ECP Announces Ocean Conservation Education Package “Sea the Impact”
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Teaching Ocean Health in the Classroom
ATLANTA, March 11, 2026 – The Educated Choices Program (ECP) proudly announces the release of its newest science-based video and supporting education package, Sea the Impact. Modern food production, both in water and on land, is reshaping marine ecosystems at an unprecedented scale. Sea the Impact helps viewers understand that connection and provides clear, evidence-based explanations of how everyday dietary decisions support ocean recovery or decline.
The project was made possible through a successful Kickstarter campaign that brought together educators, ocean lovers, and longtime ECP supporters who believe in expanding access to science-based environmental education.
“Working on ‘Sea the Impact’ was a deeply humbling experience,” added Vivian Farah. “To witness the sheer immensity and beauty of our oceans is to realize both our place within this vast system and our immense responsibility. The true takeaway was empowerment, the realization that we possess the agency to enact changes that offer a lifeline to the very waters that sustain us.”
Sea the Impact is fully available in English and Spanish, with on-screen translations in available in other languages. This release is also set to become the first ECP resource to be fully translated into Portuguese.
What Students Will Learn
Through this classroom-ready video and education package, students will be able to:
Describe how the production of food, both in water and on land, affects the health of the oceans and the species that live in them.
Understand why the health of the oceans is important for the well-being of the Earth and its ecosystems.
Evaluate the potential impacts of different foods on ocean health.
Apply this new knowledge to make more sustainable, ocean-friendly food choices.
The video covers critical environmental topics, including:
Overfishing and solutions to overfishing
Bottom trawling, gillnets, hydraulic dredging, and habitat destruction
Bycatch and ghost fishing gear
Aquaculture environmental impacts
Blue carbon ecosystems and mangrove loss
Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and nutrient runoff
Eutrophication, algal blooms, hypoxia, and ocean dead zones
Coral bleaching and global climate tipping points
This ocean lesson plan introduces students to major marine ecosystem challenges, including overfishing, coral bleaching, ocean acidification, aquaculture impacts, and ocean dead zones.
A Complete, Free Education Package
The Sea the Impact Education Package includes:
A 15-minute professionally produced video
Complete lesson plans
Guided notes
Homework assignments
Post-video comprehension quiz
Interactive classroom activities
Grading rubrics
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Alignment Guide
All materials are available at no cost through the Educated Choices Program Library, where educators can access free ocean lesson plans and classroom-ready environmental science resources. Students can also access a 14-day viewing link for asynchronous learning.
“I’ve always loved the oceans, but I haven’t always been aware of the fact that they are in crisis,” said Elise Ferguson, Curriculum Development Manager. “Unfortunately, for many of us, out of sight is out of mind. ‘Sea the Impact’ provides students with an insightful and comprehensive summary of the challenges facing the oceans today. Moreover, it empowers viewers with the knowledge that they can make choices to help the oceans every time they eat.”
Supporting Ocean Conservation Through Education
As educators increasingly seek impactful environmental science resources, Sea the Impact provides a timely and accessible tool for answering questions such as:
How can we help protect the oceans?
Is eating fish better for the environment?
What is overfishing, and why is it a problem?
What causes ocean acidification?
Why are coral reefs bleaching?
What is eutrophication, and how does it affect marine life?
How does aquaculture impact the environment?
How does ocean health impact me?
The program reinforces critical thinking while connecting food systems, climate science, marine biodiversity, and sustainable solutions.
Sea the Impact joins ECP’s growing library of free educational packages, including Rethinking Food Waste and Our Carbon Foodprint, further strengthening the commitment to science-based, accessible food literacy education.
Educators searching for ocean conservation lesson plans, ocean health education resources, or marine biodiversity curriculum can access the full Sea the Impact education package through the Educated Choices Program library.
About Educated Choices Program (ECP)
The Educated Choices Program is an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free food literacy education to equip students and community members with critical knowledge to improve human and planetary health. ECP’s educational packages have reached more than 3.7 million learners across over 70 countries and territories. Learn more at ecprogram.org.
Media Inquiries: Mina Gherman, Mina.gherman@ecprogram.org
More information: ecprogram.org
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