16/06/2026
⚓ Building marine resilience also means building clear pathways for young people into the blue economy.
The Sea Ranger Service is working to strengthen access to marine careers in South Wales through the Welsh Government’s Local Places for Nature: The Marine Resilience Challenge Fund, administered by WCVA.
This project is helping adapt the training to the Welsh context, develop new curriculum modules and work with partners across sectors to better understand what accessible, practical career pathways into the blue economy can look like.
Recently, we brought together local government, employers and other stakeholders in South Wales to explore opportunities in fields ranging from marine conservation and coastal restoration to offshore wind and seafaring. The discussions focused not only on skills and training, but also on the barriers young people can face when trying to enter these sectors.
As Sanne Boekhoff, Head of People at the Sea Ranger Service, said:
“It is one thing to talk about the blue economy, but at our recent event, we brought together an inspiring cross-section of the sector, from local government to employers, to explore what jobs in this field actually look like in practice. When so many different voices come together and listen to the lived experiences of young people, it becomes possible to shape career pathways that are genuinely accessible.”
As Wietse van der Werf, Founder, CEO of the Sea Ranger Service, explains:
“Building marine resilience is not only about restoring ecosystems and strengthening coastal areas, it is also about investing in people. With this project, we are updating the Sea Ranger curriculum to better prepare young people for the future of the blue economy, while working with partners to remove the barriers that too often keep talent on the sidelines. We want to help create clear, practical pathways into meaningful maritime careers that support both nature and society.”
By combining curriculum development with collaboration across the sector, we are working towards a future where more young people can access meaningful maritime careers while contributing to healthier seas and stronger coastal communities.
Neath Port Talbot Council
