Blue Futures Pathways, an initiative of the SOI Foundation, is a bilingual program that connects young people aged 15-35 with education, employment and funding opportunities that inspire and support them in exploring successful careers in the emerging Sustainable Blue Economy. In line with SOI’s mandate, Blue Futures Pathways (BFP) places particular emphasis on under-represented and Indigenous young people, and activities that support those in remote and rural areas. BFP also offers partner organizations a platform to communicate opportunities, as well as support to employers and educators wishing to engage and retain young people along their pathways. The BFP expeditions are an important part of the BFP mandate, and this dataset is representative of the diversity encountered along the journeys. Observations were collected by educators, crew, and participants alike, demonstrating the collaborative and interdisciplinary spirit of the BFP program! BFP is an officially endorsed action of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. This dataset is also partly published through the CMN IPT on GBIF for preserved specimens.