Issue 30 - October 2017

Gonzaga Bay, Sea of Cortez

Bobbi-Jo Dobush

Escaping from San Diego and 4^th of July weekend that was destined to be as exhausting as it was epic, my husband, Francisco, and I jumped in the car – destination, Sea of Cortez as far as Bahia de San Luis Gonzaga (“Gonzaga Bay”). We confirmed we had our camping gear, snorkels, and passports and headed straight east to the Calexico/Mexicali border (where it was a brutal 111 degrees in the shade) and then due south, stopping in San Felipe before making our final push to Gonzaga Bay. We’d heard that the landscape would become increasingly impressive, but we were still in awe of the craggy mountains that led us from the border to San Felipe, and literally “ooo”-ed and “ahh”-ed over the turquoise sea set against the giant Saguaro cactus that marked the last leg of our drive. In addition to incredible beauty, the drive is filled with a lot of funky touches – improbable homes, cheeky signs – of the sort that seem to unify out of the way desert places.

Bobbi-Jo Dobush

Turning left after one of Gonzaga Bay’s two local runways, Francisco and I were hoping to snag some shade on beach and were lucky to find that a few of the palapas rented by Rancho Grande, the general store, were still available. We settled in for glorious days of rest, relaxation, and time spent in the water. (Actually the first night we settled next to an extended family that had a raucous sing along until 3 a.m. and then were back at it with the sun three hours later – exactly the kind of weekend we had bowed out of in San Diego! They were very welcoming to us, but the next day we made our excuses and moved down the beach.) Thankfully the recent heat wave had broken and temperatures were down to a workable 90 in the day, 75 at night. It was still hot, but I love to camp in the heat – you can live in your swimsuit and stray from the fire without bundling against the chill. We were only uncomfortably warm each day at 6 am when the sun rose over the water, straight into our tent (a plan to hang a tarp from the palapa never made it past the concept phase).

Bobbi-Jo Dobush

Aside from the Rancho Grande the only commercial enterprise in Gonzaga Bay is a hotel and restaurant called Alfonsina’s, where we lunched each day. The fish tacos are solid, the shrimp a la diabla is no joke, and they show shaky broadcasts of important soccer matches (we caught the Confederation Cup final). They also rent kayaks and stand up paddle boards and arranged for us to go out on a boat tour with two other couples. In front of “Lovers’ Beach,” as our captain called it, Francisco and I followed a fever of maybe fifty rays around in circles (yes, the group is called a “fever” I just looked, I knew it was something cool). We dove down and swam above them until we could no longer keep up to them with our borrowed fins and our full bellies. In an improbably beautiful cove, we crossed paths with a naval operation (there’s a base right next to Alfoninsa’s). One of the naval boats waited patiently for us because our boatmate was swimming directly in front of it. He was snorkelling for the first time ever, completely oblivious to everything except the magic of being underwater.

Bobbi-Jo Dobush

Ana Laura Moreno Berry

We were headed home along the coast, looking for whale sharks, the first of which had reportedly been hanging around for the season. Francisco and I were beginning to think we were whale shark repellent, as we had narrowly missed them at various spots over the years. At that point our three-hour tour had become almost four hours, and – although I was still looking ahead, actively searching – I had resigned myself to heading home after a blissful, but whale shark-less day when we saw the telltale fins.

Bobbi-Jo Dobush

Francisco and I pulled our fins on and pushed our masks onto our faces. We dropped in to the water and watched two gargantuan fish swimming parallel to us, until they noticed us, and turned slightly away to the right. I wanted to give chase and stay close enough to watch their movements, but was mindful of maintaining my distance and keeping away from their tails, per the Captain’s orders. I kept my trajectory, hoping the whale sharks would head back my direction. All of a sudden the larger shark turned left and continued on its original course, but then turned slight left again, and was making a diagonal directly to me. I know many people have swam with whale sharks, many times but – at the risk of being ridiculous – I have to say that although I realize whale sharks are filter feeders, when that giant gaping mouth was coming at me I couldn’t help but think about how many times over the body would fit inside of that shark.

Ana Laura Moreno Berry

Eventually the whale sharks (including the one who obviously pivoted away before it reached me) grew tired of us and we rejoined our new friends on the boat and headed in. We shared a drink and a sunset, and then settled in to listen to the waves from the almost deserted stretch of palapas. In the morning we rented paddle boards and spent a peaceful hour all alone out on the water (aside from one curious sea lion) before reluctantly making the return trip north. Next time we’d love to make a trip farther down the coast and keep exploring.

Bobbi-Jo Dobush

Bobbi-Jo is an ocean-obsessed diver, writer, painter, and budding marine conservationist. The world’s wild places bring her joy and awe and she hopes to inspire respect for and protection of those places. Relentlessly curious, Bobbi-Jo has an insatiable appetite for travel, art, and hot sauce. Follow her @BobbiJo_Dobush.

Issue 30 - October 2017

SEVENSEAS Marine Conservation & Travel Magazine: October Issue

1. Letter from the Editor. Vacation in the wake of a hurricane and put your money where your heart is.

…think about it. If you are planning a vacation in the next 12 months, consider going someplace that can benefit from that money.

2. The Underwater Cosmos of Manu Bustelo.

Manu Bustelo’s diving has taken him from Thailand to the Red Sea to the Great Barrier Reef. His current home base of Andorra offers him the opportunity for diving in high altitude lakes.

3. Paris Agreement only chance for coral reef survival.

Limiting global warming to below 2°C in line with the Paris Agreement provides the only chance for the survival of coral reefs…

4. Blue carbon climate mitigation largely ignored.

mangroves, saltmarshes and seagrasses – often referred to as coastal ‘blue carbon ecosystems’ are often overlooked in national climate change policies…

5. Egypt Underwater – a photo series.

Once you get below the waves you are in store for an eruption of color and biodiversity sure to impress the most seasoned divers.

6. Feature Destination: Spirit bears bring international tourists to remote B.C.

This majestically coloured white animal – that used to be, wrongly, thought of as a rare albino – is a sacred animal to the First Nations people.

7. Feature Destination: Exploring the Great Bear Sea: New, Free Curriculum Resources.

Green Fire Productions, a non-profit organization, specializes in producing documentaries on sustainability and conservation of natural resources. The Great Bear Sea is part of the Ocean Frontiers film series on ocean stewardship in North America.

8. Feature Destination: Scuba Diving the Northern tip of Vancouver Island with MaPP.

Scuba divers come from all over the world to dive the wall at Browning Pass and other remarkable sites near Port Hardy.

9. Feature Destination: New century, new approach to marine planning in B.C.

For the first time in British Columbia’s history, First Nations have been equal partners with the provincial government in developing marine use plans…

10. Feature Destination: Coastal Stewardship Network: Collaborative Monitoring and Protection of First Nations’ Lands and Waters.

First Nations in British Columbia have effectively managed the rich resources of their territories for millennia. But the balance…

11. Feature Destination: Gitga’at Guardians: Using Science to Safeguard their Territory.

The remote, island-dotted coastal waters of the Gitga’at Nation are ideal whale habitat, including endangered species such as Orca and Fin Whales…

12. Mobile App Transforms Smartphone into Tool for Ocean Protection .

A smartphone app from the environmental organization Project AWARE® will enable scuba divers around the world to record levels of marine debris now causing increasing problems for wildlife and ocean habitats.

13. For Palauans, a healthy ocean means a healthy business!

In the waters of Palau, you can easily spot many different species of sharks, Napoleon wrasse, infinite expanses of coral reefs, manta rays, the list can go on and on. A paradise for divers and snorkelers!

14. Connect with the Global Marine Community.

In a nutshell, the Global Marine Community is a free interactive resource that gives you access to a weekly email detailing a round-up of events and opportunities in ocean conservation.

15. Florida’s Largest Ocean Conservation Awards Event.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s Ninth Annual Go Blue Awards recognize ocean conservationheroes from around the globe

16. Biri Initiative, a story on coral restoration.

Their mission is to rejuvenate damaged reefs and create alternative forms of employment to fishing. This is Richard Ewen and David Parker’s story…

17. Washingtonians Volunteer in International Coastal Cleanup.

Volunteers Joined Hundreds of Thousands Worldwide during Ocean Conservancy’s 32nd International Coastal Cleanup…

18. Brazilian Government signs up to UN Clean Seas campaign.

A significant boost for global efforts to protect marine life and human health

19. Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge Acceleration Prize Winners Announced.

Paso Pacifico started with an idea for an artificial sea turtle egg that contains covert tracking devices to reveal illegal trafficking routes. They now have a functional and scalable prototype

20. Interested in advertising, contributing an article, or becoming a donor?

30 Issues, readership in 174 countries, over 15,000 subscribers, 20,000 monthly visitors…and growing.

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See this “Senegal: African Manatee and Turtle Conservation” trip plus many others in the new 2017-2018 Expeditions Catalogue.

2. Ever dream of swimming with humpback whales? Now you can.

If you are interested in swimming with or photographing humpback whales Karim guides people in small trips in Tonga…

3. Isla Mar Research Expeditions – Field Courses in Puerto Rico.

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4. Pangaea Ocean Sailing Expedition.

Panex is opening up sailing expeditions for guest crew. This is an unique opportunity to go sailing, cross an ocean, and be a part of something bigger.

5. Loggerhead Marinelife Center.

Imagine roaming some of the world’s most beautiful ecosystems. Gorgeous vistas, affordable travel and amazing memories; immersing yourself in the sounds of nature.

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Spirit Bear Cover Image By Douglas Neasloss

Issue 30 - October 2017

Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge Acceleration Prize Winners Announced

Since its launch in 2014, the Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge has played a pivotal role in harnessing the power of science and technology to combat the international crisis of wildlife trafficking. USAID, in partnership with the National Geographic Society, the Smithsonian Institution, and TRAFFIC, has helped 16 winning innovators, chosen from a pool of over 300 applicants, to develop their solutions to fight wildlife crime. Four of these winners were awarded “grand prizes” in 2016 to support their work to grow and refine tools to fight corruption, identify poaching hotspots, and detect illegal sales online and illegal shipments in ports.

This year, to spur continued progress in advancing these promising solutions, USAID offered a new opportunity for Challenge Prize Winners to compete to win three Acceleration Prizes, worth a total of $100,000 each. These prizes utilized a pay-for-results approach to incentivize continued action and reward those who demonstrated the greatest growth in their solution. The winners were selected based on evidence of their progress in refining their solution, leveraging resources, and building partnerships over the last year and a half.

USAID is pleased to announce the three winners of the Acceleration Prizes, worth $100,000 each. While all of the Challenge Prize Winners have made great advances, these three organizations have made truly remarkable progress in turning promising ideas into viable solutions positioned for scale and impact on the ground:

TheUniversity of Washington created a solution to genetically track the illegal pangolin trade and alert law enforcement to the most heavily poached pangolin populations. Once only a concept, it is now nearly ready to be used in forensic labs worldwide. The solution includes a fully developed genetic system and flexible computer software, and can be easily transferred.
TheZoological Society of London has developed a new version of their Instant Detect system, a wildlife and threat monitoring network for the most demanding environments. The system uses remote sensors and satellite technology to help authorities identify illegal activity in protected areas in near real-time. The new system will be easier to use, easy to deploy, compatible with existing law enforcement tools, and cheaper to purchase.
Paso Pacifico started with an idea for an artificial sea turtle egg that contains covert tracking devices to reveal illegal trafficking routes. They now have a functional and scalable prototype that is the result of testing and refinement of various artificial egg designs, materials, and production processes, as well as internal transmitter and battery technology.

Congratulations to all of the WCTC Prize Winners on their impressive progress through the Challenge, and to the Acceleration Prize Winners!

wildlife crime tech challenge logo

USAID logo

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Issue 30 - October 2017

Brazilian Government signs up to UN Clean Seas campaign

UN Clean Seas campaign reaches milestone 30^th country with new announcement from Brazil
A significant boost for global efforts to protect marine life and human health
Announcement strengthens Brazil’s commitment to developing a National Plan to Combat Marine Litter

Brazil has officially announced its support to the UN Clean Seas campaign in a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York with Minister of Environment, Sarney Filho, and head of UN Environment, Erik Solheim.

As the world’s ninth largest economy and a leader in environmental protection, Brazil’s declaration of support is a significant boost to the UN’s global campaign, which now boasts 30 member states and aims to “turn the tide on plastic” by inspiring action from governments, businesses and individuals.

brazil skyline

“Brazil’s support for this campaign is crucial. It underscores the size of the problem and the scale of the response that we need to see,” said Solheim. “We need more of the same political leadership – the kind that sends a very clear message: we cannot afford to continue to turn our oceans into a sea of waste.”

The announcement strengthens the Brazilian government’s commitment to developing a National Plan to Combat Marine Litter and supporting the creation of the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary and Marine Protected Areas.

“The ecological services provided by the oceans are essential for all people and Brazil has been taking a number of measures to ensure the conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems,” said Minister Filho.

Plastic has long been identified as a major cause of environmental damage and health problems. It pollutes the environment; kills birds, fish and other animals that mistake plastic for food; damages tourist destinations; harms marine fisheries and provides a breeding ground for Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya mosquitoes.

Plastic use, however, continues to grow. In 2016, 5.8 million tons of plastic products were produced in Brazil. Globally, up to 2015, mankind had produced 8.3 billion tons of plastic. Of this, 6.3 billion tons have already been discarded and some 8 million tons are dumped into our oceans every year.

Much of this waste is made up of disposable plastic, including cups, bags, straws, bottles and microplastics (tiny particles of plastic) from cosmetic products.

The Clean Seas campaign asks the support of governments through the creation of effective national laws and encouragement for businesses and citizens to develop new and more sustainable patterns of production and consumption. A recent example comes from Chile, which this week announced a law banning plastic bags in coastal cities.

By signing up to Clean Seas, Brazil joins Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Panama, Peru, Saint Lucia and Uruguay to become the 10th country in Latin America and the Caribbean to join the campaign.

Further afield, Indonesia has committed to slash marine litter by 70%, Canada has added microbeads to its list of toxic substances, and New Zealand, the UK and the US have announced bans on microbeads.

About UN Environment

UN Environment is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. UN Environment works with governments, the private sector, the civil society and with other UN entities and international organizations across the world.

Clean seas logo

About Clean Seas

Launched at the Economist World Ocean Summit in Bali, UN Environment’s #CleanSeas campaign is urging governments to pass plastic reduction policies; targeting industry to minimize plastic packaging and redesign products; and calling on consumers to change their throwaway habits before irreversible damage is done to our seas.

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