Exploring marine citizenship among young people in select urban and rural villages in the Philippines

ABSTRACT

This article explores the understanding of marine citizenship among young people from two villages (urban and rural) in the Philippines. The purpose of the article is to examine the differences and similarities of their attitudes toward and engagement in marine environment conservation in rural and urban contexts. Young Focus Group Discussion (FGD) participants in both villages are familiar with the concept of marine citizenship. Participants from the island barangay, however, look at the marine environment as a source of identity. Meanwhile, FGD participants from the urban barangay seemed to have a “distant” connection. However, they expressed concerns about the status of marine environment.