Dear friends and colleagues,

I’m delighted to invite you to an orientation session for the Restorative Ocean Communities (ROC) Working Groups. As interest has grown around Restorative Ocean Farms and their potential, this is an initiative to organise ourselves into an efficient support system for coastal communities seeking to be Restorative Ocean Communities. Working groups will be place-based (UK, Mediterranean, etc.) while sharing a common framework that supports locally grounded action. 

I look forward to seeing you there. Please feel free to forward this invite.

Warmly,

Tara A. Pierce

Restoring Sustainability 

Vision

Restorative Ocean Farms (ROFs) are vertical, underwater polyculture gardens of native species that actively restore marine ecosystems while supporting local livelihoods, food systems, and coastal resilience.

Restorative Ocean Communities (ROCs) take this a step further. They are place-based initiatives that weave ROFs into a broader community context, uniting ecological restoration with local culture, governance, education, and sustainable livelihoods. 

ROCs are not “one-size-fits-all” projects; they are shaped by local ecosystems, legal frameworks, and community priorities.

Mission of the Working Groups

The ROC Working Groups exist to:

• Support the development of ROFs
• Share knowledge, tools, and resources across regions
• Build pathways from pilot projects to long-term policy change
• Collaborate across disciplines while staying rooted in place

Each region will have its own Working Group, operating under a shared structure and values.

ORIENTATION: Friday 13 February, 16:00 London Time

What the Orientation Will Cover

During this session, we’ll:

• Introduce the ROC framework and Working Group structure
• Walk through the goals, deliverables, and timeline
• Explain the task groups and how to be involved
• Current funding strategy (yes, I want us all to get paid)
• Answer questions and gather initial expressions of interest

This is a low-pressure, exploratory session—no prior commitment required.

Who Should Attend?

You may find this especially relevant if you are:

• Working in marine conservation, aquaculture, or restoration
• Part of a coastal or island community exploring regenerative projects
• Involved in policy, law, research, or community organising
• Interested in funding, governance, or sustainable ocean economies
• Working in media and want to help change the climate narrative toward solutions
• Working in business and want to explore new definitions of “sustainable” that are pro-climate and pro-nature and/or help small businesses with branding/marketing
• Students, professionals, and volunteer activists are all welcome
• Anyone in any field who wants to be part of a transformative ocean solution to living in harmony with nature and becoming climate resilient