A blog by Gabriela Casuso, High Seas Youth Ambassador
I still remember the first meeting with the 2026 High Seas Ambassadors cohort. For me, it was more than just an introduction; it felt like the start of something bigger than ourselves. A group of young people from different parts of the world, united by our concern for a place most of us might not physically reach, yet all of us depend on: the High Seas.
I joined with a notebook full of ideas and a quiet sense of responsibility. While I didn’t yet know the shape of my campaign, I knew I wanted to create something that would not only inform people about the ocean, but change how they feel about it. That night, after the call, I organized my notes. From that mix of thoughts, one idea kept returning: Voices of the High Seas for Colombia.
My aim with this campaign is to reevaluate our way of thinking about the ocean.
I designed the campaign identity myself, and while working on the logo, something clicked: sound waves move vertically, while ocean waves move horizontally. That contrast made everything fall into place. Movement in all directions. The logo came to represent connection, showing that everything is integrated around what we cannot always see. Voices of the High Seas for Colombia thus became a symbol of connection between the visible and invisible elements of the ocean.
I wanted the design to feel like waves carrying stories across borders: Fluid, but strong.
That symbolism mattered because this was not just a campaign launch, but a reminder of urgency.
Weeks ago, Voices of the High Seas for Colombia was introduced in two spaces. One was digital, launching the petition for the ratification of the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) in Colombia. The other was in-person with students from the Alianza Francesa de Barranquilla. In that session, we spoke about the ocean as a living system connected to climate, biodiversity, and our future, exploring how technology allows us to study the deep ocean and see beyond the reach of the human eye.
At first, the students were quiet. Then something shifted.
By the end, many said it was the first time they had seen the ocean as something more than a beach horizon. Not as a destination, but as a world thriving with life. One student said: “I didn’t know so much was happening beneath what we see.” That stayed with me, because that is exactly the gap we are trying to close.
Through this campaign, I often think about the triple crisis of ocean awareness: lack of interest, ignorance, and misinformation. Many people feel disconnected, others simply were never taught, and much of what circulates is incomplete. Voices of the High Seas for Colombia exists to serve as a bridge in that space.
One of the reasons this campaign matters to me is the High Seas Treaty itself. To many, it still sounds distant or technical, but in reality it is one of the most important global agreements for ocean protection of our time. It is the first international effort to protect biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, addressing nearly half of the planet that has historically been underprotected. Supporting its ratification in Colombia is not just a legal or political step, but a cultural shift. It is about recognizing that what happens in the High Seas also affects coastal communities, climate stability, and the future we are building together.
Youth participation is essential to this process. We are not just future stakeholders; we are present actors in ocean governance. Through programs like the High Seas Youth Ambassadors Program, we are learning how to translate science into storytelling, and storytelling into action. In Colombia and across the Caribbean, I see more young people recognizing that ocean literacy is not optional, it is necessary for climate resilience, cultural identity, and environmental justice. This campaign is also a way to build networks between youth organizations, educators, and institutions that share the same vision.
In addition to supporting Colombia’s ratification of the High Seas Treaty, my goal is also to close the distance between people and the ocean. I want this to grow into a platform where education, storytelling, and youth leadership meet. A space where the High Seas stops being abstract and becomes personal.
Because when people understand the ocean, they protect it. And when they feel connected to it, they act.
For me personally, this journey has reinforced that ocean education is more than information; it is about emotion and connection. Every conversation, every student interaction, and every shared story becomes a small wave that contributes to a larger movement. And like the ocean itself, change does not move in one direction, it expands and returns in unexpected ways.
Here in Colombia, this work is only beginning and continues to expand with every new conversation about the ocean. That is where change begins.
Gabriela Casuso is a Colombian youth ocean advocate, founder of Proyecto Acuática, and a 2026 High Seas Youth Ambassador. Her work focuses on ocean literacy, youth engagement, and strengthening the connection between science, education, and public awareness.
She is recognized as an Ocean Expert by UNESCO and serves as a Global Partner of the UNESCO Blue Schools Network. Gabriela is also a Change Agent with RelatOcéano and a Laureate Ambassador for OceanLove, contributing to global efforts that promote ocean protection through education, storytelling, and youth leadership.
Through her campaign Voices of Altamar por Colombia, she works to bring ocean governance closer to citizens, supporting the ratification of the High Seas Treaty while amplifying youth voices in national and international spaces.
Her work bridges science and communication, aiming to transform how people understand, feel, and act for the ocean.