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Mission Blue Makes Waves at IMPAC5: A Celebration of Hope Spots and Indigenous Influence

Header image: Dr. Sylvia Earle, IMPAC5 keynote speaker © IISD/ENB 
(VANCOUVER, CANADA) –
From February 3rd-9th, 2023, the 5th International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) was co-hosted by the Canadian government and The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This conference brought together policymakers, conservationists, scientists, and stakeholders from around the world to exchange knowledge, experiences, and best practices in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Mission Blue was omnipresent at the Congress, with the Hope Spots program and the influential presence of Dr. Sylvia Earle.
 

 
The event underscored the importance of indigenous influence in ocean conservation, highlighting the invaluable knowledge and practices of indigenous communities. The focus on indigenous perspectives demonstrated a growing recognition of the vital role that traditional knowledge and practices play in marine conservation, acknowledging the need for greater collaboration and understanding between indigenous communities and the broader conservation community.…

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Scuba Diving made Accessible to Every Body throughout Pacific Northwest with S.A.F.E. Scuba

By Chelsea Meier, Creative Partner, S.A.F.E. SCUBA

(HILLSBORO, PORTLAND, OREGON, UNITED STATES) – 
Beneath the tranquil blue water of the ocean, there’s a bustling world filled with marine life, coral, and wonder. Those who are disabled may not believe that this world is accessible to them but with S.A.F.E. Scuba, it is.
 
 
S.A.F.E. Scuba is a non-profit organization, based in Hillsboro, Oregon, that trains both divers with disabilities and dive buddies who will accompany them on their adventures. Through their adaptive diving programs, they strive to give those with disabilities the chance to gain the confidence, independence, freedom, and self-esteem that come with the sport of scuba diving. Through adaptive diving, those with disabilities can explore new depths and gain a sense of freedom in the open water.…

Posted in .Homepage, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Featured, mission blue, Partner Stories, Photo of the Day, sylvia earle, Uncategorized |

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Snorkeling for Science: Citizen Scientists join Cape RADD in Exploring the Underwater World of the False Bay Hope Spot, South Africa

By Louise Baldwin, Hope Spot Specialist
Header image: Beautiful underwater scene in the False Bay Hope Spot © Raoul Coscia
(FALSE BAY, SOUTH AFRICA) – 
Southern Africa is home to a particularly rich array of marine diversity with over 13,000 species, almost 6% of all coastal marine species worldwide. Even more impressive is that 35% of these are endemic (occurring nowhere else in the world). This species richness is largely attributed to the fact that two major current systems, the warm Agulhas and the cool Benguela current sweep along its coastline.   
Mike Barron, False Bay Hope Spot Champion says, “I am lucky enough to have traveled the world diving and even worked on the Great Barrier Reef, but on a good day, there’s nowhere quite like diving in the Great African Sea Forests.” …

Posted in .Homepage, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Featured, mission blue, Partner Stories, Photo of the Day, Uncategorized |

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Important Sea Turtle Breeding and Foraging Grounds Throughout the Pearl Islands Archipelago in Panama Recognized as a Hope Spot

Featured image by Eduardo Estrada

(PEARL ISLANDS, GULF OF PANAMA) – 
El Archipelago de las Perlas, or the Pearl Islands Archipelago, is a collection of more than 200 islands and islets and 3,188 beaches, located in the Gulf of Panama, approximately 48 kilometers off its Pacific Coast. This archipelago holds an impressive marine life richness and diversity that has yet to be fully discovered, studied, and recognized for its importance within the Latin American region and around the globe. It provides, currently or historically, a breeding ground for four sea turtle species: hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), leatherback sea turtles (Dermochleys coriacea), and olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), and it is a nursery ground for hammerhead sharks (Sphyrnidae) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) to breed and raise their young. …

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A Voice for the Ocean: Counting Forgotten Species in the Galápagos

Featured image: Galápagos horn shark © Avi Klapfer
By Courtney Mattison

Before humans ever made landfall in the Galápagos Archipelago in 1535, only 300 years before Darwin’s fateful voyage, whale sharks migrated through the northern islands among oceanic manta rays and schools of hammerheads while green sea turtles munched on algae growing between barnacles the size of tennis balls on the rocks below. Sea lions and fur seals sunbathed on shore, reclining among marine iguanas, crimson Sally Lightfoot crabs, frigates and blue-footed boobies. Despite the challenges of tourism, commercial fishing and climate change, the Galápagos of today looks surprisingly similar. It’s tempting to assume that these islands and surrounding waters are relatively pristine given their remote location and UNESCO World Heritage status, and in some ways they are.…

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Marine Life Recovery in the Revillagigedo Archipelago Hope Spot Points to Success of No-Take Marine Protected Areas

Featured image: Roca Partida Islet (c) Alberto Lebrija

Established in November 2017, the Revillagigedo National Park is Mexico’s and North America’s largest Marine Protected Area (MPA) at 148,087 square kilometers (57,177 square miles) and is safeguarded from industrial fishing and other extractive activities (The Pew Charitable Trusts). At the time, members of the local fishing industry raised concerns about the negative impact a no-take policy could have on their catch. However, scientists have noted growing biodiversity in Revillagigedo’s waters – news that is good for everybody, both fish and fishermen.
 

 
International marine conservation nonprofit Mission Blue recognizes Mario Gomez, founder of Beta Diversidad (a Mexican NGO), as the new Champion of the Revillagigedo Archipelago Hope Spot. Dr. Sylvia Earle, Founder of Mission Blue, says, “I had the pleasure of seeing Mario in action as he led the work of organized civil society that ended with the creation of Revillagigedo National Park in November 2017.”…

Posted in .Homepage, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Featured, hope spots, mission blue, Multimedia, Partner Stories, Photo of the Day, sylvia earle, Uncategorized |

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Webinar: Capturing Hope: The Role of Photography in Ocean Conservation

Thank you for joining us on November 9th, 2022 at 11:00 PST!
With just one picture, photographers have the power to bring the beauty and vulnerability of wildlife to the public’s attention to evoke new perspectives and action from their audience.
In this discussion, moderated by Max Bello, each panelist shared their favorite photos that they’ve captured that tell a meaningful conservation story. The panelists also shared their experiences capturing great photos of marine life in an unintrusive, ethical way.
 

Our Panelists:
Dr. Sylvia Earle, Founder of Mission Blue and National Geographic Explorer in Residence
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Christian Vizl, Underwater photographer and conservationist. Among other work he is known for his black and white photographs of marine life that highlight brilliant contrast and texture under the water.…

Posted in .Homepage, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Featured, mission blue, Partner Stories, Photo of the Day, sylvia earle, Uncategorized |

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New Champions of George Town Hope Spot Urge for Greater Protection of Harbor Waters

George Town, Great Exuma, Bahamas

In 2019, the Cayman Islands government had plans to build a multi-port cruise ship berthing facility in the heart of the George Town Harbor. The environmental impact assessments identified that this project would have a devastating effect on most of the marine ecosystems in the area. After intensive campaigning, community objection, and the recent changes in the cruise ship industry, the proposed project was canceled. Shortly after, the harbor was designated as a Mission Blue Hope Spot, representing hope for a healthy future for the island. Currently, there is no legislation that fully protects the Hope Spot from construction or development, but Chloe Bentick-Lalli, a local Caymanian student with the organization Protect Our Future, and Jon Schutte are dedicated to challenging the government to commit to comprehensive, thorough protection for the island.…

Posted in .Homepage, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Featured, mission blue, Partner Stories, Photo of the Day, sylvia earle, Uncategorized |

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John Aitchison, Champion of the Argyll Coast and Islands Hope Spot Named a Disney Conservation Hero

John Aitchison, Hope Spot Champion of Argyll Coast and Islands Hope Spot has been recognized as a 2021 Disney Conservation Hero. Aitchison is a wildlife filmmaker who lives in Scotland and has dedicated much of his life to the conservation of the critically endangered species that live in his blue backyard, including the elusive flapper skate. He is also the chair of Friends of the Sound of Jura, one of the many organizations that make up the Coastal Communities Network Scotland, supported by Fauna and Flora International.
In our conversation with Aitchison, he describes what this exciting recognition means for the Argyll Coast community and shares what’s next for Scotland’s Hope Spot.

Mission Blue: Congratulations on this wonderful recognition! What does this mean for your organization and your activities in the Hope Spot?…

Posted in .Homepage, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Featured, mission blue, Partner Stories, Photo of the Day, sylvia earle, Uncategorized |

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First Hope Spot in New York Celebrated at Shinnecock Bay, Long Island

Photo: Dr. Ellen Pikitch, Hope Spot Champion, tagging flounder (c) Kristy Leibowitz
LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK

Approximately 122 km east of Manhattan lies Shinnecock Bay, a hidden gem of biodiversity that has been a key stronghold for imperiled species both in New York State and globally. The bay covers an area of 40 km2 and consists of nine thousand acres of open water, salt marshes, intertidal flats, and seagrass beds. A remarkable variety of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, invertebrates and other wildlife live and migrate through Shinnecock Bay. 
 
 
International marine conservation nonprofit Mission Blue has named Shinnecock Bay a Hope Spot in recognition of its substantial ecological, scenic, touristic, economic, spiritual and cultural significance. The Hope Spot designation is also in recognition Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program (ShiRP) implemented ten years ago by Stony Brook University.…

Posted in .Homepage, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Featured, mission blue, Partner Stories, Photo of the Day, Uncategorized |

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