Young people said they want to play a bigger role in protecting our ocean. Citizen science, like beach clean-ups, collecting data, or becoming ‘ocean reporters’, is one way to get people more invested. Hands-on experience from an early age also helps build a lifelong commitment to sustainability and can change harmful habits, like using single-use plastics. Schools should also go beyond textbooks. Field trips, exhibitions and real-world learning can help students better understand pollution and waste. But to truly make a difference, young people should also be involved in shaping ocean policy, working alongside scientists, governments and industry to build a sustainable blue economy. How can the EU involve young people more meaningfully in protecting our ocean?