Abstract This chapter re-evaluates our relationship with the ocean, challenging traditional views that reduce it to a mere resource. It advocates for a shift towards ocean literacy, emphasizing the interconnectedness and interdependence between humans and the marine environment through the values of relationality and care. Relationality rejects Western dualisms, promoting a holistic perspective that sees humans and the ocean as deeply interconnected. Care highlights the ethical and emotional dimensions of this relationship, advocating for empathy and responsibility. By exploring these values through two pathways—connecting with each other and with the ocean—the chapter illustrates how integrating relationality and care can transform ocean governance.