Issue 37 - May 2018

Funding Opportunities at Sea of Change Foundation

Here at the Sea of Change Foundation we are thrilled to be funding important conservation projects that focus on divers and sustainable ecotourism. Specifically, this year we are funding;

Reef Rescue and Rapid Response Mini-Grants.
Humpback Whale research and outreach via Gotham Whale focusing on the whales returning to the waters of NYC.
A biological baseline off the Guanacaste coast of Costa Rica with Oceans First Institute.

Scroll down for full descriptions and to apply

1. Sea of Change Foundation Launches Reef Rescue & Rapid Response Grants

In an on-going effort to support marine conservation across the scuba diving community, the Sea of Change Foundation is launching a new fund to help support the immediate response to coral reef damage from anchor drops, vessel groundings, oil spills, and other localized, anthropogenic and acute impacts to coral reefs.

The Sea of Change Foundation team first envisioned the Reef Rescue & Rapid Response Fund during the 2016 implementation of the Foundation’s Cayman Islands Coral Nurseries project with feedback from multiple local dive operators and partners. Then on March 4, 2017, the 4,290-tonne Caledonian Sky cruise ship grounded on a treasured dive site in Raja Ampat, Indonesia and damaged or destroyed approximately 1,600 square meters of some of the most biodiverse and pristine coral reef habitat in the world. This event solidified the resolve of the Foundation to create a fund dedicated to helping enable a timely response to such incidents.

The fund provides for mini-grants that range from $500 to a maximum of $5000. The grants will support divers, and their communities in responding quickly to a reef damaging incident by helping to cover immediate costs such as boat fuel, staff time, video cameras, lift bags, transect tapes, and handheld GPS units. A short-form, 1-page application is required that describes the date and cause of the incident and the planned response. Anticipated responses may include damage assessment and documentation for future litigation and restoration, and/or collection of coral fragments for regrowth, and/or up-righting of larger corals that may recover in situ. Applicants need only send an initial email inquiry to info(at)seaofchange.com to begin the short process to acquire the requested funds. A brief follow-up report and photo-documentation will also be required.

It is the hope of the Board of Directors of the Sea of Change Foundation that this new fund and the grants it provides will empower and enable the global dive community to continue to act as first-responders to reef damaging incidents. “The reefs are where we dive, and often they are why we dive; it is our duty to do all that we can to help protect them,” said Samantha Whitcraft, Director of Conservation & Outreach for the Foundation and Platinum-Pro 5000 diver. And, she continued, “we hope divers everywhere will make use of and support this new fund.” Importantly, “through the Foundation, 100% of donations go directly to such conservation initiatives around the world to ensure future generations of divers can also experience the sea and its wonders,” concluded Wayne Brown, CEO of Aggressor Fleet® and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foundation.

2. Sea of Change Foundation Funds Humpback Whale Research

In an expanding mission to support marine conservation, the Sea of Change Foundation is pleased to help fund Gotham Whale’s on-going project to study, document, and educate the public about the return of humpback whales to the waters around New York City.

This one-year $5,000 grant will support the creation of a fluke ID database to help identify individual whales migrating between the coast of New York and the calving grounds of the Silver Banks off of the Dominican Republic. The overall goal of the project also focuses on educating area residents about responsible boating around whales and includes a citizen science component asking the public to share their whale photos for inclusion in the ID database.

Paul L. Sieswerda, President and CEO of Gotham Whale said, “Gotham Whale is pleased to have the support of the Sea of Change Foundation. This work is as exciting as it is important. We look forward to bringing New Yorkers a better understanding of how connected our ocean and its inhabitants are, from the Big City to the coral reefs. ”

It is the hope of the Board of Directors of the Sea of Change Foundation that this project will inspire the global dive community to support the protection of marine mammals both locally and globally. “Growing up near the former whaling town of Cold Spring Harbor, New York, I dreamt of the day the whales might return and now that they have. Supporting the work of Gotham Whale is a dream come true,” said Samantha Whitcraft, Director of Conservation and Outreach for the Foundation. Importantly, “through our Foundation, 100% of donations go directly to such conservation initiatives to ensure future generations of divers can also experience the sea and its wonders,” concluded Wayne Brown, CEO of Aggressor Fleet® and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foundation.

3. Sea of Change Foundation Funds Shark and Ray Research in Costa Rica

In an on-going effort to support marine conservation across the scuba diving community, the Sea of Change Foundation is pleased to support the Ocean First Institute’s shark and ray conservation project in Costa Rica.

The $20,000 one-year grant will support a marine census of sharks and rays in the Tropical East Pacific at two sites on the northwest coast of the Guanacaste region. The area is home to whale sharks, bull sharks, and giant manta rays, along with several ray species that are relatively unknown to science. These sites are currently threatened by unregulated and expanding destructive fishing practices. The goal of the project is to document the presence, abundance, and seasonality of these species to aid in the future, potential creation of a marine protected area.

Dr. Mikki McComb-Kobza, the Director of Ocean First Institute, who will lead the project, said, “The Institute is grateful for support from The Sea of Change Foundation who shares the vision and urgency of ocean conservation. Our work will help identify which species in this area are present and which ones need protection. It will also train local divers to conduct underwater surveys and contribute their findings to our online global shark and ray database. Our database is a citizen science portal that engages divers to participate in conservation and will directly expand the scope and reach of our research.”

“This important study area includes the Catalina and the Bat Islands which are popular destinations for local and international divers. The goal of establishing a protected area while integrating the knowledge and assistance of divers is central to our mission and to successful conservation, “ said Samantha Whitcraft, Director of Conservation and Outreach for the Sea of Change Foundation.

It is the hope of the Board of Directors of the Sea of Change Foundation that this project will inspire the global dive community to support conservation for divers by divers. Importantly, “through our Foundation, 100% of donations go directly to such conservation initiatives to ensure future generations of divers can also experience the sea and its wonders,” concluded Wayne Brown, CEO of Aggressor Fleet® and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foundation.

About the Sea of Change Foundation: The Sea of Change Foundation funds marine conservation and research initiatives that directly impact the oceans we all love to dive and explore. Our mission is to create positive change for the oceans. Learn more about and donate to the Sea of Change Foundation here: http://www.seaofchange.com/, or email thankyou(at)seaofchange.com.About Gotham Whale: Gotham Whale is a 501-c-3 not-for-profit using Citizen Science to study, advocate for, and educate about the whales and marine mammals that are returning to the waters around New York City. www.gothamwhale.org

About Ocean First Institute: Ocean First Institute is a non-profit organization with the mission of ocean conservation through research and education. We work to protect the ocean from its many threats. Through scientific research, we develop innovative solutions while also educating youth to take positive action for the environment through outreach programs. Learn more about Ocean First Institute here: www.oceanfirstinstitute.org, or email info(at)oceanfirstinstitute.org.

We love the work we do, and we hope you love the content we share. A donation in support of SEVENSEAS Media will help us carry our mission forward.

The mission of SEVENSEAS Media is to connect individuals and resources inside and outside of the conservation community to further the shared goal of preventing habitat destruction and biodiversity loss. Since our creation, we’ve been achieving this mission through:

Running community building projects in 174 countries
Engaging student ambassadors in over 50 universities
Forming strategic alliances and partnerships with over 200 professional organizations
Publishing over 500 authors, photographers, and researchers
Sponsoring dozens of beach and community clean-ups
Providing free scientific resources for educators
Promoting over 20 tailored conservation job postings per week- totaling over 1000 opportunities per year
Inspiring and educating our readers through rich imagery, engaging content, and a compelling conservation message
We do all of the above FOR FREE, because we care about the future

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Beach scene banner photo at the top by Bharamee Thamrongmas.

Related Topics:development funding opportunity

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SEVENSEAS Magazine: May 2018 – Issue 37

Issue 37 - May 2018

Thousands of Juvenile Oysters Find Home on Restored Reef

The Southern Hemisphere’s largest reef restoration project has reached an important milestone with the seeding of more than 50,000 endangered Australian flat oysters.

The Windara Reef project is being led by The Nature Conservancy in the waters of Gulf St Vincent in South Australia. It consists of 150 artificial reefs spanning 20ha about 1km off the coast of Ardrossan on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula.

The reefs were sunk in 2017 and 2018 and the first 30,000 mature native oysters were seeded in January 2018. The native oysters (Ostrea angasi) seeded are eight months old, about the size of an egg yolk and have been supplied by the South Australian Research and Development Institute. Another deployment of native oysters will take place on the reef later this year with the goal of boosting their numbers to more than 7 million in the 20ha zone.

The juvenile oysters are likely to begin producing their spat (offspring) when they reach three years old. It is expected take seven years to create a fully functioning, self-sustaining reef. However, early testing just six months after the first 30,000 oysters were seeded last year found the oysters to be surviving and a number of wild oyster spat had also made their way to the reef, which was an unexpected bonus.

Oyster reefs are considered the temperate water equivalent to coral reefs in tropical waters. Australia’s southern coastline was home to thousands of kilometres of oyster reefs before European settlement but dredging to remove substrate for lime production and the harvesting of oysters for food wiped out all the reefs except for one off the coast of Tasmania. Adult native oysters can filter more than 100 litres of water a day and excrete a mucus-like substance that is rich in nutrients and provides food for small shellfish that in turn provide food for larger fish.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has been involved in dozens of shellfish reef restoration projects, chiefly in the United States and is considered a global expert on their establishment. TNC Project Manager Anita Nedosyko said the first dives to measure the environmental benefits on water quality, fish production and biodiversity of stage one conducted last year as part of a six-year study into the success of the project had yielded positive results. “We’ve already seen abalone, scallops, sea urchins, schools of leatherjackets, snapper, magpie perch and cuttlefish,” she said.

Leather jackets schooling at the 9-month-old Stage 1 Windara Reef in May 2018. Picture: Anita Nedosyko/The Nature Conservancy.

The construction of the reef involved placing almost 10,000 tonnes of limestone boulders, each about the size of a soccer ball, to form 150 reefs across the 20ha area. Nedosyko said the individual reef clumps were designed to be close enough together so that native oyster larvae could move across the reef system through tidal flow. She said it was hoped the Windara Reef would eventually lead to increased fish production of 5 tonnes per hectare a year including recreational fishing favourites such as snapper and King George whiting.

“A successful reef for us will be one where oysters are surviving, spawning and producing new recruits and we’re also starting to see some additional biodiversity,” Nedosyko said.

“It’s like a well-stocked fridge – it’s really attractive to fish coming in because they can stop, get fed and move on or decide to be residents.”

The project is the result of a collaboration between The South Australian Government, The Nature Conservancy, The Australian Government, Yorke Peninsula Council and The University of Adelaide. It aims to restore fish stocks for recreational anglers, improve water quality and biodiversity and revive the oyster in the Gulf.

South Australian Environment Minister David Speirs said the project would improve gulf waters and also be a boost for the region as a whole. “This project will result in economic and social benefit to the nearby communities of Yorke Peninsula through the creation of new jobs, particularly tourism associated with recreation and fishing, as well as new volunteering and community education programs,” he said.

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Art & Culture

Ocean-Inspired Paintings

My relationship with the ocean is complex. Many of my most joyful memories are made up of moments when I’m either immersed in the sea or walking along the beach, admiring all of the many colours, shapes and expressions of this majestic mass of movement. As a child I was always the first one in the water and the last one to get out; so comfortable in and fascinated by this other world underneath the surface.

Painting of waves

When I was sixteen and training to become a lifeguard, my father drowned in a fishing accident, and so my whole relationship with the ocean changed. How could something that I love so much take a person that I love so much away from me? After that, in my anger and bitterness, I turned away from the sea for a while.

Eventually, I started to get in touch with the ocean again, bit by bit, and as I did I found great joy and healing, as if coming back home; coming back home to the water and to myself. It was a profound experience. As a part of this healing process I began painting moments from this journey and suddenly found that I have a whole collection of images and paintings as a result.

I continue to paint and I’m more in love with the ocean now than ever before. Sometimes it scares me and my old fears and grief rise up, but I simply acknowledge it, feel it, and express it through my art.

Painting of waves

The sea is so personal for many people – it holds memories and feelings; it’s a very powerful thing. Something to be respected and appreciated. It’s sad to see all of the pollution that litters it now – it has changed so drastically in such little time. This is why I’m trying to be as ethical and eco-friendly as possible when packaging my art. I use 100% biodegradable cornstarch sheets for my prints and reuse old packaging when shipping a painting. Because of my own personal experience, I also donate 10% of profits from my Etsy shop to the International Life Saving Federation – an organisation made up of lifesaving organisations from around the world. https://www.ilsf.org

Painting of waves

My name is Fiona, I’m an artist from Ireland, painting ocean-inspired art. When someone purchases one of my pieces, I hope that they’re taking away more than just a pretty picture – I hope that it’s so much more for them, as it is for me.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fionarossart/

Online shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueWildTribe

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Art & Culture

Surasak Nuibut, Mountain Climber, Adventurer & Travel Photographer: Puncak Gunung Baling Kedah

Gunung Baling is a mountain in Kedah, Malaysia with a peak climbing to 546 meters in the sky. The summit has magnificent views of the surroundings. There is only one basic trail up Gunung Baling but it has decent signage. The beginning of the trail can be muddy and difficult with the steep incline, especially if wet after rains. The trek is worth it though once you embrace the view at the summit. Enjoy this hike and bring people you care about to share those magnificent sights.

Pro tip: Bring a water proof camera or housing and dress for every type of weather imaginable.

Are you ready for a trip like this?

Em Surasak currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand and is an avid adventurer, traveler, photographer, and mountain climber. These days you can find him scaling cliffs throughout Europe and Southeast Asia.

“I’m a dirt person , I trust the dirt. I don’t trust diamond and gold.”

You can follow more of his adventures here on instagram.

We love the work we do, and we hope you love the content we share. A donation in support of SEVENSEAS Media will help us carry our mission forward.

Running community building projects in 174 countries
Engaging student ambassadors in over 50 universities
Forming strategic alliances and partnerships with over 200 professional organizations
Publishing over 500 authors, photographers, and researchers
Sponsoring dozens of beach and community clean-ups
Providing free scientific resources for educators
Promoting over 20 tailored conservation job postings per week- totaling over 1000 opportunities per year
Inspiring and educating our readers through rich imagery, engaging content, and a compelling conservation message
We do all of the above FOR FREE, because we care about the future