Being an Ocean Advocate: Talk to Your Policymakers

Getting involved in advocacy, whether it’s for a neighborhood matter or larger national issues, can be an intimidating prospect. The first question people often have is: Where do I even start?  

Here at the New England Aquarium, we work to protect the blue planet each day and help inspire others to take action for the ocean. With this quick guide below, you’ll be ready to take the next step in joining us in this work—talking about an ocean issue that matters to you, and reaching out to your local policymaker to tell them about it! 

Find your policymakers 

No matter where you live in the US, you have a number of different policymakers at multiple levels of government, from your town or city officials all the way up to the federal government. As public officials, they all welcome input from their constituents on any issues affecting them.  

Even if you’re not sure who your policymakers are, it’s easy to find out! You can look up both federal and state policymakers and their contact info online. This will tell you who your officials are and how to get in touch.  

Write a letter, call their office, or attend a meeting 

Making a phone call or writing an email is likely the easiest way to reach your policymaker—that’s something you can do from anywhere, and it just takes a short amount of time. If you’re able, you can also go to a local government meeting or visit policymakers in-person at their offices.  

The most important thing is that you say something personal. These messages are more impactful and make a big difference!  

Tell them about an issue that matters to you 

That leads to the next step: Talking about something that matters to you. Maybe you live near a beach and want to organize a regular clean-up of the shoreline, or your community is on a waterway that is threatened by flooding. You may even care about issues that also affect people beyond where you live, like climate change. 

To make it easier, we created this resource for contacting your policymakers. Just fill in the blanks to craft a message that’s personal to let them know why an issue is important to you and why they should care about it, too.  

Not sure where to get started? Here are some of the ocean issues that matter to us: 

• Climate resilience 
  • Supporting climate-ready coastal infrastructure, science-informed planning, and clean energy are among the ways we can reduce the impact of climate change on wildlife and our communities. 
• Protecting endangered species  
  • Advocating for strong conservation laws, habitat protections, and effective monitoring programs can help safeguard species and critical ecosystems.  
• Supporting scientific research  
  • Data gathered through research can help combat climate change, recommend protections for endangered species, inform best fisheries practices, contribute to animal wellbeing, and more. 
• Balanced use of the ocean  
  • Protecting and preserving marine habitats through science-based policy and management practices and promoting “blue” technology are examples of how humans can use the ocean responsibly.  

Be clear and courteous  

Remember there is no “right way” to talk to your policymakers. The most important thing is to just give it a try and say something that is meaningful to you as clearly and concisely as you can. Policymakers want to understand how their constituents feel about issues and how they can address them. Feel free to suggest ideas for solutions, if you have any! 

Plus, always thank your policymakers (and their staff, as appropriate) for their attention and consideration. Doing so demonstrates respect and care for others as well as for the ocean.  

Your voice matters and staying engaged is the best way to be an ocean advocate!  

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