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Issue 27 - July 2017

Ambassadors of Hope for our Oceans

On the 8th June, people all over the world will be coming together to celebrate World Oceans Day. Communities will be organizing everything from children’s art competitions to underwater clean-ups, all to raise awareness about the importance of our oceans. They cover most of the Earth and provide us with 70% of the oxygen we breathe. They are essential to our survival and yet often forgotten as modern-day priorities necessitate cities and offices instead of forests and oceans. For some people, however, the ocean is their office. For these people, every day is World Oceans Day because they can see a direct link between the environment and our survival.

As Filipino dive guides, King and Ole’s livelihoods clearly depend on the oceans. The beautiful coral reefs of their island home, Panglao, support a booming tourism industry that has allowed their community’s employment, education, and general infrastructure to flourish. But being in the water every day has allowed King and Ole to recognize the substantial threat that these tourists also bring with them. If tourism is left unmanaged, it can cause environmental disaster: rapid coastal development can leave inadequate sewage systems flowing directly into the ocean; poorly managed garbage filling up beaches; and divers and snorkelers kicking and destroying corals that take centuries to grow. Unsustainable tourism practices could quickly leave King and Ole without their livelihoods, which is why they make a conscious effort to protect the environment through their influential roles as Green Fins Ambassadors.

When Green Fins was launched in Panglao in 2015, the dive and snorkel centers of Alona Beach were extremely excited to have a clear and proven strategy through which they could reduce threats to their precious coral reefs. Annual Green Fins assessments allow operators to identify effective environmental policies across their businesses and help bolster the training of dive staff. King and Ole were quickly identified as role models for the ocean and became Green Fins Ambassadors in July 2016, along with their fellow environmental champions, Arnel and Rigie. As Green Fins Ambassadors, they are a force for positive change within the industry, helping tourists Dive For Change. They go above and beyond the expected duties of dive guides, and educate their divers about the importance of protecting the environment they have travelled so far to enjoy. They signify hope for booming tourism industries like Panglao, allowing potential environmental threats to become opportunities for raising community awareness of our oceans.

This World Oceans Day, the international coordinators of Green Fins, The Reef-World Foundation, would like to say a huge thank you to all the environmental champions Diving For Change across the global marine tourism industry. Whether you are a boat captain who uses mooring buoys instead of anchors, or a dive guide who briefs underwater photographers to not touch or harass marine life, your actions make a difference every day and protect our oceans from damage. Thank you!

 

 

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Issue 27 - July 2017

How To Give An Environmental Boat Briefing

The new Green Fins How-to-video is out! This month’s release title is: How To Give An Environmental Boat Briefing, the video is aimed to serve as a guidance for dive guides and management on what aspect should be included during a proper boat briefing. It will also inform the guests on what to expect and what they can do.

For more information go to http://greenfins.net/en

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Issue 27 - July 2017

Issue 27: July 2017

1. Letter from the Editor. Happy summer to everyone up north and hoping all our readers in the US had a fabulous 4th of July week. Whether back at work or still on vacation…

 

2. If you value SEVENSEAS Media as a resource and as the free PR arm for everyone in marine conservation and sustainable tourism, we need your support! Learn more about how to get involved and ensure we remain a valuable resource…

 

3. Vamizi Island, a Cradle of Coral, provides a bastion of hope for people and biodiversity. Off the east coast of Africa and the northern tip of Mozambique lies the Hope Spot of the Quirimbas Islands…

 

4. Under the Waves with Karim Iliya: July 2017. A juvenile humpback whale takes a breath while bubble feeding off the cold waters of Eastern Greenland.

 

5. 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…

 

6. Massive clean-ups and new national parks as humanity stands with nature on World Environment Day. Thousands of people across six continents are joining massive clean-ups of beaches and parks…

 

 

7. Introducing Isla Mar Research Expeditions – Field Courses in Puerto Rico. A field course coordination company in Puerto Rico that specializes in organizing and hosting island ecology (marine/terrestrial) themed courses.

 

8. FEATURE DESTINATION. Photo Essay: New Zealand’s Diverse Landscapes. In New Zealand, the landscape can change drastically within a few hours’ drive….

 

9. FEATURE DESTINATION. Diving the Poor Knights Islands. We made our way along a wall with massive stalks of kelp jutting from jagged rock, a kaleidoscope of sponges and anemones filling the spaces in between…

 

10. Ambassadors of Hope for our Oceans. The beautiful coral reefs of their island home, Panglao, support a booming tourism industry…

 

11. If You Eat Seafood, You’re Eating Thousands of Pieces of Plastic. …people in Europe currently consume up to 11,000 microparticles a year and that 99 percent of them pass through the body, but the remaining 1 percent…

 

12. Loggerhead Marinelife Center released “Lilly” the sea turtle, named after Palm Beach resort wear icon Lilly Pulitzer. The large sub-adult loggerhead turtle was found last October just north of the Center with a deep shell wound above the turtle’s shoulder.

 

13. Inuit and Scientists Are Bringing Narwhals and the Melting Arctic Into Focus. Smithsonian Exhibition To Reveal Traditional and New Knowledge of Narwhals and Their Threatened Ecosystem.

 

14. Underwater and Out-of-the-Way: Exploring Xcalak and the Banco Chinchorro. …the Mesoamerican reef is a Mission Blue Hope Spot and in 2016 the Mexican government established the Mexican Caribbean Biosphere…

 

15. Beautiful Maireener Shells and Necklaces from Tasmania. Tasmanian Aboriginal women traditionally collected maireener shells to fashion necklaces and bracelets.

 

16. Incredible Facts About Our Oceans (Video). Oceans take up almost 70% of our planet, and yet the human race has barely begun to explore the true extent of ocean life.

 

 

17. Turn the Tide on Plastic #CleanSeas. Help eliminate microplastics in cosmetics and reduce single-use plastics.

 

18. 1 Topic, 5 Facts: Coral. This regular feature will help acquaint you with our blue planet.

 

19. 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.

 

20. UN Environment statement on US decision to leave Paris Agreement. “…we need more action, not less. This a global challenge. Every nation has a responsibility to act and to act now…”

 

21. Paso Pacifico is changing wildlife surveillance. The illegal trade in sea turtle eggs is threatening the survival of all seven species of the world’s sea turtles…

 

22. How To Give An Environmental Boat Briefing. …aimed to serve as a guidance for dive guides and management on what aspect should be included during…

 

23. SeaKeepers Asia June Expeditions. In June 2017, the SeaKeepers Asia chapter of The International SeaKeepers Society participated in two facets of our DISCOVERY Yachts Program…

 

24. 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.

 

 

25. Interested in advertising, contributing an article, or becoming a donor? 27 Issues, readership in 174 countries, nearly 15,000 subscribers, 20,000 monthly visitors…and growing.

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Issue 27 - July 2017

Letter from the Editor – July 2017.

Happy summer to everyone up north and hoping all our readers in the US had a fabulous 4th of July week. Whether back at work or still on vacation, summer often means that time of year to explore, excite, and expand our horizons. Also, an opportunity to make an impact while you are on the road.

I just recently came back from Vietnam, and though we will go deeper into that in a future issue, I came to the realization that country is a dream. I made more friends than I imagined possible, discovered mind bending artwork, food (and coffee, OMG the coffee!) that I am still dreaming about, amazing sights, and incredible culture. Now, time permitting, whenever I am on the road I try to visit local zoos and aquariums so I can review, rate, and report on them. When I see questionable practices, I then will go a step further to consult with an expert and then reach out to management if we feel necessary. When I visited the The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Ho Chi Minh City, I admit I was shocked – it was by no stretch the worst zoo I had ever seen in my life.

Habitats were often cement boxes with tourists excitedly banging on the glass or bars that separate them from the creatures inside. There were little-to-no educational components and animals were mixed throughout children’s rides so there was no distinction in what was a living creature and a game. Smaller animals like otters and meerkats seemed to not be distraught but larger mammals were showing sever signs of distress. A Malaysian black bear banging its head and body incessantly against the habitat door, isolated giraffes standing listless and frozen in time, and elephants rocking nervously back and forth then huddled in defense when the keeper would enter their confined space. Considering the rules and limitations in Vietnam I do not envision improvement for the future- in fact, at this state of disrepair I believe the zoo should be closed and likely many of the animals euthanized while appropriate outreach is conducted with state officials. I have never said that before for any institution.

So is this another horror story to ruin the bunch? It shouldn’t be. Good zoos and aquariums play many vital roles. Some have extensive rehabilitation and release divisions, others have unique captive breeding programs, and almost all good zoos have extensive educational components. No matter who you talk to you will see there are countless opinions on this topic- whether regarding the size of the animal, the species, comparing zoo habitats to natural environments, or sheer ethics of captivity. So what should you do? Learn which are the good ones, support them, and if you have the means see how to help the ones that need improvement. Struggling to find a birthday gift for someone? How about a membership to a local zoo, aquarium, or sanctuary.

The needle dictating what is ethical/acceptable/natural-as-possible is constantly moving but understand that while there are cages and tanks that are quite dreadful, there are some similar organizations out there that do some invaluable work that many species depend on.

Have questions about this issue, Vietnam, my zoo experience, or anything else? Email me. It might take a bit for me to get back to you but I respond to everything.

Please encourage friends, colleagues, and classmates to like and subscribe to free products and organizations like SEVENSEAS Media. The larger our network, the stronger our conservation message, and more significant our impact. 

SEVENSEAS Media is the leading free resource that promotes marine conservation through community engagement, online media, and eco-tourism, every month, to our readers all across the globe. We ask that YOU be that inspiration for others to follow in your footsteps.

Safe travels & happy swimming,

Giacomo Abrusci, Executive Director, Editor-in-Chief

 

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