The Ocean’s Divide: Who Gets to Be a Marine Scientist?

By Tsian Deslandes

When I was younger, I would stare out at the sea and feel like it was calling me. The waves didn’t care about my race, my disability, or where I came from—they just welcomed me. But when I said, “I want to be a marine scientist,” the world didn’t echo that same welcome.

People told me I couldn’t do it.
Not because I didn’t have the passion.
Not because I didn’t have the ability.
But because I didn’t “look” like a marine scientist.

Growing up as a Black Caribbean girl with Erb’s palsy, I didn’t see myself represented in documentaries or textbooks. The faces on the panels, in the classrooms, on the boats—none of them looked like mine. The image of a marine scientist was often white, male, and physically able. I was none of those things. And for some people, that meant I didn’t belong.
 

🌊 The Barriers We Don’t Always See

It wasn’t just about who was in the room—it was about who the room was built for.

Marine science careers often come with heavy price tags: expensive degrees, unpaid internships, equipment costs, and overseas research trips. For students from the Global South or underrepresented communities, these opportunities can feel impossibly far away.

• In the Caribbean, non-sponsored students at the University of the West Indies can pay up to US$15,000 per year in tuition—more than many families earn annually.

• 55% of entry-level marine science roles globally were found to be unpaid (2019), cutting off access to those who can’t afford to work for free.

• Between 2000 and 2015, only 17% of authors on Caribbean biodiversity papers were based in the region—meaning local voices were often excluded from research about their own seas.

• Disabled representation in STEM remains drastically low; only 2% of PhDs in STEM in the U.S. are earned by people with disabilities, and Caribbean education systems face even greater barriers.

I’ve been asked, “Are you sure this course is right for you?”
Told, “You might struggle physically.”
And heard, “We haven’t seen someone like you in this field before.”

As if my existence in this space had to be justified.

✨ Uplifting Those Who Are Changing the Narrative

Thankfully, I am not alone in this tide shift. Across the Caribbean and the globe, programs and people are challenging the old narrative of who gets to belong in ocean science. These are just a few:

🔹 Caribbean-Based Changemakers

Caribaea Initiative (Jamaica & region-wide)

• Trains young scientists from the Caribbean in marine and biodiversity research.

• Actively promotes local authorship and leadership in regional science.

Dr. Anjani Ganase (Trinidad & Tobago)

• Marine biologist and science communicator leading inclusive coastal behavior research.

• Uses citizen science and storytelling to engage Caribbean communities.

Sustainable Ocean Alliance – Caribbean Hubs

• Youth-led branches in Trinidad, Jamaica, and Barbados that host policy events, cleanups, and mentorship.

• Provides microgrants and leadership pathways for first-gen and low-income students.

🔹 Global Programs Including Caribbean Voices

Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS)

• Founded by four Black women, it offers paid fieldwork, travel grants, and community for women of color in shark science.

Black in Marine Science (BIMS)

• Hosts BIMS Week, produces educational content, and supports internships for Black ocean scientists.

• Founder Dr. Tiara Moore is a fierce advocate for joy and justice in marine spaces.

Disabled in Ocean Science (DoOS)

• A global network working to make ocean science accessible for disabled researchers.

• Advocates for assistive tech, inclusive dive options, and field access.

Black Ocean Citizens (BLOC)

·       A growing collective of Black people connected to the ocean—as scientists, fishers, artists, swimmers, and stewards—reclaiming space in marine environments where they’ve historically been excluded.

·       BLOC uplifts Black coastal communities through storytelling, policy advocacy, education, and art. It centers racial justice in marine and fisheries work and is transitioning to become a people-led organization.

·       I’ve had the privilege of supporting BLOC’s storytelling and engagement efforts, and it’s reminded me that reimagining marine conservation must include radical inclusion and collective healing.

🔹 Powerful Voices Leading the Way

• Dr. Diva Amon (Trinidad & Tobago): Deep-sea biologist and policy leader advocating for equity in global marine research.

• Jean Wiener (Haiti): Founder of FoProBiM, championing Haitian-led conservation and community stewardship.

• Me – Tsian Deslandes: Founder of Mermaids Beyond Borders, creating access to marine conservation regardless of background, location, or ability.

These individuals and organizations are not just “included”—they’re leading, innovating, and building marine science back into something that looks like the real world.

🌍 The Future We’re Fighting For

I believe marine science should be for everyone—not just the few who can afford to access it or who happen to fit a historic mold.

We need classrooms where every child, regardless of their background, can say “I want to be a marine biologist” and hear, “Yes, you can.”
We need labs and research stations built with inclusion in mind—from wheelchair access to culturally competent policies.
We need funding models that reflect justice, not just meritocracy.

Because the ocean belongs to all of us.
And if the ocean has no borders, why should opportunity?

💙 Final Word

To every young person who’s been told they don’t belong in this field:
You do.
You are not too different—you are exactly what this field needs.
You are the next generation of marine scientists, storytellers, and stewards.

And I’ll be right there with you, swimming against the current until we shift the tide.