The task of mapping and representing oceans and their transformations is at the heart of ocean research. Not least because Western mythology has framed oceans, and ocean life, as a trope of the unseeable, hence unknowable, for a long time. The currently changing ways of looking at oceans coincide with a rise in artistic research that has gained significant traction over the last two decades. An indication of this is the development of numerous new PhD programmes in artistic research around the world, sometimes offered jointly by art universities and social sciences or humanities universities.

Since the seminal work of Solid Sea by the group Multiplicity about the routes of tourists, migrants, seamen, and others that cross but don’t touch, shown at Documenta 11 in Kassel in 2002, there has been a steady growth of artistic research seeking to visualise the complexities of life in, on, and around oceans. The significance of this development can be seen, amongst others, in the initiation of Forensic Oceanography, a collaborative project between Lorenzo Pezzani and Charles Heller, which developed out of Forensic Architecture, the human rights-oriented research agency based at Goldsmiths, University of London, or the founding of Ocean Space, established and led by TBA21–Academy, which runs a high-profile exhibition programme in Venice dedicated to creating a collaborative platform for ocean imagination and ocean action, and presenting works such as the multi-screen installation Oceans in Transformation by Territorial Agency, that synthesised three years of intersectional research.

This thematic issue aims to chart what new perspectives artistic research can contribute to the discourse on oceans and society by tracking the breadth and scope of key works and practices in this field and highlighting potential new avenues opened up by emerging research.

To make these currents tangible, this thematic issue welcomes articles exploring questions like:

• How is artistic research on oceans and ocean life navigating the junctions of seeing and knowing, representation and evidence, experience and belief?
• How does artistic research engage with the issue of visuality as a critical parameter in ocean research, both in terms of engendering recognition and enabling discourse?
• How can the narrative and dialogical dimensions of artistic research help emphasise societal aspects of ocean research and further its transdisciplinary relevance and political impact?
• How can the specificities of artistic research foster new ways of engaging with the fluidity of ocean environments?
• In what ways can artistic research open up new approaches in dealing with the challenges inherent in ocean research such as the challenges of scale, fluctuation, or metamorphosis?

Understanding the complexity of human–ocean relationships has been increasingly recognized as being central to addressing the triple crises currently facing the ocean and the communities who depend on it—climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequities. Since the early 2000s, the concept of ocean literacy has evolved as a framework to explore and understand this relationship. Defined as having an understanding of your influence on the ocean and its influence on you, ocean literacy has moved beyond its original education and knowledge roots to recognize at least 10 dimensions. These dimensions, which include the themes of knowledge, attitudes and communication, and the frameworks associated with them are increasingly being adopted, and indeed adapted, to help us to further understand human–ocean relationships and to support the co-development of solutions to address the challenges facing the ocean. With the positioning of ocean literacy as a key mechanism for change within the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, it is both timely and necessary to continue to examine and expand the concept of ocean literacy beyond its existing boundaries. Such work will help to determine its role within wider ocean governance and sustainability. Crucially, this thematic issue draws on the recent definition of ocean literacy research as an interdisciplinary field of research which explores the diverse dimensions, drivers, and impacts of ocean literacy initiatives. Ocean literacy research seeks to understand how these aspects vary in different socio-cultural, economic, political and geographic contexts, inclusive of diverse voices, actors and ocean relations, and how these insights can be used to further develop ocean literacy initiatives and maximize their potential as a mechanism for change across the UN Ocean Decade. With this in mind, this thematic issue welcomes submissions drawing on a wide range of research fields and practices, including but not limited to:

• Agenda 2030
• Advocacy, activism, and communication
• Case studies on successful ocean literacy programs, projects, and interventions
• Citizen science and knowledge co-production
• Citizenship
• Climate change and/or the ocean/climate nexus
• Community and stakeholder engagement
• Community-led socio-economic development
• Future pathways to sustainability and equity
• Indigenous knowledge and/or traditional ecological practices
• Informing nature-based solutions
• Legal and governance frameworks influenced by ocean literacy
• The role of ocean literacy in enhancing education and outreach

Coastal areas face various social and environmental issues, such as habitat loss, pollution, vulnerability to storm surges and extreme weather events, decline of natural resources, and poorly planned developments. Addressing these challenges has become even more urgent due to climate change. Coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to the various impacts of climate change that threaten livelihoods, natural resources, and protected ecosystems. Various studies have, however, shown that current governance systems are ill-equipped to deal with these coastal issues and that their functioning is hampered by territorial, administrative, and sectoral fragmentation. Integrated forms of planning and management have been called for, but these are often difficult to realize and implement. Other challenges lie in the domain of stakeholder involvement, the science–policy interface, and digitalization.

This thematic issue aims to enrich the understanding of the particular challenges of transforming coastal governance, focusing on five key governance dimensions:

1. The development and use of strategic foresight.

2. The use of scientific knowledge.

3. The integration of land–sea management and planning.

4. Participatory practices and stakeholder involvement.

5. The use of e-governance tools.

Analyzing these different dimensions, the various positions that have emerged in different governance systems, and the interrelations between the positions on different dimensions can provide useful insights into the functioning of governance systems and the facilitators and barriers for change and can therefore enrich existing frameworks for analyzing coastal governance. Bringing together both theoretical and empirical reflections, this thematic issue will take stock of relevant experiences throughout the EU to put forward recommendations for the adaptation and transformation of current governance systems.

The initiative for this thematic issue stems from the Horizon Europe-funded BlueGreen Governance (https://bggovernance.eu) project that focuses on developing innovative land–sea governance systems bringing together a diverse network of scholars and practitioners.

Waterways have played a critical role in the development of human societies from prehistoric times to the present day, serving not only as essential conduits for travel and trade but also as vectors for cultural exchange, material trade, and the transmission of knowledge. These aquatic spaces have enabled interactions across vast distances, facilitating the spread of ideas, technologies, and cultural practices between diverse communities.

Focusing on the dynamics of human–environment interactions within maritime, fluvial, and lacustrine (lake) settings, this interdisciplinary seminar series delves into recent advances in maritime history, archaeology, law, and anthropology. This series aims to bridge the gaps between disciplines, fostering a holistic understanding of how waterways have shaped, and continue to shape, societies worldwide. Topics will range from ancient navigation and settlement patterns to modern issues in maritime conservation and the sustainable management of water-based cultural heritage.

The idea for this thematic issue emerged from a monthly workshop gathering specialists from various fields who share expertise on the subject. These sessions bring together historians, archaeologists, anthropologists, lawyers, and environmental scientists, creating a collaborative environment where insights are exchanged, and new research directions are developed. Each seminar in the series serves as a stepping stone toward a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between humans and waterways, emphasizing both historical perspectives and contemporary relevance.

Coastal communities and their environments are experiencing rapid transformations. Global shifts in demographics, weather patterns, water systems, and climate are significantly impacting coastal businesses, communities, and ecosystems. Addressing these challenges requires the sustainable use and conservation of coastal and marine resources to foster a robust economy, a healthy environment, and resilient and inclusive communities. Despite advancements, substantial knowledge gaps persist concerning marine ecosystems and their interconnectedness with society. Even when evidence-based strategies to prevent marine ecosystem loss are available, they are often overlooked in policy and management frameworks. Additionally, many existing policies, plans, and actions aimed at addressing marine ecosystem challenges have proven ineffective or counterproductive, sometimes exacerbating environmental degradation or deepening socio-economic disparities and injustices.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, there is growing consensus on the need for a rapid, significant, and coordinated transformative change. This transformation must integrate environmental, social, cultural, behavioral, economic, political, health, and justice dimensions to achieve meaningful and sustainable outcomes.

Central to this effort is the integration of science and engagement programs focused on watersheds, and coastal, and ocean ecosystems, highlighting the critical connections between these systems and the well-being of coastal communities. This thematic issue invites submissions of practical case studies that demonstrate the role of universities as collaborative platforms for promoting sustainable development in marine and coastal regions. These collaborations unite individuals, communities, educators, scientists, legal experts, organizations, industries, and governments, leveraging the best available science, technology, policy insights, and resource management expertise. Contributors are especially encouraged to emphasize the social impacts of their practices, showcasing how their initiatives address real-world challenges. This focus on tangible outcomes underscores the importance of translating research and engagement into lasting benefits for both communities and ecosystems.

The ocean has long been a source of fascination, myth, and meaning in human culture. In an age defined by global polycrises—such as the escalating climate emergency, biodiversity loss, and disruptions to the global liberal order—marine spaces and their representations in popular culture have taken on heightened significance. Not only do artefacts and discourses reflect how ongoing and overlapping crises are reflected in popular culture, but they also shape public understanding and policy responses to these challenges.

This thematic issue examines how oceanic spaces, actors, and entities are represented, imagined, and understood in popular culture. Utilizing the concept of marine imaginaries, contributions analyze a wide range of media—such as art, film, gaming, music, and newspapers—to highlight the real-world implications of marine imaginaries and their reflection in societal social debates. In doing so, contributions span across diverse geographical contexts and cover a wide range of themes ranging from pirate codes to conservation measures. They analyze how popular cultural texts convey messages about marine imaginaries and their respective media forms, engaging not only with the content of these texts but also considering how their choice of medium influences perceptions of the ocean and its crises.

The thematic issue welcomes submissions from a wide range of research fields and practices. Potential research questions include, but are not limited to:

• How do representations of oceanic spaces in popular culture reflect and respond to contemporary global crises?
• In what ways do marine imaginaries shape public attitudes, behaviours, and policies related to environmental protection and sustainability?
• How useful are marine imaginaries in providing a productive framework for the (social) construction and maintenance of peaceful and healthy ocean spaces?
• How do historical narratives inform marine imaginaries in popular culture, and how do they influence current social discourses?
• What role do underrepresented voices and non-Western perspectives play in diversifying and challenging dominant marine imaginaries?

Ultimately, this thematic issue aims to advance Ocean and Society’s mission of exploring the social, cultural, and political relationships between society and the sea by offering a deeper understanding of how marine imaginaries shape, and are shaped by, global polycrises.

As coastal communities across Europe navigate the challenges and opportunities of blue growth, issues of environmental justice, empowerment, and sustainability emerge as central concerns. While policies like the European Green Deal and the blue economy framework promise inclusive and sustainable development, many coastal regions—especially those in peripheral areas—face persistent challenges of recognition, resource distribution, and procedural fairness.

This thematic issue brings inter- and transdisciplinary perspectives to examine how coastal communities are engaging with transition processes, sustainability transformations, and justice concerns. Through empirical studies and theoretical reflections, the issue explores how communities redefine their relationships with marine resources, negotiate power dynamics in environmental governance, and develop innovative socio-ecological and socio-technical tools for inclusive coastal futures.

Key themes include:

• Transition mechanisms and changed practices: examining how co-creation processes transform marine governance, evidenced through case studies in just and inclusive coastal transitions.
• Co-creation and participatory governance: analysing knowledge co-production and participatory methods for sustainable marine resource management.
• Blue justice and local empowerment: exploring conflicts in marine planning, displacement, and exclusion, including perspectives on planning in absentia.
• Alternative blue economies: assessing how traditional coastal knowledge can be institutionalized to ensure equity, including the leaving no one behind (LNOB) principles.
• Living Labs and Nature-Based Solutions: understanding how experimental approaches such as Transition Coastal Labs (TCLs) contribute to participatory conservation.

By drawing on case studies including Norway, Finland, Spain, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Ireland, this thematic issue provides a comparative lens on the struggles and possibilities of coastal empowerment. It aims to advance scholarly and policy discussions on how to ensure that blue growth agendas do not replicate past inequalities but instead contribute to equitable and thriving coastal futures.

This thematic issue explores the complex realities that arise from the ocean-climate nexus and its governance-oriented challenges and opportunities. Ocean and climate governance continue to be intricate and compelling issues that set barriers to the sustainable use of oceans and their potential contribution to the fight against climate change and vice versa. There is a growing need to understand how different and divergent actors (states, non-state actors, international organizations, corporations, courts, regimes, etc.) will approach the use of oceans during the era of the ever-growing effects of climate change.

Ocean, for this thematic issue, is perceived in its broadest meaning. It covers issues concerning oceans per se and other maritime activities that can contribute to the sustainability of the seas (such as sustainable coastal areas, sustainable marine tourism, port governance, etc.). Accordingly, climate change governance covers a broad array of actions that actors may undertake, such as new policies or initiatives for the sustainable use of oceans, either to achieve the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions or to adapt to the impacts of climate change or both.

Contributions to this issue are welcome from various disciplines, such as social sciences, political science/IR, political economy, maritime studies, environmental studies, legal studies, etc. They may focus on various sub-fields or examples (shipping, biodiversity, science, security, and many more). The goal is to draw a comprehensive image of several aspects that would benefit the sustainability of the oceans and its links to the contribution to the fight against climate change through a governance spectrum, approached in broad terms, and create a first body of multidisciplinary approaches on the issues at hand.

This thematic issue aims to answer the horizontal, cross-cutting, and overarching research question of how ocean climate governance can move forward. Each contribution can specify and answer this question in a way that is unique and contributes to the creation of a comprehensive approach.

This thematic issue will address the emergence of alternative fuels, new energy sources, and new technologies that can help the shipping industry reach net-zero emissions by mid-century. The topic arises from the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) 2023 Strategy for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Shipping which set the goal for the industry to achieve net-zero emissions by or around 2050. While new fuels, energy sources, and technologies have been tested, achieving this ambitious goal requires a rapid energy transition within the maritime sector. Although significant efforts have been made in this direction, there is still a long way to go to reach the ultimate goal.

In this context, the thematic issue focuses on emerging fuels, energy sources, and technologies currently being considered, tested, and implemented in the maritime sector. This makes the issue both timely and relevant, offering valuable insights into cutting-edge scientific advancements, best practices, pilot projects, and empirical evidence.

Through this thematic issue, we expect to receive manuscripts presenting the latest theoretical and practical research on the adoption of new fuels, energy sources, and technologies. We also expect papers that explore the key drivers and barriers to their adoption and that propose actionable pathways for their commercial deployment. As the issue of maritime decarbonization encompasses environmental, economic, social, and political dimensions, the thematic issue will welcome studies covering all aspects of a green and just transition.

By bridging academic, industrial, social, and policy perspectives, this thematic issue will support informed decision-making and contribute to the global effort to decarbonize maritime transportation from an academic and practical perspective.

The blue economy is often framed as a pathway to social and environmental sustainability, balancing economic growth with achieving positive social equity and environmental outcomes. Yet industries seeking to align with this vision face challenges translating equity and sustainability principles into practice while maintaining economic viability.

The core equity, environmental, and social principles of the blue economy, stem from international negotiations, guiding national governments in meeting global obligations. National policies must align with broader regulatory frameworks, creating overlaps with non-blue economic activities. This results in a complex regulatory, social, and ecological landscape where industries must balance economic viability with their environmental and social commitments.

This thematic issue, Blue Burdens and Opportunities, critically examines the practical realities of being a “blue” industry. How do industries operationalise equity and sustainability principles? What incentives do industries have to engage in these principles, and what tensions arise when these ideals meet real-world constraints? Are blue industries held to a higher standard than others and what are the implications of this? While policies and frameworks emphasise buzzwords and high-level concepts such as just transitions, nature-positive design, and participatory decision-making, there is often little guidance on how to practically implement these. What does this mean in practice?

We invite interdisciplinary perspectives that explore how blue industries interpret and implement social, economic, and environmental objectives. Contributions may consider but are not limited to, governance mechanisms to support emerging industries, navigating community conflict, moving past blue growth, tensions in resource accessibility, trade-offs between environmental, equitable and economic outcomes, and examples of equity in practice.

By bringing together diverse insights, this issue deepens understanding of the challenges and strategies shaping an equitable and sustainable blue economy. In doing so, it moves beyond high-level aspirations to explore the burdens and opportunities of blue economy industries.