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Mr Masao Nagasaki has fished the waters off Itoigawa City, Japan, for over 40 years. Setting out from Tsutsuishi fishing village, the 77-year-old recalls a time when his nets brimmed with fish and shellfish. 'Our waters were once teeming with life,' he said through an interpreter. 'But over the past three decades, certain species have vanished.'

His story echoes across Itoigawa, where warming waters, diminishing seaweed, and human activities have drastically altered marine biodiversity. Even as Japan’s first UNESCO Global Geopark, designated in 2009, Itoigawa is not immune to the twin threats of climate change and oceanic plastic waste. Yet, the local community is responding—transforming their Geopark into a hub for sustainability, education, and conservation. By taking an active role in the Geopark’s conservation, says Itoigawa City Mayor Toru Yoneda, people in the community feel more connected to their heritage. Conservation fosters 'pride and love for the land where they live, which becomes the driving force for further activities.'

It is this whole-of-society approach that made Itoigawa City a key destination for a study visit in November 2024 organized by UNESCO under the Sustaining Our Oceans project, funded by , the parent company of UNIQLO. The visit brought together educators and conservation officials from three South-East Asian countries to learn from Japan’s marine conservation education programmes and community-driven sustainability practices. Their efforts are now inspiring educators and conservation leaders from Indonesia, Thailand, and Viet Nam to implement similar strategies in their own UNESCO designated Biosphere Reserves: Wakatobi Biosphere Reserve in Indonesia, Ranong Biosphere Reserve in Thailand, and Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve and Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An Biosphere Reserve in Viet Nam. 

'By engaging directly with the Itoigawa community, educators saw firsthand how conservation is woven into daily life—from sustainable fishing practices to youth-led environmental initiatives,' says UNESCO Sustaining Our Oceans project lead Rika Yorozu. 'These insights will help shape localized ocean education activities that reflect the realities and challenges of their own UNESCO designated sites.' 

±õ³Ù´Ç¾±²µ²¹·É²¹â€™s sustainability model places young people at the forefront. A striking example comes from students at Niigata Prefectural Kaiyo High School, who developed Saigo-no-Itteki ('The Last Drop'), a distinctive salmon-based fish sauce. Launched in 2013 after three years of research, the project embodies sustainable aquaculture by utilizing every part of the locally farmed salmon. 

'I want to keep working in a sustainable way, connecting natural resources to industry without waste,' said Mr Masamune Koyanagi, one of the students presenting the project to the participants. 

The Sustaining Our Oceans project follows a similar philosophy, equipping young people across South-East Asia with practical conservation knowledge and skills. Through immersive activities in biosphere reserves, students gain firsthand experience in marine biodiversity, resource management, and sustainable practices that link conservation to local economies. By fostering a deeper understanding of ocean stewardship, the initiative aims to prepare communities to protect their marine environments for future generations. 

Beyond fisheries, ±õ³Ù´Ç¾±²µ²¹·É²¹â€™s community is also addressing marine plastic pollution. Plastic waste does not biodegrade but instead breaks down into microplastics, which enter marine food chains. Chiba Institute of Science Associate Professor Satoko Tezuka, who led the study trip’s participants on a beach cleanup activity, shared her research survey and analysis findings on microplastics around Choshi Geopark on the Pacific coast. 'Even the smallest human activities contribute to this crisis, which is why ocean education is crucial,' she said.  

The head of the Secretariat at Viet Nam’s Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An Biosphere Reserve, Mr Thao Ngoc Le, said that the process of extracting microplastics from sand had given him a keener understanding of how microplastics impact local ecosystems.  

For the participants from Indonesia, Thailand, and Viet Nam, the study visit was more than an exchange—it was a blueprint for action. 

Thailand, which in 2024 completed an analysis of Ranong Biosphere Reserve’s learning materials on ocean education and identified educational needs, is already developing an innovative virtual reality game that immerses players in the reserve’s ecosystem. But for Thai educators, the visit to Itoigawa also reinforced the importance of hands-on learning. 

'Seeing how conservation is integrated into daily life at Itoigawa Geopark gave me new ideas for interactive learning at Ranong. We want students to not just study the ecosystem but experience it firsthand—through field activities, water quality monitoring, and engaging with local communities,' said Ms Poonsri Wanthongchai, Director of Thailand’s Mangrove Research and Development Institute. 

For Ms Adeliya Alim Sabani, an educator from Indonesia, the trip was an opportunity to reflect on how similar education models could be applied closer to home. 'The visit to Itoigawa showed me how conservation efforts can involve everyone, from schoolchildren to policymakers. In Wakatobi, we plan to integrate these approaches by sharing good practices related to the impact of plastic waste with fellow teachers at my school and teacher community in Wakatobi district to improve waste management at our schools.'

To amplify the impact of Sustaining Our Oceans, the education packages developed for each Biosphere Reserve will be promoted through UNESCO Associated Schools, Learning Cities, and UNIQLO stores, aligning with global sustainability goals. 

By 2050, oceans could contain , a stark warning that underscores the urgency of conservation efforts. Without intervention, the livelihoods of fishers like Mr Nagasaki—who once set out from Tsutsuishi to nets full of fish—may become a distant memory. But through education and community-driven action, a different future is possible: one where young people across South-East Asia and beyond have the tools to protect the marine ecosystems that sustain the future for all.