The Motion for the Ocean: scaling marine citizenship through local government declarations

A persistent gap between marine decision-making and local government action limits the translation of ocean knowledge into practice. This case study shows how early-career marine social science research has been mobilized across the United Kingdom through the Local Government Ocean Recovery Declaration (‘Motion for the Ocean'), a voluntary, research–practice initiative that provides a framework for local government engagement in ocean recovery. To date, participating councils represent over five million people, demonstrating both reach and public mandate. The Motion has achieved international recognition, including presentation at the 2024 UN Ocean Decade Conference and inclusion in a High-Level Ocean Panel report. Drawing on 5 years of sustained collaboration, we trace the development and impact of this model and examine the role of co-production, voluntary contributions, and cross-sector partnership in enabling research impact. The case study highlights the often-overlooked dependence on in-kind contributions, and identifies key challenges and opportunities for policy, practice, and academia in scaling place-based ocean action.