Abstract
This qualitative research study investigates the challenges and opportunities that formal and informal educators encounter in and around Matemwe, Zanzibar, in the broader implementation of Marine Science Education (MSE) in the primary school curriculum. Corresponding with previous research on ocean literacy (OL) and environmental stewardship, this study explores how collaboration between formal and informal educators can support the broader implementation of MSE, despite structural, pedagogical, and cultural constraints. Data were collected through twelve semi-structured interviews, one descriptive participant observation, and eight organisational documents from Under the Wave (UTW), a community-focused project led by marine biologists, analysed by using a combination of deductive and inductive thematic analysis. The findings from the analysis present key opportunities in experiential learning, professional development, and student engagement, as well as structural and systemic challenges like fragmented curricula, overcrowded classrooms, limited resources, and local perceptions regarding MSE. The study concludes that while integrating MSE in primary schools in and around Matemwe is complex, various strategies emerge through structuring MSE in existing curricula, educator collaboration, and fostering environmental stewardship in students.