Learning, Sharing, Acting for the Ocean in Oslo

Last week I had the pleasure of leading Ocean Conservancy’s delegation to the 2019 Our Ocean Conference in Norway. We had a lot planned for the two-day event, and it felt like a whirlwind. I couldn’t be more proud of the Ocean Conservancy team. The theme for this year’s conference was “Learning, Sharing, Acting,” and together, we hit it on the nose. Here are my favorite moments from the trip:

1. Hosting ministers and senior advisors from 12 government bodies (Belgium, Canada, Chile, the European Commission, Fiji, Indonesia, Monaco, New Zealand, Panama, Seychelles, Sweden and the United Nations) at a special breakfast event to discuss actions countries are taking to better integrate the ocean into climate policies. A healthy ocean is central to meeting the challenges of climate change, and Ocean Conservancy has been spearheading the push to create a formal home for the ocean under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
2. Announcing the Arctic Corporate Shipping Pledge on the plenary stage on behalf of Nike and Ocean Conservancy. The Pledge invites consumer goods and shipping logistics companies to commit to not ship through new Arctic Ocean routes and to recognize that melting Arctic sea ice habitat is caused by global greenhouse gas emissions, including the 3% of global emissions from the shipping sector itself. Initial signatories include companies Bestseller, Columbia, Gap Inc., H&M Group, Kering, Li & Fung, PVH Corp. and ocean carriers CMA CGM, Evergreen, Hapag-Lloyd and Mediterranean Shipping Company.
3. Witnessing Norway sign on live during the conference to become the 15^th member country of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative. By signing on, Norway demonstrated its commitment to tackling the issue of abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (also known as ghost gear). Through action on ghost gear, Norway and GGGI will improve the health of marine ecosystems, protect marine animals from harm, and safeguard human health and livelihoods through the implementation of best practice solutions to ghost gear.
4. Releasing Ocean Conservancy’s new Plastics Policy Playbook: Strategies for a Plastic-Free Ocean at an official side event with our partners National Geographic and Circulate Capital. The playbook provides a systematic look at measures governments and the private sector can take to keep trash out of the ocean.
5. Launching the Joanna (Jo) Toole Internship to support women in ocean conservation in front of a crowd of 100 young leaders from around the world at the Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit. The internship will give an aspiring ocean conservationist the opportunity to work with the GGGI, Ocean Conservancy and other partners on projects to protect the ocean from the effects of ghost gear. It is named in memory of one of the co-founders of the GGGI who was tragically killed in the March 2019 Ethiopian Airlines crash.
6. Meeting Norway’s Crown Prince Hakkon, who joined the conference for an entire day and shared with us his love of the ocean and his vision for meeting the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. I was able to join the Crown Prince on a tour of the Keep Norway Beautiful and Ocean Conservancy ocean trash art exhibit, and learn more about Norway’s efforts to tackle marine debris.

Individually, these moments represent small, important actions for our ocean. Collectively with the hundreds of other commitments made at the Our Ocean conference last week, we are seeing momentum build globally to protect our ocean. Thank you to my incredible Ocean Conservancy colleagues for making this event such a success, and thank you to Norway for their gracious hospitality. We look forward to seeing many of you at next year’s conference in Palau!

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Why Quitting Plastic Cutlery Helps Save our Ocean

When it comes to ocean plastics, there are a number of images we paint within our minds. From plastic bottles and straws to food wrappers and single-use grocery bags, most of us are well aware that an ever-growing flood of garbage is entering our ocean on a daily basis.

The statistics that flow with this current of pollution seem to grow more astounding by the minute: it’s now estimated a whopping 8 million metric tons of plastic enters our blue planet’s marine waters annually. To put that in perspective, this volume of trash in just one year is approximately equivalent to an entire garbage truck full of plastic being dumped into our ocean every minute of every day … on all 365 of those days.

Yes, it’s that bad. But we haven’t lost hope yet.

With the growth of this tide of ocean trash, something else has grown as well: an awareness of the problem and a determined fire in the bellies of ocean advocates who are ready to fight back for the sake of our ocean. While there are many things we can do to combat plastic pollution, one of the most critical aspects of finding and executing solutions to the marine debris crisis is simple: we must better understand the factors that are instigating the problem in order to solve them. It’s simple, really: the more we know about specifically what trash is contaminating our waters, the better we can stop it from getting there in the first place.

Alexis at an ICC cleanup © Alexis Baldera

For nearly 35 years, Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) has rallied communities together to fight for one common cause: cleaning local coastlines and documenting the pollution that’s picked up. We use the data collected each year by the million-plus volunteers to not only report back to the public on just how much trash was removed, but also to do something arguably more important: spotlight exactly what was found. Last year, we found a lot of trash (23,333,816 pounds, to be exact). What was even more eyebrow-raising than the sheer volume of debris, however, was what constituted one of the most heavily-documented items in 2018.

For the first time since Ocean Conservancy began counting plastic cutlery, these utensils claimed a spot among the top ten most-collected pieces of trash at the 2018 cleanup. In just one day, volunteers removed close to 2 million single-use plastic forks, knives and spoons from waterways around the globe.

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As with other environmental efforts combatting single-use plastics, such as our signature Skip the Straw campaign, a common theme seems to run through the heart of the movement to combat ocean plastic: the unquestionable, obvious truth that a portion of the problem, at its core, could be completely avoided with the switch to more sustainable alternatives. Most of us have the full capacity to skip plastic straws and invest in a reusable one. We have the ability to say no to single-use water bottles and treat ourselves to a reusable one. And there is nothing stopping us, at the end of the day, from quitting single-use plastic cutlery to help support a healthy ocean.

Public Domain

In a recent Forbes article, Nick Mallos, senior director of our Trash Free Seas program, explained the impact plastics like cutlery have on marine wildlife. “We have to remember that ocean animals and their feeding habits are not designed to distinguish plastic from food,” he said. “That’s why we see so many animals wash up with plastic in their guts, whether it’s straws, plastic bags or even more unusual items like plastic hoses.”

I don’t know about you, but with 2 million pieces of unnecessary plastic utensils added to that mix, my heart simply sinks. When it comes to quitting the cutlery, there’s one question that keeps repeating over and over again in my mind:

Do sea turtles need plastic sporks?

No, silly. They don’t. So why are we letting sporks enter their home in the first place?

Saying yes to more sustainable practices goes far beyond cutting down on personal waste.  By bringing along reusable cutlery or asking your favorite takeout restaurant to look into greener, more eco-friendly business practices, little adjustments can make a world of a difference for the survival of marine animals like sea turtles.

Friends, it’s time to start standing up for wildlife and saying no to the very items we use on a regular basis that put them in harm’s way. It’s time to quit the cutlery.

Take the pledge today: quit the cutlery, and join the movement for a cleaner, healthier, more sustainable planet … both for our own sake, and the sake of all the animals who depend on us to make this change. If we can do it with straws, we can do it with other plastics, too.

© David Diez Ortiz

The post Why Quitting Plastic Cutlery Helps Save our Ocean appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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From the Archives: Mining social media: The new world of abundant, ‘messy’ data and what marine conservation and management can learn from it (MEAM May 2018, Issue 11:7)

Editor’s Note: From the Archives calls attention to past Skimmer/MEAM articles whose perspectives and insight remain relevant.

Coverage of social media usually focuses on how social media platforms (e.g., Twitter, Facebook) can be used to communicate with and educate stakeholders and the general public. But social media also provides publicly available information on how people are using and feeling about the marine environment. Learn how social media and other digital data are being used for marine conservation and management.

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Fishing for invertebrates is increasing dramatically, and it’s impacting marine ecosystems: How we can manage invertebrate fisheries better

Editor’s note: In 2016, roughly one-third of the total value of the world’s trade of fish and fish products was invertebrates. (They were approximately one-fifth of the global fish trade by live weight.) To learn more about the state and future of invertebrate fisheries management, The Skimmer interviewed Heike Lotze, a professor in the Department of Biology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada.

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Latest Marine Ecosystem News and Resources for Planners and Managers

• New IPCC Oceans and Cryosphere special report paints dire picture of ocean health
• Experts describe best options for using oceans to mitigate climate change
• UN International Seabed Authority continuing discussions on regulations for deep-seabed mining; environmental organization seeks mining moratorium until deep sea better understood
• Scientists assess what is needed for restoring deep sea ecosystems
• Study provides new framework for understanding blue carbon ecosystem dynamics
• Marine heatwave in eastern North Pacific weakening
• New report describes best policies for reducing ocean plastic pollution
• Publication describes ways microplastics research needs to improve
• New online tool will provide easy access to migratory patterns of oceanic endangered species
• Oceanscape portal maps ocean organizations and their connections
• Input requested on information needs for coral reef management

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What webinars would you like to see?

OCTO and its services (The Skimmer, EBM Tools Network, OpenChannels.org, MPA News, and more) are currently scheduling their 2020 webinar series. Are there any topics you would like to see covered or presenters that you would like to hear from, please let us know at skimmer [at] octogroup.org!

Some popular webinars from this past year (recordings available) include:

• New opportunities for reducing coastal risk with natural defenses
• Financing coral reef conservation and management with tourism-related tools
• Conservation targets and how much of the world do we need to protect?
• A toolkit for managing cultural resources in marine protected areas
• The impact of human-caused ocean noise pollution on fish, invertebrates, and ecosystem services
• Managing the ocean in real-time: Tools for dynamic management
• Unmanned systems (UxS): Transforming how we study and manage the marine environment
• Not all those who wander are lost – Fishers communities’ responses to shifts in the distribution and abundance of fish resources

See the full list of upcoming webinars and find recordings of previous webinars.

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5 Famous Movie Monsters Inspired by Marine Animals

The ocean is a mysterious place, home to strange and wonderful critters that seem out of this world. For proof, look no further than the jaw-extending goblin shark, the luminous deep-sea angler fish or the ghostly chimaera.

So, when it comes time for writers to invent terrifying movie monsters, it’s no surprise that they turn to the sea for inspiration. Marine evolution has produced plenty of spines, shapes and strange behaviors for them to choose from.

Here are five of our favorite movie monsters that resemble real-life ocean organisms. Celebrate this Halloween with a screening of your favorites! Note: Although we find the resemblance uncanny, not all directors have confirmed these animals actually inspired their movie look-alikes!

Tremors: Graboids as Bobbit Worms

© Rickard Zerpe

Tremors, a 1990s sci-fi gem starting the illustrious Kevin Bacon, features a town plagued by a killer sandworms called graboids. These 30-foot-long worms live underground and burst through the desert sand with their powerful jaws to attack and kill their prey (thankfully, that prey does not include Kevin Bacon). A graboid look-alike is alive and well in our ocean: the bobbit worm. Although it’s not 30 feet long (more like 10 feet), it has a similar hunting mechanism to the Tremors monster. The bobbit worm buries itself in the sand, then lunges and snaps its jaws when prey comes by. Those chompers are strong enough to cut prey in two—and could cause some serious problems if you got close enough to test it out.

Alien: Xenomorph as Phronima

© Eric A. Lazo-Wasem

The Xenomorph is one of the most iconic—and terrifying—movie monsters out there. The Xenomorph is a parasite that plants its larvae in a human host, which will consume the host from inside out before emerging into the world (as illustrated by that famous chest-bursting scene in Alien). It’s rumored Xenomorphs (or, at least the alien queen morph) are inspired by the real-life ocean parasite Phronima. Phronima are tiny crustaceans that burrow a barrel-shaped nook inside salps (gelatinous plankton), killing the host. Phronima lay their eggs inside the dead salp, then continue to ride around with their young in the hollow salp body in a sort of twisted corpse-mobile. In this case, it’s safe to say the truth is even stranger than fiction.

Star Wars: Jabba the Hutt as a Sea Cucumber

© Ed Bierman

Star Wars’ Jabba the Hutt was a powerful crime boss, known for his ruthless behavior and imposing slug-like appearance. He was almost 13 feet long and moved by slithering his bulbous body along the ground. Although the largest sea cucumbers can only grow to half that size (about 6.5 feet) their soft, bumpy bodies are decidedly Jabba-like. Sea cucumbers can also expel their insides as a self-defense mechanism, and although we have no proof Jabba could do that, we also have no proof that he couldn’t.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Kraken as a Giant Squid

© Popular Science / Wikimedia Commons

The legend of the Kraken has been around for centuries, and is a popular monster in pop culture, including in Atlantis, Clash of the Titans, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and more. In the Pirates of the Caribbean series, the kraken is controlled by Davy Jones, who sends the monster to attack those who are in debt to him. The Kraken looks like a massive cephalopod, and the original kraken lore was likely inspired by sightings of giant squid. Although the real giant squid couldn’t crush a ship with its tentacles like the kraken, it can still reach up to 43 feet in length.

War of the Worlds: Aliens as Jellyfish

© NOAA

Since its initial release in 1897, H.G. Well’s War of the Worlds has sparked a number of movies, comics and TV series. In Steven Spielberg’s 2005 adaptation of the classic tale, the invading aliens’ appearance was supposedly inspired by jellyfish. They have round heads and numerous tentacles, and move in a light way that makes them seem like they are underwater (apparently, Spielberg wanted them to look “graceful”). In reality, jellyfish move by contracting and relaxing their bell, which moves the animal forward (as opposed the movie aliens, who walk on their tentacles). There are other major differences too, including the aliens being the size of skyscrapers and able to destroy entire cities. But otherwise, the resemblance is clear.

Do you have any examples of movie monsters inspired by marine animals that we’ve missed? If so, take to social media and share your creative examples with us by tagging @OurOcean!

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OC Overview for the week of 28 October 2019

After nonnative fish farming ban, Cooke Aquaculture plans a shift in Puget Sound

https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2019/10/25/cooke-aquaculture-plans-...

Salmon swim above the Grand Coulee Dam for first time in 80 years

https://www.hcn.org/issues/51.18/people-and-places-salmon-swim-above-the...

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A Voyage That Ended, An Ideology That Endures

“Mahs, mahs”

My grandmother dramatically enunciated the Pohnpeian version of a “Once upon a time …” before she began any one of the stories passed through the ages by oral traditions. She uttered the magical realism of Nan Madol, the reign of terror by ruthless past kings, the mythic chase that led to the “droppings” of Chicken Poop Mountain and many more past tales. We all sat around her, transfixed, until her revelatory finish.

However, the one story that I have always enormously admired was one of Pohnpei’s oldest and intrepid tales that began … with a canoe. This journey marked a critical point in history that inspired the following proverb: Pohnpei sahpw en kohdo which translates to “Pohnpei is a place for those who come.” From a voyage that concluded, that proverb is the underlying message in the story that endured the long oral transmission from one generation to another.

© Sou’sed Productions

Carolann Carl beautifully tells the story in a poem—Keilahn Aio: On the Other Side of Yesterday (a poem) —that she wrote and performed at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Fall 2018 Open Mic Poetry Slam Night. Carolann Carl is a Pohnpeian woman currently attending the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa majoring in biochemistry. Using an innovative method to share her experience in Hawaii as a COFA immigrant, Carolann harnesses the story of the courageous voyage of our ancestors that led to Pohnpei’s creation to deconstruct the misconceptions on her Hawaiian community. Addressed to islanders and useful to any audience, this is a humble poem that exemplifies one form of an eye-opening perspective on a controversial subject.

Watch: Carolann’s Video

© Carolann Ligohr Carl

On National Immigrant Day, we celebrate migration and its significant role in ALL ecosystems.

Here at Ocean Conservancy, we advocate for a healthy, ever-flowing ocean that holds our Pacific bluefin tuna and countless other marine species that migrate long distances as a crucial part of their survival. We promote the well-functioning ocean today whose same currents carried my ancestors years ago to the islands.

We also seek to protect our ocean whose waters that sweep over the coastal reefs of Pohnpei are the very same waves that wash the shores of this country that many have come to call home.

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Hold the Guacamole: Florida Making Important Steps in Combating Harmful Algal Blooms

Over the past few years, Floridians have become unpleasantly familiar with repeated noxious harmful blue-green algal blooms that have plagued rivers and estuaries, killing fish and shellfish, fouling boats and undermining the tourism economy. We’ve become so familiar, that we’ve nicknamed the thick, fluffy green plumes of blooming cyanobacteria something a little more descriptive: Guacamole Algae.

But in recent days, Florida has taken some critically important steps in alleviating the impacts of Guacamole Algae. The Blue-Green Algae Task Force, created by Governor DeSantis and funded by the state Legislature in early 2019, issued its first consensus report on October 11. It recommends strategies for reducing nutrients flowing into Florida’s lakes, canals and estuaries that fuel harmful blue-green algae blooms.

The Task Force commendably focuses on the most critical issues, providing a road map of how to reduce nutrients that fuel toxic blooms through changes to regulations and management actions. And Ocean Conservancy provided a list of recommendations to the task force that focused on reducing impacts to the marine and coastal environment of Florida, all of which were hankfully included in the consensus report.

And these recommendations could not have come sooner. As of last week, the Department of Environmental Protection reported 49 blooms of blue-green algae in the state, including several in Lake Okeechobee. Some scientists speculate that blue-green algae might even be a source of food for the organism responsible for red tide, which has recently re-appeared this month off Southwest Florida.

While blue-green algae occur naturally in aquatic ecosystems, some species can grow into toxic mats when excess nutrients from agriculture, failing septic tanks and sewer and stormwater treatment systems leach into waterbodies. Increasing temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns driven by climate change also create conditions favoring blooms. The Caloosahatchee River and St. Lucie River estuaries and their waterfront-based economies have been hit especially hard when freshwater discharges from Lake Okeechobee or runoff from local coastal basins, combined with low tidal flushing and climate change effects, trigger estuary blooms. The algal mats are not only unsightly, but they create a neurotoxin, Microcystin, harmful to people, pets, livestock and wildlife.

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A common theme in the Task Force recommendations is strengthening the effectiveness of restoration activities and best management practices for reducing nutrient loads. For instance, the Task Force recommends improvements to Basin Management Action Plans—blueprints for restoring impaired waters—aimed at maximizing pollutant reductions in strategic focal areas. For agricultural producers, the Task Force recommends increasing their enrollment in the Best Management Practices program and collecting data to verify ‘presumed’ BMP compliance with water quality standards. Importantly, the Task Force tackled septic tanks, which are currently not regulated for nutrient discharges. A new inspection and monitoring program to detect leaky tanks and stem the flow of nutrient pollution is recommended.

The Task Force also recognizes the importance of water storage and treatment infrastructure for managing freshwater flows and achieving water quality goals. This recommendation reinforces Everglades restoration priorities intended to limit harmful freshwater discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries while making more of that water available for the Everglades and Florida Bay.

Now, armed with the Task Force’s initial recommendations, the ball is in the Legislature’s court where the recommendations must be passed into law. And just this week, Governor DeSantis has promised to unveil a barrage of water quality legislation that will do just that.

It’s an all hands on deck moment for Florida’s water resources. If you’re a Floridian, a visitor to Florida or simply love clean water and healthy oceans, you should care about fixing the conditions that have created the Guacamole Algae problem. That’s why Ocean Conservancy is committed to continuing to work with the Task Force, state agencies, the Legislature and Governor DeSantis to usher forward meaningful policy and regulatory changes that will protect the precious water that makes Florida such a unique and special place.

The post Hold the Guacamole: Florida Making Important Steps in Combating Harmful Algal Blooms appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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Six Blue Parks Join the Growing Network of Global Ocean Refuges

[October 24, 2019. Oslo, Norway]  Today at Our Ocean Conference in Oslo, Norway, Marine Conservation Institute and its international science council awarded six outstanding marine protected areas (MPAs) Blue Park designation. A total of 16 MPAs now hold the prestigious Blue Park Award indicating that they meet the highest science-based standards for marine life protection and management. The Blue Park Award recognizes outstanding efforts by nations, non-profits, MPA managers, and local stake-holders that effectively protect marine ecosystems now and into the future.

“Our goal is to recognize those MPAs that deliver on biodiversity conservation, really protecting our ocean environment and inspiring others around the world to strongly protect at least 30% of the ocean’s most important places by 2030,” said Dr. Lance Morgan, President of Marine Conservation Institute. “Blue Park recognition provides regional examples of successful efforts and serves as a road map for others as we strive to protect our oceans for generations to come.”

After months of rigorous review by Marine Conservation Institute and an independent scientific panel, today’s announcement welcomes the following Blue Parks to a growing network of global ocean refuges (See this link for detailed information on each Blue Park and the system of parks: https://marine-conservation.box.com/s/xfh3bs9tn0ydh2c45vkdzq5vrz367l7p.)

 

• Aldabra Atoll Special Reserve, Seychelles, size in 2,559 km² and 988 mi²

 

• Area Marina Protetta di Torre Guaceto, Italy, size in 22 km² and 9 mi²

 

• Arnavon Community Marine Park, Solomon Islands, 169 km² and 65 mi²

 

• Marine Protected Areas around the Northern Channel Islands, California, USA, 3,804 km² and 1,469 mi²

 

• Parque Nacional Isla del Coco, Costa Rica, 2,011 km² and 777 mi²

 

• Reserva Marina de Galápagos, Ecuador, 138,000 km² and 53,282 mi²

 

Total Area for 2019 Blue Park Awardees is 146,565 km² and 56,590 mi²

“Blue Parks are the antidotes to the barrage of threats to life in our oceans,” said Dr. Sarah Hameed, Senior Scientist of Marine Conservation Institute. “MPAs may not be able to stop climate change impacts immediately, but strong protected areas in the right places today will enable ecosystems to recover and build resilience for the future.”

An international council of marine scientists evaluates MPAs nominated for the Blue Park Award and determines which ones meet the standards. The Blue Park Award criteria are based on what scientists have learned about what works to safeguard marine ecosystems. The evaluation of each nominee includes location, design, management, regulations and compliance to select MPAs that effectively protect the world’s most valuable and critical ecosystems.

“This is a time of great peril for ocean life as it faces off against increasing marine industrialization and climate change,” said Professor Douglas McCauley of UC Santa Barbara, Director of the Benioff Ocean Initiative and a member of the international science council for Blue Parks, “Blue Park Awards are shining a light on protected areas that are leading efforts to protect marine biodiversity and help promote resiliency to climate change impacts.”

A growing number of countries and conservation organizations are encouraging the creation of hundreds of new protected areas to reach the world’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 14) of protecting 10% of our oceans by 2020 and the proposed goal of at least 30% by 2030. Marine Conservation Institute is working to ensure as many MPAs as possible meet the high conservation standards of Blue Parks.

“Many of today’s marine protected areas are not effectively protecting the best places,” continued Dr. Hameed. “They’re often ‘paper parks’ appearing to meet commitments but lacking substance. Achieving a Blue Park Award requires meeting science-based standards we know will protect the oceans for generations to come. If we elevate and bring recognition to Blue Parks, we believe it will encourage more countries and leaders to meet this critical standard going forward.”

Today’s 6 winners join 10 prestigious 2017 & 2018 awardees. The network now includes 16 Blue Parks covering 1,669,388 km² or 644,404 mi² of ocean (approximately the size of Alaska or Iran, or 3 times the size of Kenya). These outstanding marine protected areas are securing lasting protection for marine biodiversity and their hard-won recognition has already inspired others to work towards a Blue Park Award. Nominations for the 2020 awards can be made through mid-March. Visit blueparks.org to find out how your marine protected area can become a Blue Park.

About Blue Parks

Marine Conservation Institute works with existing and new MPAs to ensure they are well- designed, effectively managed, protect our oceans and deliver on their commitment to protect marine biodiversity for generations to come. MPAs that meet these standards can achieve a Blue Park designation, the highest award of conservation excellence.

Blue Park Awards were established by the Marine Conservation Institute to encourage governments to safeguard marine wildlife, secure critical habitats, promote resistance to climate change, and ensure the beauty of our oceans for future generations. The effort aims to assemble an effective network that protects and sustains marine life and habitats globally. Today there are 16 marine protected areas that have been awarded Blue Park status. In addition to awarding six new Blue Parks today, Marine Conservation Institute has launched collaborations with groups planning new marine protected areas in Argentina, Chile and Mozambique to ensure their efforts result in future Blue Parks.

About Marine Conservation Institute

Marine Conservation Institute, founded in 1996, works in the U.S. and globally to seek strong protection for at least 30% of the ocean by 2030—for us and future generations. Our focus on protecting the ocean’s most important places follows several lines of work: identifying and advocating for strong marine protected areas; improving laws and other tools to better conserve marine biodiversity; catalyzing effective conservation by recognizing and elevating the best marine protected areas as Blue Parks; and accurately reporting on conservation efforts with our Atlas of Marine Protection (MPAtlas.org). 

For more information, contact Dr. Sarah Hameed: Sarah.Hameed@marine-conservation.org

 

 

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Cleaning Up Our Hidden Shorelines

This blog was written by Chelsea Rochman, Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, co-founder of the University of Toronto Trash Team and Scientific Advisor to the Ocean Conservancy; and Susan Debreceni, the Outreach Manager and co-founder of the University of Toronto Trash Team. 

As you wander around the neighborhoods of downtown Toronto, it’s likely that the shores of Lake Ontario are the furthest thing from your mind—but the shoreline is closer than you think. That’s because we all live in a watershed, where creeks, streams and rivers lead to oceans and lakes. Here at the University of Toronto (a downtown and inland location), we are connected to Lake Ontario via storm drains, so it was the perfect location to host an International Coastal Cleanup and connect our local community to our local watershed.

More than just a typical cleanup

The morning started on campus at Hart House Circle, where a team of eager Trash Team volunteers gathered to set up for the day and greet student and community volunteers before grouping them into small teams. These teams were then encouraged to keep a record of what they found by recording their findings on data cards as part of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. These findings are important citizen science contributions that can be used to inform best practices for future waste management.

We were also joined by friends and collaborators to set the tone for the big day. Bear Standing Tall opened the cleanup with an opening prayer, local City Councillor Mike Layton sent words of support for our team to share, and Geoff Wilson (CEO of PortsToronto) spoke about the importance of protecting Lake Ontario, including some exciting updates on their plans to install Seabins in the waterfront. And with these welcoming words, our teams were sent off to clean!

What did we find?

Based on past cleanup experiences, we predicted some classic repeat offenders would top the list once again, and as it turns out our predictions were correct. Cigarette butts were easily the number one item found (more than 7,000!), followed by miscellaneous scraps of paper, small plastic pieces, food wrappers and plastic bags. Honorable mentions included bottle caps, miscellaneous packaging materials, various personal hygiene items and coffee cups. One of the most unpredictable things about the cleanup was guessing how many people would show up, and we were thrilled with a turnout of 80 volunteers! Together, they removed more than 50 kg of trash from our local watershed, filling nearly 50 bags of garbage and recycling!

What made the day most memorable?

It’s always tricky to pinpoint the most memorable part of a day where nearly every moment was incredible, but there were definitely a few standout moments to share. Volunteer teams were encouraged to come up with creative names for their group and they sure did not disappoint, including such creations as the Trash Pandaz, Cigarette Butties, Alvin and the (crumpled) Chip Bags and Dumpster Defenders. Another great moment that happened throughout the day was when passersby expressed their thanks to our volunteers for keeping the neighborhood clean. All in all, it’s safe to say that the most memorable part of the day for everyone was seeing just how big of a difference they could make in such a short timeframe.

We’re already counting the days until next year’s International Coastal Cleanup event, but there is no reason to wait 365 days to make a difference. Every day we wander our watersheds, so this year we challenge you to clean a piece of your watershed every day by removing one item of litter from a roadside, park or local creek. If someone asks you what you are up to, tell them you are cleaning the oceans and lakes, because no matter where we are, we are always in a watershed.

If you want to stay up to date on all things Trash Team, follow us here. See you at the next cleanup!

This project was undertaken with the financial support of Environment and Climate Change Canada and Ocean Conservancy.

Chelsea leads the Rochman Lab at the University of Toronto, investigating the ecological implications of plastic debris in marine and freshwater habitats. She has published dozens of scientific papers in respected journals, led international working groups on plastic pollution, and participated in policy meetings regarding local and international plastic waste strategy. Through research, education, public engagement and policy, the Rochman Lab advances solutions to the serious challenge of aquatic plastic pollution.

Susan is passionate about connecting individuals with meaningful opportunities and spent the last decade supporting a national network of community volunteers through the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. She now leads outreach programming with the University of Toronto Trash Team, guiding and mentoring a team of undergraduate, graduate and postdoc students to bring waste literacy to local schools and the general public.

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Guest Blog: Gili Shark Conservation’s Coral Restoration Project

A new coral restoration project on the Gili Islands has been launched to help restore coral reefs, and educate others on the importance of protecting our oceans. The project is underway and the team are using science to help improve further coral research and coral reef monitoring techniques.

Coral restoration efforts are becoming increasingly important, as more knowledge is constantly revealed about the coral reefs and the increasing threat of coral bleaching brought along by global warming. Coral reefs have suffered significant impacts over recent years as a result of the impact of human and natural disturbances on their biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. These ecosystems are fragile and sensitive to changes in their environment and are at greater risk of degradation than other marine systems. With a significant decline in the health and fitness of the coral reefs around the world, it is now considered to be a crisis at a global scale.

“Through research, we have been able to estimate that over 50% of the corals around the Gili Islands have been lost. The Gili Islands is an important location for a coral restoration project because of its touristic attraction. We don’t only have the chance to recover some of the pristine coral reefs, but also to spread awareness about the importance of coral reefs and be role models in the field.” Andre Saputra, Lead Scientist at Gili Shark Conservation.

Coral restoration has shown promising results around the world, with the closest example being the coral restoration project of Blue Corner Dive Center in Nusa Lembongan in Bali. The method called coral micro fragmentation has been successful there and has now begun in the Gili Matra Marine Recreational Reserve (GMMRR).

Gili Shark Conservation’s project mission is to restore coral reefs around the Gili Islands in Indonesia, to educate others on the importance of our oceans, and to use science to further coral research and coral reef monitoring techniques.

The project has comprised of multiple stages so far. The initial stages of the project entailed building the hex domes. These were constructed with locals, created out of iron bars. Then, the domes were coated with sand and epoxy to make a comfortable new home for coral to live and grow on. Through this process, locals were educated about the project.

      

Once prepared, the hex domes were dropped into the ocean. The restoration sites were selected by Gili Shark Conservation due to their importance as a nursery for Blacktip reef sharks and as home to a diverse and abundant range of fish species, according to RUV (roving underwater video) footage. They are very rich reefs and a perfect place for coral to grow (good water circulation etc). The restoration site was damaged and the goal is to restore it to its initial condition. Once in place, the qualified scuba divers started ‘coral gardening’. First, they harvested corals, by collecting lots of broken coral. Then the corals were fragmented, taken to the restoration site, and attached to the hex domes. Some domes have one species of coral attached and some have two, as an experiment to see if they will grow quicker due to competition for space.

   

The sites are under scientific monitoring to establish the success of the project as it continues. Harvesting broken corals ready for fragmenting The International SeaKeepers Society Asia Achievement Award In April, the Gili Shark Conservation Project was awarded The International SeaKeepers Society Asia Achievement Award, which recognizes an organization in Asia that demonstrates a responsibility towards the health of Asia’s marine environment. As part of the award, The International SeaKeepers Society committed to funding the first 30 hex dome structures of the coral restoration project of the Gili Shark Conservation Project. The award has provided the Gili Shark Conservation project with an amazing opportunity to help restore damaged reefs which are extremely important to a range of marine life. This is a wonderful example of different organizations from all corners of the globe working together to achieve something good, and something bigger than the sum of each of the individual parts.

Find out how you can join Gili Shark Conservation and contribute to their important work on these island by visiting their expedition page.

For more information about Gili Shark Conservation visit their website.

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5 Seafood Traditions Around the World

People all over the world, from the Arctic to the Caribbean and from the Midwest to coastal cities, eat seafood. In fact, three billion people rely on seafood as their primary source of protein—that’s 40% of the world’s population!

But seafood is much more than just food. Seafood, and the fishers who provide it, can have an important role in religious ceremonies, local traditions and cultural identities. As we celebrate National Seafood Month this October, we want to take a moment to recognize the role seafood plays in communities around the world—and remember the important work left to do to ensure fish populations stay healthy for future generations.

Here are five holidays and traditions from around the world that feature fabulous seafood dishes.

Chinese New Year

© Ivan Bandura

Different pronunciations of the Mandarin word yu can mean different things, including both “abundance” and “fish”. During Chinese New Year, fish symbols and dishes are common as people make wishes for a happy, healthy new year. There is also a Mandarin phrase that well-wishers share on the holiday: niannian you yu (年年有魚), or “may there be surpluses/may there be fish every year”.  As a result, fish dishes are a staple of New Year dinners, and some even save portions of their dinner for the next day to carry the “surplus” into the new year.

Mardi Gras

© Mega Hammond

There are a lot of things to love about Mardi Gras: the music, the costumes and the food. You can’t talk about the holiday (or Louisiana, for that matter) without mentioning the hearty, seafood-based dishes that make it famous. Gumbo is a thick stew that can be made with oysters, shrimp and crab and is the official state cuisine of Louisiana. Other dishes, like shrimp and grits, shrimp etouffee, oyster po’ boys and crawfish, show off the region’s creole and Cajun flavors while highlighting their fresh local seafood. Mardi Gras is a chance to show off the region’s unique seafood dishes—all of which depend on sustainable Gulf coast fisheries.

Feast of the Seven Fishes—Christmas Eve

© GW Fins

This Christmas Eve tradition has its roots in Italian and Italian-American culture, and is named for the seven courses of the seafood meal. It originated from the Roman Catholic practice of not eating meat and dairy the night before major holidays, and has turned into a much-loved tradition (and excuse to cook some incredible dishes). Some spend weeks or months preparing for the big event. Dishes vary between families, but can include pasta with shellfish, seafood stew, baked fish, squid, salmon dip, sea scallops, mussels and lobster (essentially, any seafood is fair game!). It’s also a way to celebrate the culinary traditions of different regions of Italy—as long as it includes seafood.

Bengali Weddings

© শক্তিশেল

Bengali weddings are elaborate affairs, with well-known traditions around rituals, food and attire. Fish is served throughout the 3-4-day event, where guests are treated to lobster, fried fish and seafood curry. It’s also traditional for the in-laws to give the new bride a fish as a sign of good luck and success in their marriage. Then when the bride enters her new home, she is shown a fish to symbolize the start of the new phase of her life. Whether it’s being consumed by celebrating guests or used in a symbolic ritual, seafood plays an integral part in the traditional Bengali wedding.

Scandinavian Christmas

© Brian Moen

Scandinavians have a Christmas tradition that involves eating lutefisk, or dried whitefish treated with lye. Lye, if ingested on its own, can cause chemical burns or even death; however, lutefisk is not toxic. In fact, the state of Wisconsin explicitly exempted lutefisk from its list of toxic substances. Dried whitefish, such as cod, is soaked in water for up to six days, then soaked for another two days in a solution of water and lye. The result is a gelatinous fish blob that is salted and baked or steamed. Legend has it that it’s a Viking tradition, and is especially popular in the Midwestern United States.

These rich seafood traditions rely on healthy fish populations that support the careers of sustainable fishers and the livelihoods of fishing communities. Join Ocean Conservancy as we strive to keep our ocean healthy and our fisheries thriving. Check out how we’re taking action today.

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SCGIS - The Allen Coral Atlas: A new map for coral conservation

Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8030776156737192972  

Date/time: Thursday, October 31 at 10am PT/ 1pm ET

Presenter: Helen E. Fox, Ph.D. Senior Director, National Geographic Society

Project Co-Authors: C.M. Roelfsema, B. Bambic, R. Borrego-Acevedo, B. Free, P. Gerstner, E. Kennedy, E. Kovacs, K. Markey, K. Rice, G. Asner, S.R. Phinn, C. Whiton, A. Zolli

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