Youth Leadership and Activism for Ocean Equity on Instagram for National Marine Sanctuary Day

Get ready to dive deep on October 23rd—National Marine Sanctuary Day! Join us in celebrating the vibrant wonders of our protected waters and the vital work behind marine conservation. The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (@marinesanctuaryfdn) is hosting an Instagram Live panel you won’t want to miss! This dynamic event will spotlight young, trailblazing leaders who are reshaping the future of ocean conservation and driving action for ocean equity. 

Hear firsthand from passionate early-career professionals about their journeys into ocean conservation, their mission to make a difference, and their powerful vision for our blue planet. Let’s break down barriers, inspire the next wave of ocean advocates, and bring the beauty and urgency of marine conservation to new audiences everywhere. 

Meet the inspiring voices behind this movement!

Jaida Elcock

Jaida N. Elcock has a keen interest in the ecology of elasmobranchs. As part of her Ph.D. research, she will be examining the energy expenditure of migration and the impact of climate change on resources, focusing on basking sharks in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Prior to this, she gained experience working with various elasmobranchs at OdySea Aquarium and studying skate reproduction ecology during her REU program at the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Labs. 

Jaida is also dedicated to communicating science and regularly creates shark-related content for various platforms, including classrooms, panels, podcasts, and social media. She is a co-founder of Minorities in Shark Sciences, an organization devoted to empowering women of color in shark science. Jaida is thrilled to pursue her passion for studying the ocean and uplifting others along the way. You can follow her on Instagram at @sofishtication_ and her organization at @miss_elasmo. 

Laura Johnson

From a young age, Laura has been actively involved in advocating for ocean-climate action among youth. She was selected as a student delegate for the first Sea Youth Rise Up program in 2016. Their efforts were instrumental in the establishment of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument in the Atlantic Ocean. In subsequent years, Laura continued her involvement with SYRUP as a Youth Mentor in 2018 and as the organizational lead for The Ocean Project in 2023 and 2024. She will continue to serve in this role in 2025. Follow her journey at @Luraajay and her work at @worldoceanday on Instagram.

Aidan Wells

Aidan Wells recently graduated from Cal Poly SLO with a degree in Environmental Management and Protection and a minor in Indigenous Studies. During his time at EarthEcho International, Aidan worked with the Northern Chumash Tribal Council to develop a week-long curriculum for 5th-grade students. The curriculum focused on Chumash history, marine science, and ocean conservation, with the ultimate goal of implementing it after the official establishment of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. 

In the upcoming months, Aidan will present at environmental education conferences, discussing the importance of incorporating authentic Indigenous representation in early childhood education. He also plans to continue expanding this work. Follow Aidan at @aidanwells and learn more about his work at @earthecho on Instagram. 

Catch Our Instagram Live on October 23rd

Our National Marine Sanctuaries are vibrant, thriving ecosystems teeming with wildlife and vital to the communities that surround them! It’s up to all of us to protect these amazing places from threats like habitat destruction, pollution, and overfishing. Ready to make a difference? Join us on October 23rd at 2 p.m. EST for an exciting Instagram Live panel where you’ll learn how YOU can help preserve these incredible underwater worlds.  

Don’t miss out—follow us on Instagram @marinesanctuaryfdn for all the latest updates on our conservation efforts. Let’s protect what we love together!