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Feature Destination

Great Lakes Hope Spot

The Great Lakes span more than 750 miles (1,207 kilometres) and are straddled across the United States’ north-central border and Canada’s south-central border. The five bodies of water that make up the Great Lakes are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and their connecting channels, including the St. Lawrence River. Read more…

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SEVENSEAS Beach Cleanup & Coral Restoration Events in Marine Protected Areas

In August 2022 CleanUp, we picked up over 80 kilogram of plastic, pieces of glasses, tractor tyre, and fishing nets from the beach in Krabi, Long Beach or Pan Beach. Of course, we would not be able to do it without your support. You can make a tax-deductible donation here to keep our publications and Thailand Cleanup Project afloat.

You can either make a direct financial contribution to SEVENSEAS Media through The Ocean Foundation website or connect us with potential donors by sending an email to  Giacomo Abrusci, our Editor-in-Chief.

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The FREE Weekly Conservation Post and Jobs List

Signing up for the free Weekly Newsletter & Jobs List will get you a round-up of upcoming events, webinars, meetings, reports, funding opportunities, photos of the week, and recent postings to the jobs list.

To sign up for our free subscription, please Click Here or email us Here. 

Since 2004, SEVENSEAS Media has fostered an informal and non-partisan platform to promote understanding of key issues and challenges while building partnerships across an increasingly diverse group of marine conservation professionals and students.

Our mission is to promote communication and build partnerships across the global marine community and to identify and address gaps in the community’s work. SEVENSEAS Media achieves this through multimedia promotion and partnerships. The community consists of a diverse and growing group of participants, including non-governmental organizations, government agencies, foundations, bilateral and multilateral agencies, fellowship programs, independent consultants, and academia/students.

If you are interested in contributing or getting involved, email us Here. 

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The Erie area provides the perfect setting for a host of water-based activities. Regardless of whether you own a boat or not, there are numerous ways to immerse yourself in some outdoor fun. From leisurely sunset cruises on a historic vessel to thrilling pirate-themed adventures, fishing expeditions, or basking in the sheer joy of being out on the water, the Erie region has something for everyone. Main photo by Your Sailing Adventure

Step back in time on a Tall Ship  

Sail aboard the Lettie G. Howard and the U.S. Brig Niagara for an unforgettable, step-back-in-time experience.  A designated historical landmark, the Lettie G. Howard is a wooden Fredonia schooner built in 1893 and is the sole surviving example of a George Banks fishing schooner.  The U.S. Brig Niagara is a replica of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s ship from the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. As part of your journey, you’ll experience the art of seamanship and have the chance to participate in hands-on sailing exercises. The Lettie G. sets sail from the foot of State Street and the Niagara is docked in the harbour behind the Erie Maritime Museum. 

Pontoon Lagoon Tours at Presque Isle State Park

Enjoy a free, one-hour interpretive pontoon boat ride through Misery Bay and Presque Isle’s lagoons. See the plants and animals that live in this wetland habitat and learn its history. Rides are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 26 through September 10 at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. In-person sign-ups begin 15 minutes prior to the start time at the pontoon boat station and are first-come, first-served. Each ride can seat up to 16 people.

Learn Erie’s maritime history on The Lady Kate 

Docked near the Perry Monument at Presque Isle State Park, the Lady Kate takes its passengers on a 90-minute fully narrated educational tour around Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie (weather permitting). The fact-filled 14-mile excursion highlights Erie’s rich maritime history including the Battle of Lake Erie, the War of 1812, Misery Bay, Gull Point, and Erie’s lighthouses.

Become an official buccaneer on Scallywags Pirate Adventures 

Whether you opt for a family-friendly adventure or an adults-only wobbly pirate cruise, spending time aboard the Scallywags promises a swashbuckling good time! The family voyage includes an interactive voyage complete with water cannons and sword fights and the adult happy hour cruise is filled with drinks, dancing, and the beautiful scenery of Presque Isle Bay. Tours depart from the foot of State Street near the Sheraton Hotel parking garage. 

Cruise onboard the Victorian Princess paddlewheel boat

Reserve your spot aboard the Victorian Princess, an authentic multi-level paddlewheel boat, for a leisurely one or two-hour tour on Presque Isle Bay.  Throughout its sailing season, the Victorian Princess offers a variety of cruises including Sunday brunch, sunset and moonlight cruises, sightseeing tours, and themed parties. Tours depart from the foot of State Street. 

Sunset sailing with Your Sailing Adventure

Make great memories while watching one of Erie’s world-class sunsets from the deck of a luxurious 33’ sailboat, the Sotto Voce. Enjoy a relaxing evening of pleasant conversations, light snacks, and spectacular views. The Sotto Voce is docked in Wolverine Marina near the foot of State Street.

Hook the Catch of the Day

Erie’s fishing charters provide great opportunities to not only see the city and Presque Isle from the water but also to experience some of the best fishing in Pennsylvania. Tight Lines Sport Fishing and GypsyLyn Fishing Charters offer fishing charter trips for perch, walleye, trout, and steelhead.  They can accommodate various-sized groups as well as fishing gear, bait, and coolers. Pennsylvania fishing licenses with a Lake Erie stamp are required.

Rent your own fun!

The Erie area has options to rent your own watercraft for a few hours or the entire day. Port Erie Sports offers a wide selection of boats, jet skis, pontoons, kayaks, and paddleboard rentals.  Hidden Harbor Water Rentals features 22’ or 24’ pontoon boats for rent with optional towable water tubes. Presque Isle Canoe & Boat Livery at Presque Isle State Park has an extensive list of rentals including canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, row boats, motor boats, and pontoons. Relax on the tranquil waters of Edinboro Lake in Edinboro PA aboard a 24’ double-deck pontoon available at Edinboro Lake Resort. They also rent single or double canoes or kayaks for exploring the surrounding waters on a more intimate level.

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The Great Lakes span more than 750 miles (1,207 kilometers) and are straddled across the United States’ north-central border and Canada’s south-central border. The five bodies of water that make up the Great Lakes are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and their connecting channels, including the St. Lawrence River.

Dr. Sylvia Earle, Founder of Mission Blue, posed a challenge to Shedd Aquarium in April 2022 to consider the Great Lakes for Hope Spot designation, in part, due to the unique connectivity they share with marine environments and human health. 

“The Great Lakes represent both the figurative and the literal heart of the North American water system,” Dr. Earle stated. “A source of water for over 40 million people and more than 3,500 plant and animal species, many of which are unique to the Great Lakes, the inclusion of this critically important natural area as a Hope Spot will highlight the connection and significance of protecting inland habitats, as we really understand that the whole aquatic world; inland waters and the ocean beyond are one interconnected system.” 

In May 2023, Mission Blue declared the Great Lakes a Hope Spot, Championed by Chicago’s John G. Shedd Aquarium with support from more than 24 Great Lakes organizations across the region. 

“The Great Lakes serve as a vital economic driver, natural resource and place of respite for millions of people across two countries”, said Bridget Coughlin, PhD, president and CEO of Shedd Aquarium. “By size alone, we know that conserving such a great and important source of sustainability and sustenance cannot be done alone. Hope Spot designations not only bring awareness and focus to areas in need of environmental protection and recovery, but also critical collaboration that can help influence policy change, motivate economic shifts and generate a global wave of community support for aquatic conservation.”

The massive lakes hold approximately 90% of the freshwater in the United States and 21% of the world’s surface freshwater supply. Unfortunately, freshwater habitats are experiencing declines in biodiversity far greater than those in the most affected terrestrial ecosystems (Dudgeon et al. 2006). 

Life Within the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are home to a variety of endemic species such as fish, mollusks, invertebrates, birds, and mammals as well as oceanic species that either permanently or temporarily reside in the lakes, primarily birds and certain species of fish, including the coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and king salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha).

Endemic species include lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), as well as critically endangered and possibly extinct species such as  certain varieties of cisco .

Great Conservation Concerns

The conservation and accessibility of freshwater is an ever-growing issue. Threats to the Great Lakes are consistent with those historically faced by most aquatic ecosystems worldwide: habitat loss and degradation, pollution, invasive species, overexploitation and flow modification (Dudgeon et al. 2006). Modern threats have emerged, including pesticides that cause harmful algal blooms, microplastics and a rapidly changing global climate (Ried et al. 2018). Additionally, urbanization and a lack of connectedness to nature can exacerbate the threats to these natural resources, as many people do not regard the Great Lakes as a habitat for diverse aquatic life (Murchie et al. 2018). 

Despite environmental challenges, the Great Lakes are also a fantastic example of what can be accomplished through both local and binational collaboration, but the work must continue to ensure an equitable, sustainable and thriving future for both people and aquatic life.  

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About  Shedd Aquarium 

The John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago sparks compassion, curiosity and conservation for the aquatic animal world. Home to 32,000 aquatic animals representing 1,500 species of fishes, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, birds and mammals from waters around the globe, Shedd is a recognized leader in animal care, conservation education and research. An accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), the organization is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and supported by the people of Chicago, the State of Illinois and the Chicago Park District.

 Several local, regional, national and international partners supported the bid from Shedd Aquarium to make the Great Lakes a Hope Spot. These partners include: Alliance for the Great Lakes, Aquarium of Niagara, Audubon Great Lakes, Buffalo Zoo, Chicago Park District, Cleveland MetroParks Zoo, Cook County Commissioner Kevin B. Morrison, Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability, The Detroit Zoological Society, Discovery World Science + Technology Center, Friends of the Chicago River, The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Haerther Scholars, Healing Our Waters: Great Lakes Coalition, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, National Wildlife Federation – Great Lakes Regional Center, Openlands, Rep. Danny Davis – U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Robyn Gabel – Illinois State House of Representatives, Sen. Robert Peters – Illinois State Senate, SC Johnson, Timothy Hoellein – Loyola University Department of Biology, Toronto Zoo and the UIC Freshwater Lab.

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