) believe deforestation and other climate issues should be prioritised over ocean conservation.And almost half (47%) of the young people questioned think the ocean is still healthy.The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and The Philippines are among some of the top countries that believe this, when each is struggling with plastic pollution, coral reef degradation and habitat loss.Although the survey also found young people are significantly concerned about contaminating the ocean, particularly chemical pollution (48%) and plastic pollution (50%) yet they do know where responsibility lies.MORE FOR YOUDr. Emma McKinley, a senior research fellow at Cardiff University, defined the concept of ocean literary ashaving an understanding of the ocean's influence on you, and your influence on the ocean in an interview.Dr. McKinley added the concept was first developed in the early 2000s, when marine education experts warned there was a lack of ocean science being taught in U.S. schools.Since then, she said the concept has expanded to include encompass other factors beyond ocean science and knowledge, including peoples emotional attachment to the sea, how they are able to access the coast and the oceans, and the actions they can take to benefit ocean health.Dr. McKinley said one of the interesting things about the Back to Blue survey was that it really tried to encompass how the concept of ocean literacy has evolved over the years, and that it gathered insights from a number of countries.Its important to take a place-based approach to understanding ocean literacy, she told me.One of the barriers we come up against, time and time again, is the fact that oceans are an environment for many people can be hard to access.Most experience the sea or the coast at some point, but they do not actually experience the ocean, necessarily.She said this disconnect has also been reflected in other areas like academia, where climate change and ocean experts have not always effectively addressed these challenges together.I think that we are seeing greater awareness of the connections, particularly around issues like plastic pollution and ocean acidification, but there is still this out of sight, out of mind challenge," she added."The ocean is so vast, it can sometimes be seen as being unconquerable, but that is really not the case. Enhancing ocean literacy across society is central to solving ocean challengesUN ocean envoy Peter Thomson said it is surprising and alarming to see so many young people misjudge the oceans health in a statement.This level of low ocean literacy risks hindering progress and funding for protecting our oceans, said Thomson.David Costalago, a marine scientist with Oceana, said it is particularly difficult to feel a connection to something we do not see often, like marine ecosystems in an email.But Costalago added the ocean is a victim of climate change, as well as also our most powerful ally.Research shows that the oceans can deliver up to 47% of the annual greenhouse gas emissions reductions needed by 2050 to keep the planet from warming an alarming 2 degrees Celsius, he said.We as society, and especially young people, can play a big part in protecting the oceans by pushing world leaders to take immediate action to address the climate crisis.