Five Videos to Enjoy While Social Distancing

If you’re stuck inside, chances are you are burning through television shows and movies that have been stuck on your “to watch” list for years. I find myself desperate for good content and a little inspiration from the ocean while I’m at home. For so many of us, the ocean can center us, calm us and give us purpose. While I can’t visit the ocean right now, these videos help me bring it right to my living room.

1. Morning MeditOcean

Meditation has been a useful tool on my personal social isolation journey. It helps me process my emotions and helps to center me each morning. I’ve been really enjoying MeditOcean, a guided meditation from the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Each edition features a calming guided meditation with soothing underwater images.

2. DC Environmental Film Festival

The DC Environmental Film Festival has been cancelled, but now many of the documentaries are available to watch at home. Enjoy films on topics ranging from penguins, ocean plastics, hellbenders, mermaid activists and more. There are films for all ages including animated films that explore conservation topics. Break out the popcorn and make your own film festival at home.

3. Explore.org Webcams

I often like something up in the background while I’m working. I’ve found Explore.org webcams to be the perfect source for this. From sea otters to sharks, they’ve got cameras where you can spy on all sorts of underwater creatures. As a bonus, they also mesmerize my cat, keeping her entertained while I work.

4. Puppies at the Georgia Aquarium

If you are ready for a cuteness overload, check out these visitors to the Georgia Aquarium. I keep a bookmarks folder of videos that bring me joy when I’m feeling down. These cute puppies have been added to the list. They will bring a smile to your face while they enjoy the wonders of the ocean.

5. Oceans to Everglades

If you are looking for educational content, check out our Ocean to Everglades documentary series. This three-part documentary series focuses on the unique aquatic environment in South Florida. Learn how the Everglades and ocean environments are deeply intertwined and how you can join local advocates and leaders to protect these rich ecosystems.

What ocean content have you been enjoying? Share your favorite videos with @OurOcean!

The post Five Videos to Enjoy While Social Distancing appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.

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Feather Stars are Here to Swim into Your Heart

You’ve heard of sea stars and brittle stars. But have you heard about feather stars?

At first glance, feather stars look like plants. They have branching appendages that billow out from a central point, almost like a potted fern. But don’t be fooled! They are animals known as echinoderms. That means they are part of Phylum Echinodermata, along with sea urchins, sea stars, brittle stars and sea cucumbers. Echinoderms are invertebrates that are only found in the ocean and are known for their five-point radial symmetry and unique water vascular system.

Feather stars are in the class Crinoidea, which is a group of echinoderms that includes sea lilies and feather stars. There are about 550 species of crinoid alive today, but crinoids have been around for a long time. They first appeared in the fossil record about 300 million years before the dinosaurs during the Middle Cambrian period. Today, geologists use crinoid fossils to learn more about the areas where they are found, as they provide evidence of when land masses were underwater.

© Jan (Arny) Messersmith

Crinoids get their name from the Greek word “krinon”, which means lily. That’s because their structure generally resembles that of the flower: they have branching appendages and attach themselves to a surface. Crinoids that have a “stalk” that connects them to that surface are called sea lilies, but crinoids that don’t have a stalk are feather stars.

Let’s get back to feather stars: they have feathery arms that typically appear in multiples of five, allowing them to keep the radial symmetry echinoderms are known for. Some species can have up to 150 arms! They use these plumy arms to capture plankton and other small bits of food that drift by them in the water column. And if they lose an arm to predation, they can regrow it, just like sea stars.

They have a few options to move around the sea floor. For short distances, they can use tiny leg-like appendages called cirri to inch along the substrate. They also use cirri to trap food particles they come across along the way. To move further, they can use their arms to swim in the water column. Check out the video below if you’ve never seen it—it’s absolutely hypnotizing.

Early research suggests that these charismatic echinoderms might be able to withstand warming ocean temperatures fairly well. According to crinoid researchers, feather stars are able to grow their limbs back more quickly in warmer temperatures, so we will hopefully continue to see these invertebrates despite warming oceans.

Although feather stars might not be as well-known as other echinoderms like sea stars and sea urchins, we think they are pretty fantastic. Next time you’re in the water or at an aquarium, keep an eye out for these beauties!

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Guest Blog: Gili Shark Conservation – Coral Reefs Will Save the Day: Here’s Why They’re Important

This guest blog from Gili Shark Conservation explains how important coral reefs are and how they could literally save the day!

All divers will tell you how beautiful coral reefs are. They’re like the cities under the ocean, home to hundreds of fish and wonderful creatures! Their value lies far beyond their beauty and the pleasure it brings to those who explore it. Coral reefs are fundamental for many reasons. From protecting our land to providing us with food, all the way to putting money in our pockets.

Money, money, money

Many coral reefs are the foundations for their local economies. This often has to do with those dreaded tourists! But we all love them. We love being them, and we love having them. They make the world go around!

Coral reefs provide millions of jobs to locals via tourism, fishing, and recreational activities. Tourism includes anything from diving, fishing trips, hotels, restaurants, and many other businesses. Many legendary coral reef ecosystems worldwide are cultural heritage sites. Humans who live near them maintain many traditions.

The Great Barrier Reef alone generates over $1.5 million USD per year for the Australian economy. And in the Florida Keys, coral reefs generate nearer $3 billion USD per year and are valued at $8 billion USD.

It’s not only western countries that benefit though. Poorer coastal communities in less economically developed countries can profit from coral reefs – if they are managed in a sustainable way!

Coral reefs provide incalculable biological wealth, as well as economic. They provide goods and services worth hundreds of billions of dollars a year. Considering they cover less than one percent of the earth’s surface – that’s hard to ignore!

The Great Barrier Reef is called a barrier for a reason

Coral reefs protect the land we live on. They protect our shorelines from erosion and from storms, hurricanes and even tsunamis. Barrier reefs are named because of how they reduce waves and buffer shores. They act as a barrier between the ocean and land. They support mangroves and seagrass beds.

People who live in built-up areas particularly reap benefits from erosion prevention. Coral reefs mean reduced insurance and a lack of need for coastal defenses. That’s worth billions of dollars per year. Around the world, over half a billion people live within 100 kilometers of coral reefs. And so they have the advantage of their coastal protection and their production.

Filtration nation

Coral reefs can’t exist in murky, polluted waters. Many corals and sponges are filter feeders so they consume matter suspended in water. So they’re epic contributors to water quality and clarity of shoreline waters.

Clean and clear waters make beaches more beautiful. And allow coral reefs to continue to thrive and be healthy. Good for fish, marine life and for tourism!

One fish, two fish, three fish, more!

Coral reefs are the foundation for complex food webs of the ocean. They’re the source of nitrogen and other nutrients. Fish find food, shelter, and protection from coral reefs. Reefs are important to spawning and as a home to juvenile fish. This is especially important for the fishing industry.

But it’s not only our fish friends! Many crustaceans, mammals and reptiles live on coral reefs too. And they depend on them for somewhere to live and protection in the ocean. And each lil’ animal has its own special role in the reef ecosystem.

Coral reefs support a diverse range of plants and animals. And so support and maintain balanced relationships between prey, predators and organisms. Balanced relationships mean our marine ecosystems remain diverse with abundant marine life. Yay!

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Food glorious food

Seafood has been a staple in human diets since people have lived on coastlines. It’s a big economic force in all oceans around the world. Local fisheries all rely on reefs for habitat and spawning. Fisheries for pelagic species rely on coral reefs indirectly through the baitfish they consume.

Especially in less economically developed countries, coral reefs are important for fishing. Here, coral reefs contribute to 25 percent of total fish catch. This provides food for many millions of people!

It’s estimated that one billion people depend on coral reefs for food and income from fishing. Sustainable management of coral reefs can yield a lot of food. Around 15 tonnes of fish and seafood per square kilometer per year.

Long story short, fish and other marine life exist because coral reefs give them food and a place to live. So coral reefs = food for us. Although fish are friends, not food where we come from!

Variety is the spice of life

Coral reefs help to support a diverse range of species of fish and other marine life. A diverse range of species means a wider gene pool. This means more survival options during changing environmental conditions and climate change.

Extinction is a greater threat to those species with limited diversity. The greater the diversity, the lesser the impact of removing an individual species on the wider ecosystem.

Coral reefs are some of the most diverse valuable ecosystems on our planet. They support more species per unit area than any other marine environment. This includes 4,000 species of fish, 800 hard coral species and hundreds of others! There could be another eight million or more undiscovered species of organisms living in and around reefs. That’s epic!

Not just a pretty face

Coral reefs aren’t just a pretty face! They’re beautiful but it doesn’t stop there. The biodiversity maintained by their presence is important for many things. One of the other main benefits of coral reefs is their use in medicine.

We’re continuing to find new medicines from coral reef animals and plants. They can be cures for everything from bacterial infections to cancer. And we expect this to continue with future medical advances.

Coral reefs have been dubbed the earth’s ‘medicine cabinet’. This is because so many drugs have been created from coral reef organisms. We may continue to find the answers to medical problems in coral reefs, as we do with tropical rainforests. But only for as long as we keep coral reefs healthy!

Coral reefs provide limitless services to coastal and global communities they support. If coral reefs are destroyed and damaged, the services they once provided will also be damaged and nobody wants that!

Save the day

So whether you want to preserve their natural beauty and their wondrous creatures. Or if you’re driven by the money in your pocket. Coral reefs will save the day. So, protect them every way you can! We strive to maintain healthy coral reefs around the beautiful paradise we call home. So we started a coral restoration project!

Our 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.

There are many coral restoration projects around the world you can get involved with! Join our research team to dive in Gili Air’s paradise and find out more about coral restoration. As well as shark and marine life conservation!

Originally posted here

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Guest Blog: Blue Ventures – How to reduce the environmental impact of your travels

This guest blog features a former Blue Ventures Field Scientist Rachel Knowles talks us through ways prospective volunteers can minimise environmental impact whilst on a Blue Ventures expedition in Madagascar.

As the world rapidly awakens to the looming climate and ecological crisis, our shared understanding of the challenges ahead and our impact on the world increases. In this blog former Blue Ventures Field Scientist Rachel Knowles talks us through ways prospective volunteers can minimise environmental impact whilst on a Blue Ventures marine conservation expedition in Madagascar.

Before your expedition

Beg, borrow, steal!

You read through your packing list, it has a number of things you already own, some new things you’ve heard of and maybe a few you haven’t! You realise you’re going to need to do a lot of shopping to hunt it all down, but remember that buying new isn’t the only way. Second-hand dive gear is readily available, can cost much less, and with the right research can be as good as new.

If you already know divers that have all the gear – talk to them! Lots of people have equipment stored away in their homes not being used. Chances are you’ll be able to borrow half the gear you might need in return for some duty-free airport chocolate.

Be conscious of what you buy

Inevitably you will still need and want to buy new items, but think carefully about what you bring with you and look for quality that can be re-used for several years. For your everyday items, try to avoid anything that will produce a lot of plastic waste (e.g. disposable razors, plastic tampon applicators, daily contact lenses). Ladies, periods don’t need to involve lots of single-use items – look into period pants, reusable pads and menstrual cups.

Waste management in Andavadoaka (the village in southern Madagascar where our dive camp is based) mostly consists of burning rubbish inland or on the beach. However if the tide comes in before everything has been burnt, it will end up in the ocean. Even if it is all burnt, CO2 and a concoction of harmful carcinogenic chemicals such as hydrochloric acid, dioxins, sulphur dioxide and heavy metals are released into the atmosphere, harming people’s health and the planet. It’s a depressing thought that a disposable razor might continue to live on in Andavadoaka hundreds of years after you go home.

Rubbish being burnt after a beach clean up (Photo: Rachel Knowles)

Natural ingredients

With a lack of a local water treatment system, it’s crucial to use toiletries that are made from natural ingredients. Shampoo/conditioner bars are great as they also reduce the need for plastic bottles, I recommend the Lush ones highly! Reef safe sunscreen can seem a bit pricey, but with recent research finding links between the chemical oxybenzone and coral bleaching incidences, it really is a crucial buy. Ultimately, covering up is still the most environmentally friendly sun protection.

Water filter

One of my absolute favourite items I brought to Madagascar was my filtering water bottle; it removes viruses, bacteria and parasites from water with a hollow fiber membrane that traps contaminants larger than 0.2 microns in size. This means I was able to avoid buying countless plastic water bottles on the journey to site, as I could simply drink tap water in airports and hotels without getting sick from any new types of bacteria.

En Route to Andavadoaka

Travelling can sometimes feel like a constant battle of trying to dodge single-use plastic, especially whilst on a plane or when buying food out. A few simple ways to avoid this are to bring your own water bottle, food container box, and cutlery. On the plane ask for your bottle to be filled with water (or wine) instead of using a cup every time. Carrying a food container box is a double whammy for the environment, as it reduces food waste and plastic usage.

During your expedition

Ecobricking

Ecobricks are old plastic bottles filled densely with plastic waste, they are being made by people all over the world in an attempt to reduce the amount of plastic entering the natural environment/ocean and transform plastic waste into a resource.

My first Ecobrick! (Photo: Rachel Knowles)

The idea is that once you have enough of them, you can use Ecobricks as a building resource, reducing the need to use as much cement – a highly polluting material. Just be sure to fill them with dry and food free plastic, and use something to compact the inside so it is so dense that you can stand on one without it changing shape much. You can also pick up any thin plastic you see on the beach or in the ocean and squash it in an Ecobrick, the turtles will thank you for it.

Fast Fashion

Our love for buying new clothes is having devastating environmental impacts. Worldwide we purchase 80 billion new pieces of clothes each year, resulting in huge amounts of water consumption, pollution, pesticide and toxic chemical use. In Andavadoaka you will find piles of unsold charity shop clothes from all over the world dotted along the main street. Have a rummage and I promise you will find some absolute gold dust! Not only does this breathe life back into old clothes, but it injects money directly into the community.

Doing some second-hand clothes shopping with fellow field scientists Tom and Clara (Photo: Rachel Knowles)

Whilst diving

Firstly, never touch corals as this removes their protective mucus coating, and may introduce and spread harmful bacteria or viruses. Be aware of your body position and especially your fins, work on fine-tuning your buoyancy skills to ensure you never break coral. Avoid kicking up sediment, as this will smother and may eventually kill corals. If you see any fishing net tangled in coral, carefully remove it. If you find any plastic or rubbish in the water and it’s safe enough to remove then try securing in your buoyancy control device (BCD) to bring up with you at the end of your dive.

Post expedition

Carbon offsetting

Arguably the most environmentally damaging part of your expedition will be associated with any flights you take to get there and back. Planes release 85 kg of CO2 for every kilometre travelled, so you quickly rack up a rather large carbon footprint. There are a few organisations (e.g. Climatecare.org) that will carbon offset any flights you take, investing your money into projects around the globe that are working to reduce CO2 emissions.

Spread the word

Continue to learn about sustainability. There are so many inspiring and informative environmental documentaries, so why not invite some friends round or watch them with your family? Get involved with a local climate group, put pressure on the government and companies to take more environmental responsibility, vote with your cash and support sustainability-focused businesses, do a beach clean up, and stand up for the planet in any way you can.

It doesn’t all have to be doom and gloom, making any small step towards living a more environmentally friendly life is a win, and don’t be too harsh on yourself if you slip up sometimes.

“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly, we need millions of people doing it imperfectly” – Ann Marie Bonneau

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Do something incredible in 2020, find out more about Blue Ventures’ marine conservation expeditions in Belize, Madagascar and Timor-Leste.

Originally posted here

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Ocean Animals Who Spark Joy by Tidying Up

Spring cleaning has taken on new meaning this year. It’s a vital effort to keep our loved ones safe and a great way to use some new-found time. In the ocean, there are special creatures who help clean their fellow ocean dwellers. They have a symbiotic role, feeding off of the debris they remove, while providing a useful service for their neighbors. By keeping others clean, they play an important role in the overall health of the reefs they live in.

For example, take a look at cleaner wrasses. These fish set up cleaning stations in the ocean where fish line up for them to eat dead tissue and scales as well as remove parasites. Oftentimes their “clients” for cleaning are big predators but that doesn’t scare the wrasse. They know the power of a good clean means these predators will not eat a fish offering up such a vital service. Cleaner wrasses feel comfortable swimming into the mouths of these predators to ensure a spotless job. The touch of a cleaner fish is so calming to a predator that studies have shown they are even less likely to chase other fish after their cleaning.

© William Goodwin

Cleaning wrasses work four-hour shifts at their underwater fish spas. During that time, they can see up to 2,000 clients! The work of a cleaning wrasse is vital to the reefs they live in. Studies have shown their work increases the survival rate, health and intelligence of the fish they treat. When the cleaner fish do their magic, it frees the fish from the annoyance of dead tissue (like an itch you can’t quite scratch!) and parasites who can drain a fish of their energy. Their important work can make their clients healthier both in mind and body.

© Amy DeStefanis

Cleaner shrimp often join the wrasses in the cleaning station. When they see a big predator fish come toward them, they bend their front legs and wave their antennae back and forth in a little dance. This lets them be visible to the fish and signal that they are friends, not food. Cleaner shrimp are also great doctors, removing potential parasites and cleaning fish wounds, ultimately preventing infection. In addition to dancing to advertise their service, many cleaner shrimps attract new clients through their favored home: an anemone. Fish will often look for these bright anemones to try to see if a cleaner shrimp is there to help them out.

If these super scrubbers teach us anything, it’s that a little bit of cleaning can be good for mind, body and soul. They also remind us that the spirit of cooperation is all around us, and by working together, we can face any challenge life throws at us. Their cleanings not only provide themselves sustenance but contribute to the health and wellbeing of the communities they serve. We hope these cleaning animals have sparked joy in your day.

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Mouthbrooding Fish Bring Child Care to a New Level

Lots of animals go to extreme lengths to protect their young. For some, like polar bears, that means taking care of their offspring for years before they venture into the world. For others, like dolphins, adults form protective groups around the young to shield them from predators.

But there’s one group that takes parenthood to a whole new level. And that, my friends, is the mouthbrooding fish.

Mouthbrooding is a strategy where parents keep eggs (and sometimes newly hatched fry) in—you guessed it—their mouths. There are three types: paternal, maternal and biparental mouthbrooders, depending on whether it’s the father, mother or both who store offspring in their mouths. There are a number of families of fish in both salt and freshwater who practice this unusual technique.

Take, for example, the Banggai cardinalfish. This small and flashy saltwater fish is found off of Indonesia and is a popular aquarium fish. They are paternal mouthbrooders, so after the spawning pair mates, the female deposits about 40 eggs into the male’s mouth. The eggs are just a few millimeters in diameter and remain warm and safe inside the male until they hatch. Then, the juvenile cardinalfish will remain in the male’s mouth for a little longer before he releases them into the world to fend for themselves. About half the eggs will survive to become a juvenile.

© Bryan Clark

There are some pretty clear pros and cons of this strategy. An advantage of mouthbrooding is the eggs are protected from predation, so eggs are more likely to survive to hatch than if they were loose in the ocean. But the tolls of mouthbrooding can be significant, as it limits the parents’ ability to eat. Also, it’s the definition of “putting all your eggs in one basket”—if the parent is eaten, its young are eaten along with it.

There is a particularly crafty example of mouthbrooding found in freshwater systems. The cuckoo catfish, which is found in a Lake Tanganyika in Africa, is a brood parasite. That means they rely on another fish to raise their offspring (brood parasites are seen all over the animal kingdom, including in birds that use egg mimicry to trick other birds into caring for their eggs). The cuckoo catfish will sneak in and quickly eat the laid eggs of a cichlid, another mouthbrooding species, before the cichlid parent can take the eggs in their mouth. Then when the cichlid scoops up their eggs, there are catfish eggs mixed in. Then the cichlid will incubate the eggs, allowing the cuckoo catfish to enjoy the benefits of mouthbrooding without doing any of the work! The cuckoo catfish eggs hatch first, and those freshly hatched fry end up eating the cichlid eggs.

Mouthbrooding is just one of many creative ways animals have evolved to care for their young  and ensure the greatest chance of survival. Thankfully, humans have nothing of the sort—instead of keeping our kids in our mouths for a month or two, we get to care for them for 18 years!

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Learn about the ocean from home

Registration for the English-language online lecture series "One Planet - One Ocean: From Science to Solutions" possible at any timeThose who want, in times of retreat, to learn more about the ocean can register at any time for the free English-language online course "One Planet - One Ocean: From Science to Solutions". 

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What are Scrubbers?

Like the rest of Ocean Conservancy, I am working from home, tapping out these final lines from the modest comfort of the one table in my apartment. Even though we can’t meet face to face work with environmental leaders, we are still pushing forward to protect the ocean the best we can in these trying times. And, today, I have a blog about scrubbers—to give you a look into some of the work that I do here at Ocean Conservancy.

It may come as a surprise to you but at the beginning of 2020 (either three months or several lifetimes ago), we saw some great news on the shipping front. Let me explain. On January 1^st, the permitted level of sulfur in marine shipping fuels dropped from 3.5% to 0.5%, which drastically cuts down a lot of harmful air pollutants across the globe. The not-so-great news is that one way ships can meet this new regulation is by installing “scrubbers,” or exhaust gas cleaning systems. While scrubbers help make our air cleaner, they come with problems of their own.

Let’s see if I can break this down …

In a nutshell, when a ship’s engine burns fuel, it releases exhaust gas. This gas passes through a funnel, which essentially functions as the chimney for the ship by venting the gas away from equipment and crew. Scrubbers often work by spraying water or another alkaline solution on exhaust gas before it exits the funnel, capturing acidic pollutants. The more solid sludge is separated out, which remains on the ship and should be disposed of at ports. On “wet” scrubbers what’s leftover is called “washwater,” and while on a small number of “closed loop” ships it also remains onboard, in roughly 80% of ships the scrubber works on an “open loop.” For these scrubbers seawater goes in, treats the exhaust, and goes back out of the ship as washwater. When discharged, this washwater can contain heavy metals, sulfates, nitrates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are a potential carcinogen, and have been linked to cancers in Arctic wildlife like belugas. This warm, sulfuric water can also degrade the immediate environment around the discharge.

Impact on Animals

The scale of discharge is also important. A recent analysis by the International Council on Clean Transportation found that just 30 scrubber-equipped ships emitted an estimated 35 million tons of scrubber washwater in the waters near British Columbia in 2017, some of it in critical habitat for the endangered southern resident killer whale population. Given the potential impacts of scrubber discharges, some countries like Singapore have banned their use. But sensitive marine regions like the Arctic are being exposed to the risks of scrubber washwater.

Heavy Fuel Oil

Apart from the immediate effect scrubber washwater can have on the marine environment, scrubbers allow a ship to keep burning cheap heavy fuel oil (HFO). In addition to being packed full of air pollutants like sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, HFO, a kind of “Seussian Oobleck,” is a particularly persistent hazard in the event of an oil spill. While a scrubber might catch the air pollution, it does nothing to stop HFO’s threat to the marine environment, especially to fragile ecosystems like the Arctic. Finally, scrubbers do nothing to push the industry away from fossil fuel usage, and in fact consume energy to operate.

Are there Alternatives?

At last month’s IMO meeting, the Pollution, Prevention and Response subcommittee spent several days in its air pollution working group debating guidelines on scrubber discharges. After debating long into the night for two days, it’s clear that plenty of work remains ahead of us before any firm regulations around scrubber discharges will be in place.

What are the alternatives to scrubbers and HFO? Many ships have switched to very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) which is essentially HFO with the sulfur blended out in the refining process. Given their consistent use, a full ban on the use of HFO in the Arctic is necessary to capture the potential spill risk to the marine environment from ships burning HFO with a scrubber, as well as HFO-like VLSFO blends. A better step above these blends is marine diesel oil, which isn’t quite as low in sulfur as the gas in a car tank but is as close as one can get, and is the simplest way to reduce sulfur emissions. Best of all would be moving away from fossil fuels in the shipping industry altogether.

A Hope for the Future

As the IMO continues to debate the best way to reduce greenhouse gasses from shipping, the change in sulfur regulations offers a lesson for us. Whatever short term measures the IMO adopts cannot leave the door open to a scrubber option. Real, measurable cuts to shipping emissions are urgently needed, rather than short-term fixes that simply dump the problem somewhere else.

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A Note from Ocean Conservancy on COVID-19

I know this is a time of great uncertainty for so many of us as we all cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. All of us at Ocean Conservancy are sending our support and well-wishes during these unprecedented—and yes, concerning—times.

Our first priority is ensuring the health of our staff, partners and supporters. We’re doing our part to #FlattentheCurve and limit the spread of the virus by having all staff work from home. We’re encouraging staff—and all our supporters—to practice appropriate social distancing. We’ve also suspended all work-related travel through the end of June. We are incredibly fortunate that we can largely continue our ocean conservation work (with the creative use of technology, social media and other tools) and are dedicated to advocating for our ocean as best we can. We are also profoundly grateful for those in health care, research, transportation, service industries and more who are working tirelessly to get us all through this time.

When I talk about ocean conservation to staff, friends and supporters, I often talk about the long-term, big picture—something that Ocean Conservancy is known for and is the hallmark of our durable ocean conservation work. Although at times the trials facing our ocean may seem insurmountable, I know that by working together we can protect our ocean and those who depend on it. I feel the same way about COVID-19: although these times feel uncertain, I am constantly encouraged by the great lengths taken by individuals and communities around the world to care for each other and for the most vulnerable.

Now is the time to take care of ourselves and each other. Although we are practicing social distancing (and hope you are, too!), we are fortunate that we can continue to share stories of compassion and resiliency online. Being able to connect with the staff and supporters of Ocean Conservancy through virtual meetings, social media and email reminds me that I am a part of a much larger community which strengthens my resolve every day. I encourage you to follow along with us online too, as we strive to bring you stories of ocean conservation and inspiration every day.

We have not lost sight of our goal of a healthy ocean. Please keep yourselves healthy, safe and hopeful. Together, we will get through this.

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Guest Blog: Gili Shark Conservation – 7 Ways to Pursue Your Dream of Getting a Job in Marine Conservation

Gili Shark Conservation’s guest blog gives you lots of really useful advice to help you land your dream job in marine conservation. While you might not be able to do all these activities during this period of social distancing and self-isolation there’s plenty you can be getting on with.

Find out more about how you can join Gili Shark Conservation on their expedition page.

Do you feel like you should have been born a mermaid/man? Are you one of those who cries (visible or not, we won’t judge) whenever you see wildlife suffering from human impact? Then we bet your dream job is marine conservation. Are we right? If so, you’ve probably already realized that to get a career with marine conservation isn’t all that easy…

We know it can be a struggle to find the right door leading to a job within marine conservation. That’s why we’ve asked previous volunteers with Gili Shark Conservation for advice. They have all experienced how hard it can be to get your dream job in marine conservation, but they all made it. So, let’s open up for some of their secrets on how to pursue a career in marine conservation.

1. Be Passionate

First thing you need to do, is to ask yourself – do I really want to work with marine conservation? As a marine conservationist, the prospects of getting wealthy are basically non-existent. That’s why a genuine passion for what you do is the most important thing!

If you are not doubting for one second that marine conservation will be the right path for you, but you are unsure of how to achieve it, then keep reading.

2. Keep Your Eyes Open For Opportunities

If you want to pursue a career in marine conservation, you will have to actively seek it.

Try to find as many forums, email lists and Facebook groups you can and keep your eyes on them daily for any job opportunities, interesting projects, internships or volunteer work. Don’t be afraid to apply for anything. – Addie – Research Technician at Western Australia scientific non-lethal SMART drumline trial

When finding groups or forums, you’ll want them to fall within your passion. The group doesn’t have to post exclusively for job, internship or volunteer opportunities. If you see a post from an organization that interests you, then contact them regardless of what they are posting.

Try to think about making connections rather than finding a job, internship or volunteer opportunity. New opportunities will naturally present themselves when you expand your network.

Also, remember that looking for a job can be a full-time job in itself. If you really want to find your dream job within marine conservation, then there’s no time for being lazy.

3. Decide Your Expertise, But Don’t Be Picky

If you are a marine scientist, it might be helpful at the beginning of pursuing your dream not to limit yourself too much.

My professor once told me that science comes before the species. If you want to research sharks for example, then getting a job with freshwater fish is as good. Employers want to know that you can work in the field. – Griffin – Intern at Bimini Shark Lab

Try to keep a holistic approach and remember that even if you are working with, for example, coral reefs, it will still benefit the conservation of sharks. They are part of the same ecosystem after all.

Still, it’s a good idea to position yourself and make your expertise clear. This might be more relevant later in your journey, but it’s good to have an idea about where you want to be heading. Once you’ve built both experience and expertise, you will have a strong profile to present to potential employers.

4. Go Diving!

If you want to understand the world of marine conservation, the best way is to indulge yourself in the saltiness of the sea.

I would say diving is not imperative, but being a dive professional has definitely helped me get where I am today. As a diver, you can see first-hand how marine life is affected by human activity and that way your passion grows and is more contagious to others. – Peta – Community Coordinator at Project Aware

Try to consider taking diving to the next level and become a dive professional. You will gain invaluable experience if you devote two months of your time to be a divemaster.

5. Create An Opportunity For Yourself

Are you worried about how to get your dream job in marine conservation because you don’t have a background in marine science? No problem, you can still make it! You can always start your own project that falls within marine conservation.

Where there is a need (which there definitely is), there is an opening”. – Tess –founder Species Speak

Several people advise not to wait for the opportunity to present itself; instead, make it happen. Suggest yourself on projects, come up with your own project and make sure to keep expanding your network.

6. Find Opportunities To Volunteer And Intern

The most repeated advice is undoubtedly to get experience from volunteering or interning. Find an established marine conservation organization to gain experience with from the field. Make sure to seize every opportunity you have while studying to go out and get experience.

A degree won’t get you a job, that’s only half the part! – Stephanie – field assistant at CSIRO

Even when the ocean is where your passion lies, different kinds of experience will be equally helpful. Marine conservation is not only about what’s below the surface. Marine conservation is about working with communities and people from all different walks of life. If it wasn’t so, the purpose of marine conservation would be defeated.

7. Don’t Give Up!

To round things up we’d like to encourage you not to give up. The chance that you will get your dream job in marine conservation, with your first job application, is small. The ride might be bumpy, but we promise that your efforts will get rewarded if you keep trying. Try to look at the journey as the goal in itself. Every step on the road will be an opportunity to gain experience and learn something new. Eventually, everything will mount into a career in marine conservation.

Thanks For Your Passion

Before you start putting all these advice into action, we’d like to say thank you! Thanks for your passion. The world needs people like you, who are ready to make a change for the better. Every droplet of sweat shed from trying to pursue your passion is worthy of respect!

Are you looking for experience in the field of marine conservation? Join Gili Shark Conservation. All our participants get trained as scientific divers and become part of our research team.

Originally published here

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Guest Blog from Blue Ventures – Jam Baleia: A two-week cetacean expedition to remember

Blue Ventures’ Field Scientist Asiem Sanyal has written a great blog that tells you what is like to be on a cetacean expedition with Blue Ventures in Timor-Leste. Guaranteed to give you itchy feet! Scratch that itch and find out how you can join Blue Ventures on this and other expeditions on their expedition page.

Baleia is the Tetun word for whale

Despite the rush of sea spray and wind in my ears, I clearly hear somebody shout: “Blow, two o’clock!”. As one, we swivel around to spot the unmistakable spout of a pygmy blue whale a few hundred metres from the boat! It’s only ten minutes into our whale survey expedition in the azure waters of Timor-Leste and the early sighting sets the bar high for the day ahead.

A pygmy blue whale spout, shooting high above the water | Photo: William Schrier

One of the world’s best kept secrets, the country of Timor-Leste has recently begun to attract global attention for its reputation as a whale-watching hotspot. Forming part of the Coral Triangle along with Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and the Solomon Islands, it’s home to around a third of the world’s 90 species of cetaceans (the group comprising whales and dolphins).

Whale expert Dr. Karen Edyvane from Charles Darwin University, Australia, strongly believes that Timor-Leste could develop sustainable cetacean tourism, provided there is a collaborative effort between local communities, dive operators, government bodies, and ecotourism organisations.

As part of her endeavour to bolster cetacean conservation efforts in the country and explore the potential for generating alternative livelihoods for local fishing communities, Karen studies the annual migration of pygmy blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda) through the little-studied waters of Timor-Leste. This migration extends from approximately October to December, and we’re fortunate to have her join us as a scientific expert on our expeditions.

As a Field Scientist for Blue Ventures, an important part of my role is to deliver science dive training to the volunteers and conduct underwater surveys, which offers opportunities for some truly incredible dives. But the prospect of spending two weeks on an expedition focusing on cetaceans is exciting beyond belief!

On this expedition, we are joined by volunteers from all walks of life, most of whom have never encountered cetaceans before. Karen has already whetted the volunteers’ appetites with an introductory seminar, and on the morning of the first survey the excitement is palpable.

After only a few minutes into the survey, we’re treated to the rare sight of a mating pair of Olive Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), soon followed by the towering spouts of a pygmy blue whale. These spouts can reach almost ten metres in height, last for a few seconds, and can be spotted from far away. Amid squeals of excitement, we decide to follow the whale (at a safe distance, of course).

The pair of mating Olive Ridley sea turtles | Photo: William Schrier

However, nature has other plans in store for us. A pod of dwarf spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris roseiventris) distracts us from our mission. Normally shy, they seem to have decided that we pose no threat, and they gleefully glide through the waters in front of the bow. Understandably, this prompts a mad dash for our cameras – there is a parallel display of human acrobatics as we look for the best position to photograph the pod. Insofar as cetacean surveys go, we’re having a cracker of a morning.

A pod of dolphins showing off their agility – it can be tricky to identify the species from above the water as Timor-Leste is home to several types of dolphin | Photo: William Schrier

It isn’t long before somebody spots another spout – and off we go again! This time we’re able to catch a glimpse of not one, but three whales! Cruising along at a nonchalant 6 knots, they seem unperturbed by our approach. Heading west along Dili’s coastline, they allow us to keep pace. We manage to get fairly close, but by crossing a certain invisible boundary we trigger a dive, and they disappear into the inky depths for a good twenty minutes at a time.

Each individual is massive (pygmy blues can get up to 24 metres long!) and can be identified by their dorsal fin. Our goal is to get as many photographs of these fins as possible to create a photo library, which can be used to monitor individuals over the years. The whales sometimes tantalise us, breaking the surface with their grey-blue mottled skin (which gives them their name) and going under again without a dorsal fin display.  We are not to be deterred, however, and after an hour and a half with these gentle giants we capture some excellent fin shots. Karen is delighted. As a final treat, one of the whales flukes, showing us its magnificent tail fin, before diving into the deep.

A pygmy blue whale’s grey-blue mottled back, breaking through the surface | Photo: William Schrier

We return to land feeling jubilant. But the two-week expedition has only just begun. From Dili we head to Atauro Island, our home for the next ten days. The calm waters allow for some truly spectacular sightings of short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), which, despite the misleading name, are actually a kind of dolphin. Around sixty of them surround our little boat, their characteristic sickle-shaped dorsal fins breaking the water’s surface every so often. They urge us in the direction of Beloi, giving us company for a while before our boat outstrips them. It is at Beloi that we will be based for the remainder of the expedition.

A short-finned pilot whale, not to be mistaken for a melon-headed whale despite their rotund head shape! | Photo: William Schrier

The expedition passes by in a blur of activity. In just two weeks the volunteers complete their scientific dive training and can now conduct Reef CheckTM surveys (benthic and fish); we navigate around the island to Adara on the western coast where they dive an almost-vertical wall drop-off, and spend the night under the stars. In Biqueli they witness and participate in the making of traditional seaweed cakes, and head to the neighbouring village of Vila to explore their unique doll factory, Boneca de Ataúro. In partnership with local organisation Ekipa Tasi Mos, we have arranged a beach clean and volunteers learn to categorise collected rubbish in accordance with guidelines from Tangaroa Blue.

Towards the end of the volunteers’ stay, we facilitate a Community Based Cetacean Tourism workshop, involving several representatives from the local communities on Atauro. The aim of the workshop is to provide a platform for communities to voice their opinion on the merits and demerits of promoting whale-watching tourism. The community members are animated and full of suggestions, and Karen enthusiastically notes these down for future use.

All too soon, it’s time to bid farewell to the island. Crossing the channel from Beloi to Dili proves to be quite eventful, and some melon-headed whales (Peponocephala electra – also dolphins) form a farewell party for the volunteers. By now, the volunteers are confident in their identification, and there are congratulatory pats on the back as everybody determines the species they see around the boat. It seems that Karen has done her job well.

People are in high spirits – they have seen the largest animal on Earth, dived alongside some incredible marine wildlife while simultaneously collecting valuable scientific data, learned from some of the Timorese communities on Atauro, and all in all had a rollicking time. Just as the blue whales continue southwards on their migratory route, the volunteers begin their own journeys back home, carrying a little bit of paradise in their hearts.

 

The community-based cetacean tourism workshop | Photo: Ryan Lewis

 

Asiem and the volunteers sorting beach plastic | Photo: Ryan Lewis

Karen snapping photos from the boat | Photo: Ryan Lewis

Asiem and the volunteer group | Photo: Ryan Lewis

 

Written by Asiem Sanyal

Indian marine biologist. Itinerant. Instructor (PADI). Intrepid adventurer. Intermittent writer. Islander. Asiem is also a Field Scientist for Blue Ventures, based in Timor-Leste.

This blog was originally posted here.

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Stunning Ocean Wallpapers to Brighten Your Day

During the most trying of times, it’s immeasurably important to surround yourself with things that make you happy. And so, we thought it would be fitting to make sure you have access to ocean inspiration, right where you are—wherever that may be. And what better way to do that right now than with stunning ocean wallpapers? Whether you’d like some positive ocean vibes for your desktop, iPhone or Android device, we’ve got you covered. Click the links below to download these wallpapers that we custom made just for you. 

Stay safe friends, and remember:

We’ll get through this together. 

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Fun Online Ocean Activities while Staying Home

Like you, many of our staff are sheltering at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We sincerely hope that you and your loved ones stay healthy!

 

While we all deal with these very challenging times, we asked our staff to recommend ocean related activities that everyone in the house can participate in. Whether you are parents looking for something to do with the kids, or just an interested person looking for something fun and educational, you are sure to find something on this list! Here is a list of books, videos and things you can participate in while the shelter order is in place:

 

Activities:

Virtual Marine Biology Camp

Watch The Monterey Bay Aquarium Live Cams

Discovery Education Virtual Field Trips

Virtual Museum Field Trips

Nautilus – Cool Videos from Deep Sea Explorations

 

Ted Talks:

Ocean Wonders

 

Books:

Blue Mind – Wallace J. Nichols (great for helping deal with stress!)

Cod – Mark Kurlansky

Eye of the Albatross – Carl Safina

Four Fish – Paul Greenberg

Saving Sea Turtles – James Spotila

Sea Change – Sylvia Earle

Seaweed Chronicles – Susan Hand Shetterly

The Cruise of the Snark – Jack London (a Glen Ellen favorite!)

The End of the Line – Charles Clover

The Last Whalers – Doug Bock Clark

The Living Shore – Rowan Jacobsen

The Ocean of Life – Callum Roberts

The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway

The Sea Around Us – Rachel Carson

The Soul of an Octopus – Sy Montgomery

 

Movies:

Chasing Coral

A Plastic Ocean

Blue Planet Series

Mission Blue

Disneynature Oceans

Turtle: The Incredible Journey (cute for kids)

Straws

Sharknado Series

Sea of Shadows

The Life of Pi

Moana

Finding Nemo

Finding Dori

Planet Ocean

The Cove

Imax Under The Sea

Deep Blue

Plastic Paradise

Fish People

Jaws

For students looking for more fun ideas to engage their scientific curiosity follow the Twitter hashtag #SchoolsOutScience

Finally, Netflix has created a directory of more than 150 educational shows. Click here to see the list. They also offer this tip: Create a separate profile on Netflix. Name it “School” and add ONLY educational materials to this profile. Then when you need to keep the kids busy, allow them to watch only shows you have added to this account. It works great and keeps the kids from getting sidetracked by the show they’re currently binge-watching.

Stay safe and healthy, our thoughts are with you during this time. If you have other suggestions for ocean related activities share them with us on twitter @savingoceans!

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