Issue 24 - May 2017

IUCN World Heritage report stresses urgency of protecting the Arctic from ships and oil as ice melts

The Arctic Ocean urgently needs protection as melting sea ice is opening up previously inaccessible areas to activities such as shipping, bottom trawl fishing and oil exploration, according to a scientific report launched today by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in partnership with the US-based Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre.

Photo: © Ralph Lee Hopkins, National Geographic Creative

The report identifies seven globally significant marine sites in the Arctic Ocean that warrant protection and could potentially qualify for World Heritage status.

“The Arctic Ocean plays a crucial role in shaping global climate and hosts a diverse range of species, many of them threatened,” says Carl Gustaf Lundin, Director of IUCN’s Global Marine and Polar Programme. “The World Heritage Convention has great potential to increase global recognition and protection of the region’s most exceptional habitats.”

The Arctic Ocean stretches across the northernmost side of the planet, spanning 14 million square kilometers. Its icy waters are home to wildlife found nowhere else on the planet, including bowhead whales, narwhals and walruses. As one of the most pristine oceans on Earth, it provides critical habitat for threatened species, such as polar bears and Atlantic puffins, both assessed as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

However, climate change is posing a serious threat to the Arctic region, which is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet. Rapidly melting sea ice is opening up previously inaccessible areas to potential new shipping routes, oil and gas development and industrial fishing. These changes increase the urgency of improving our understanding and effective conservation of the Arctic’s globally unique marine ecosystems.

“Our Arctic Ocean conservation efforts are not keeping pace with the loss of ice and encroaching economic development, and this is putting our shared heritage in jeopardy,” says Lisa Speer of NRDC. “We need to protect the region’s most important ecological hotspots from industrial fishing, offshore oil and gas development and other damaging human activity to give the region’s globally unique wildlife the best possible chance of survival.”

The sites identified in the report that could potentially qualify for World Heritage status include: the Remnant Multi-Year Sea Ice and Northeast Water Polynya Ecoregion, which boasts the oldest and thickest ice in the Arctic and may give polar bears the greatest chance of survival through the 21st century; the Bering Strait Ecoregion, one of the world’s great migration corridors for millions of seabirds and marine mammals; the Northern Baffin Bay Ecoregion, which supports the largest aggregation of a single species of seabird, the little auk; the Scoresby Sound Polynya Ecoregion, the world’s largest fjord system which supports the Critically Endangered Spitsbergen stock of bowhead whale; the High Arctic Archipelagos, which support 85% of the world’s population of ivory gulls; Disko Bay and Store Hellefiskebanke Ecoregion, a critical winter habitat for the West Greenland walrus and hundreds of thousands of king eiders; and the Great Siberian Polynya, where the seasonal formation and melting of ice influences oceanic processes on a large scale.

“The Arctic Ocean’s beauty and bounty are unparalleled,” says Mechtild Rössler, Director of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre. “From the sea life superhighway of the Bering Strait to the breath-taking fjords of Scoresby Sound, this region is unlike any other on the planet. This new report highlights seven possible treasures in the Arctic Ocean that need conservation efforts to keep pace with climate change.”

Currently, there are five World Heritage sites within the Arctic Circle, only one of which is listed for its marine values – Russia’s Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve. Inscribed in 2004, it boasts the world’s largest population of Pacific walrus, with up to 100,000 animals congregating in the island’s rookeries, and the highest density of ancestral polar bear dens. Research suggests that some humpback whales from the Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino in Mexico migrate all the way to the waters around Wrangel Island for summer feeding, highlighting the connections between the Arctic Ocean and World Heritage sites in lower latitudes.

Launched today in Monaco, “Natural Marine World Heritage in the Arctic Ocean: Report of an expert workshop and review process” was produced with support from the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and WWF-Canada.

For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:

Goska Bonnaveira, IUCN Media Relations, mobile: +41 79 276 0185, goska.bonnaveira@iucn.org

Issue 24 - May 2017

Issue 24 | May 1, 2017

The May issue can be viewed online here. Starting in June 2017, the flip-books will be disabled.

Table of Contents:

Letter from the Editor – 10
Why Celebrate World Oceans Day – 14
Travel with SEVENSEAS and Focus Expeditions – 16
A Cozumel Photo Series – 20
SEVENSEAS Channel – 30
Robyn Hartzell Photographer – 32
Ditch that plastic – 38
Under the Waves with Karim Iliya – 40
Evolution of Big Wave Surfer Greg Long – 42
Looking to the sea for sustainable agriculture and food production – 49
Portugal – 52
In and Around Lisbon – 60
Porto and the North – 65
Quick Stop in Lisbon and Porto – 68
The Algarve – 71
Snapshot from the Editor-in-Chief – 74
Grassroots Reef Conservation – 78
Loggerhead Marinelife Center – 82
What are mangroves worth? – 84
Campaign To Save The Boundary Waters – 88
Time and again, renewed the sea, my parents and I – 91
All About Hammerhead Sharks – 94
Jewelry, fine art, & conservation – 97
Recipes for a healthy body and a healthy planet – 100
Diving Into World Oceans Day – 106
Join the Next Oceanic Society Expedition – 108
Volunteer Vacation with SEE Turtles – 113
Turning Waste into a Sustainable Fish-Free Feed – 118
World’s First Solar-Powered Personal Exploration Craft – 120
Urgency of protecting the Arctic from ships and oil – 122
SEVENSEAS junior – 130
SeaKeepers Bermuda Save the Date -132

Health & Sustainable Living

The Evolution of Big Wave Surfer Greg Long

Greg Long spent over ten years of his adult life being 100 percent committed to chasing every big swell in the world. He worked diligently, both mentally and physically, to conquer large waves on a regular basis. The excitement of trying to figure it all out led him to every big wave destination that is considered world class.

Over the past few years, Long has experienced a change in the motivation of that chase.

“I was walking down that one road and I put my heart and soul into it. I have had the good fortune of exploring the world, experiencing diverse cultures and having a professional surfing career,” says Long. “If you do anything with that much intensity for so long, the motivation changes. I had to look for something else to inspire me.”

That inspiration is centered around what he considers his first love – the ocean. In what he says was a very conscious decision, he has found the beginnings of what he wants to do with the rest of his life.

“Surfing isn’t the only thing burning inside of me. I’m just as excited about it as always, but the pressure on myself isn’t there anymore,” Long says. “I want to dive deeper into what the oceans do for us on a daily basis and into the overlooked health of our oceans.”

Just to be clear though, Long is nowhere near finished competing on the Big Wave World Tour. After strong podium showings at the Puerto Escondido Challenge and the Pe’ahi (Jaws) Challenge, Long finished the 2016 season in 3rd place overall after the final event, the Nazare Challenge.

Greg Long, who turns 34 this month, is one of the most accomplished big wave surfers in the world and his career now spans over two decades. His titles make for a lengthy list and include multiple XXL Global Big Wave Awards such as Biggest Wave, Ride of the Year and Performer of the Year. He is the only surfer to win all three of the sport’s premier big wave competitions, including “The Eddie” at Waimea Bay and in 2013, he was crowned Big Wave World Tour Champion. He was featured in the movie “Chasing Mavericks” and has appeared on ESPN’s series “Big Wave Hellmen”.

His journey to all those accomplishments has been noted by his humble and thoughtful demeanor. Born and raised in San Clemente, Calif., Long still considers the area home. His father Steve was a professional lifeguard and the lessons of respect for surfing and the ocean began on those beaches.

“The ocean is unpredictable and as much as you know, you can’t go out with 100 percent confidence. The breaks are unique and the swells, winds and tides bring different qualities and characteristics. You want to find a good relationship with one of the breaks,” says Long. “When you fall, there can be immediate life-threatening circumstances. The ocean is going to slap you eventually.”

Long’s “slap” happened in December of 2012 when he was surfing 100 miles offshore at Cortes Bank. Coming down out of a five-story wave, Long was held underwater for four consecutive waves, lost consciousness and was air-lifted out by the Coast Guard. He would return a year later to once again face the waters that almost killed him. It was the beginning of the evolution that has brought Long to his current mindset.

“I am very content with where I am at in my life. The greatest challenges are our best teachers,” Long notes. “The new chapter of my life has included working with organizations to raise ocean awareness, especially to the surfing world. I am growing in ways I haven’t before and these organizations inspire me daily.”

One of the organizations he has aligned with is Parley For The Oceans who galvanize pre-existing organizations to get unique communities to foster ocean awareness. One of their initiatives is to bring in individuals to repurpose or up-cycle marine plastic debris and to develop new materials which can replace current plastic.

“Working with Parley has been very inspirational,” says Long. “As I travel the world becoming aware of problems such as ocean plastics pollution in the Maldives, I am tasked with going back to those places to raise awareness.”

Long is also active with Surfrider Foundation, Sustainable Surf and Save the Waves among others.

Never one to be complacent with his physical training, Long is currently set-up in Maui. He injured his knee last June and through rehab, he was surfing confidently by October. His time in Maui will include training to completely heal the knee and to be surf-ready.

“I cross-train with a lot of cardio, breath-holding, yoga, swimming and core work,” Long says. “I think the mental and physical go hand in hand. One draws on the other.”

In the meantime, he consistently has an eye on the weather monitoring for giant swells that may mark the next surfing competition or adventure. The current monitoring technology allows for 72 hours of forecast ahead of time as to how the waves will be in a specific area. Long is always packed and on standby to depart for one of his surfing sanctuaries.

“When I look at the ocean, I see awe and wonder. For me it brings feelings of returning home, memories I have created and the incredible opportunities and lifestyle that it has presented to me,” says Long. “It is essentially my life. For those generations yet to come, I want them to see it exactly as I did. A beautiful sanctuary.”

Issue 24 - May 2017

The World’s First Solar-Powered Personal Exploration Craft

Aeon’s technology advancement enables green product manufacturers to think differently, and to produce a product that complements the environment.

A community-owned venture has launched the Aeon Explorer project with a mission to use the watercraft for eco-tourism by providing a unique experience of marine life. This green electric vehicle gives you an exciting ride with a personal touch.

The glass-bottomed boat Aeon Explorer hits the water on the Big Island of Hawaii. An electric personal watercraft lets its riders see beneath the surface. Users lie prone on the fiberglass-bodied vessel, looking down through an acrylic window. Propulsion is provided by a single propeller in the rear, while a dual joystick system is used for steering and throttle control. A solar panel on top boosts the battery range. LED spotlights on the underside help illuminate the depths at night.

The creators of this eco-friendly product intend to lease or franchise the explorer to Eco-tour businesses; tourists will enjoy a new and exciting way to observe and explore marine wildlife, while the physically challenged will have unencumbered access to the ocean environment for the first time.

Exploring and swimming in an ocean is quite hard, and there are safety concerns from predators in their natural environment. The watercraft also helps in providing safety to the adventurers from the marine wildlife during their exploration.

Our intention is much larger than just promoting a watercraft. We intend to use this watercraft for eco-tourism, take the proceeds, and spread it out to the conservation community.

A brief summary of the attributes this craft has to offer:

Self charging for remote parts of the world
8 hour run-time
Semi-autonomous, controlled from most smart phones or on-board joy sticks -Built-in L.E.D. underwater lighting
Retractable seat for comfort while underway
Excellent for over reef diver towing. Adaptable for surface air supply, i.e. scuba www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD1_QONgMJU

We have worked with marine biologists, using the craft as a visual aid for locating and identifying bleached corals, the location and eradication of invasive species, and marine debris on reef clean-ups.

We offer free learning exploratory expeditions for young adults, children and disabled adventurers, and have received a warm response from our community as an ambassador for the promotion of clean energy marine exploration.

This is a great opportunity to get our children interested in marine life!
youtube.com/watch?v=AB8i3F9mlHk