Digital Marine Citizenship Toolkit: Connecting to the sea – the role of digital engagement for marine citizenship

Digital Marine Citizenship (DMC) uses creative and digital tools, often developed through artistic and creative practice, to help people connect with, care for, and take
action for their local seas. It offers practical ways to understand our relationship with
the ocean and to play an active role in shaping sustainable coastal futures.
By combining creativity and technology, and working with artists and communities
to design meaningful experiences, DMC helps turn awareness into action and fosters a shared sense of belonging to the marine environment.
This Toolkit has been created to inspire and support practitioners, community groups, and organisations who want to explore digital and creative engagement in marine and coastal settings. Whether you work in a council, charity, or school, this guide offers ideas and frameworks to help design experiences that are inclusive, imaginative, and grounded in place.
Co-designed by practitioners, researchers, and community partners across the UK, insights from a Plymouth workshop and a national online session shaped its focus and design guidance. Their collective experience ensures that the Toolkit reflects real-world needs, challenges, and opportunities for digital marine engagement.
Many people care deeply about the sea but are unsure how to contribute. Digital and creative approaches can open new routes into learning and participation, helping people discover, share, and act on issues that matter. They strengthen community–coast relationships, increase transparency, and highlight the ocean’s ecological, cultural, and economic value.
At its heart, DMC sees technology as a bridge for engagement and connection. From local storytelling and citizen-science platforms to immersive digital twins, creative digital tools can enhance user experience and strengthen collective understanding and action for healthy, thriving seas.

The toolkit is to be used in conjunction with the Training Module which includes a presentation ready slidedeck and a guide for a 1 hour training format including slides, a script and a set of materials.