Abstract

This research examines the role of multilingual education in raising awareness for the conservation of the commons among coastal communities and the role of inclusivity in enhancing sustainable marine practices and environmental stewardship. It bridges theories of marine education and VR-enabled environmental education to evaluate the impact of multilingual education on communities' understanding of marine ecosystems. Through participation and tech integration, the research measures the impact of marine education framed within local, national, and global geopolitical contexts on understanding, behavioral modification, and engagement on the conservation of marine ecosystems. Surveys, interviews, and VR marine education modules were part of a mixed-method design undertaken in targeted coastal areas. The findings suggest that multilingual education enhanced learners' understanding of marine ecology, the level of involvement in conservation activities, and the effectiveness of intergenerational knowledge transfer. Using virtual simulations with visuals helped break language barriers and promote inclusive empathy toward marine life. This study emphasizes that contextualized and culturally relevant multilingual pedagogy is essential to transform marine education to be community-oriented, within which tangible progress is achieved in marine and coastal ecosystem conservation. The findings support policy initiatives that advocate the integration of multilingual marine literacy programs with wider marine conservation, environmental education, indigenous peoples' stewardship, and technology. This study highlights the value of policy frameworks that promote the application of emerging education technologies and multilingual pedagogy to nurture more ocean-literate citizens who preserve marine life in the context of climate change and ecological destruction.

Keywords: Multilingual education, Marine conservation, Coastal communities, Environmental awareness, Virtual reality learning, Ocean literacy