Once again, we at OCEAN CITIZEN are celebrating World Oceans Day by releasing the second edition of our comic series, continuing our storytelling initiative to shine a light on the project’s work in ocean restoration and the science behind it.
After a first issue focused on our pilot sites and the challenges marine forests are facing, this new chapter shifts the spotlight to the approach we take to restore these ecosystems and, more importantly, to everything that needs to happen before restoration can begin.
“First understand, then restore”
To restore, we must first understand. Marine forests are intricate and interdependent ecosystems. Developing restoration protocols that are effective, scalable, and beneficial in the long term requires a deep understanding of the systems we aim to recover: how they function, how their elements interact, and which species are key to develop these 3-D ecological functioning of the ecosystem, to assure its resilience.
That’s why we bring together a broad range of scientific disciplines and methodologies within OCEAN CITIZEN. Each one of them provides a piece of the puzzle and helps us grasp the full complexity of this underwater world.
A glimpse into marine science
Through beautiful visuals and an engaging narrative, this new edition gives readers a closer look at the diverse techniques and methodologies we are using across our pilot sites: from traditional marine field research to innovative technologies such as smart reefs and 3D ecosystem models.
Without revealing too much, we can share that this chapter introduces some of the main tools we use to observe, measure, and understand marine forest ecosystems. Our goal is to make key scientific concepts more accessible and to spark curiosity to go further through the many resources available on our website.
“Everything is connected”
Juanita Zorrilla, from SUBMON, shared some insights into what made this second edition particularly exciting to develop:
“This second issue reflects the complexity of the OCEAN CITIZEN project itself: many disciplines, many layers, many perspectives, all working towards a common goal. That’s exactly what our ocean teaches us: one ocean in which everything is interconnected. What happens in one place affects another. Restoring a marine forest means understanding species, their ecology, climate, and human activity… nothing exists in isolation. In that sense, our project mirrors the very nature of the ocean: dynamic, diverse, and interlinked. Translating this into a comic format is a powerful way to communicate such layered realities. Art allows us to share complexity in a way that resonates emotionally, making it easier to understand and connect with”.
Bringing science closer to society
With this comic series, we aim to make the technical aspects behind marine restoration more understandable and relatable, helping to bridge the gap between people, the ocean and science.
And just like our first edition, this new chapter reinforces a message we strongly believe in: there is hope. Through scientific rigor, community engagement, and evidence-based action, we can make a significant impact on ocean health.
In the coming months, we’ll continue releasing more chapters, each exploring a different aspect of the project. We invite everyone to dive into this second edition, discover how we work, and become part of the collective effort to restore the ocean.
