Middle school students’ perception of marine and coastal environments

The marine environment has undergone transformations and degradations that are, in many cases, irreversible. Knowing and valuing this environment is the first step in the conservation process. We aimed to analyse the initial perception of Brazilian students from secondary school level about marine environments and their relationship with their daily lives. The instrument used to collect data was a questionnaire with three open questions. The answers were grouped by similarity, and then by categories. Most students were unable to relate their daily lives to the marine environment, with the most cited justification being the physical distance from the sea. When asked about their knowledge, most students mentioned subjects related to geography, while only a few cited ocean biodiversity. Another notable aspect was the prevalence of an anthropocentric worldview, in which the environment is seen as a collection of natural resources that are available for human use. To reverse this scenario, we advocate teaching practices through Environmental Education to expand students' knowledge about marine ecosystems, their preservation, and their impact on people's quality of life, even for those who live far from coastal areas.