The next ocean environmental researchers and specialists will emerge from the present generation of school children. They will be the ocean biologists and naturalists who interpret the complexities of the seas for ordinary people and specialist organizations.

In order to encourage interest and education in ocean environment studies, recently the Hyogo Prefecture Youth Center Foundation held their 1st Children's Ocean Environment Study Program Event.

This event highlighted a year-long oceanic study program by twenty-six 5th and 6th grade elementary students who focused on the sea environment of Ieshima in Hyogo Prefecture, southwest Japan.

This pilot program is highly rated as a new model for ocean environment education for children. The students were supported in their research activities by their teachers, education officials, members of the local fishermen's association, and other specialists totalling about 150 people.

Since March 2008, the Hyogo Prefecture Youth Center Foundation in cooperation with local educational officials sponsored this ocean studies program that focused on the work of the 26 selected elementary school students to give them first-hand experience as "Youth Ocean. Environment Reporters."

Children's unique reports on the sea including this light-hearted comparison by this boy of his teeth to those of various fish he studied around Ieshima

March 21 marked the successful completion of the first year of this model program designed partly by the children themselves to study the sea and ocean environment. The kids presented many unique poster themes, slides, drawings, and written explanations. One boy even did a creative comparison of his teeth to different varieties of fish he studied. Another child discussed a crop of "sea tomatoes" he found.

A child researcher's drawings of the fish she found around Ieshima

At first the kids were given the chance to experience the natural surroundings of Ieshima and the abundant ocean environment. While doing that together, they discovered what personal special interests they had which they included in the year's research.

They were assisted in developing their ideas by ocean environment specialists, ocean cameramen, newspaper reporters who specialized in ocean issues, and educational facilitators. The research took a year, but it is a model program that clearly includes children's points of view and interests. The contents were presented to the public on 21 March in Ieshima, Hyogo Prefecture.

The organizers of the event said that the year-long research shows it is time for Japan to review its relationship with the ocean environment from many perspectives, including the views of the younger generation. After all, Japan is surrounded on all sides by the sea and ocean.

The Nippon Foundation cooperated in this project, and offers assistance to other organizations with interests in the ocean environment, especially those projects that have a new point of view.