Issue 35 - March 2018

SEVENSEAS Magazine: March 2018 – Issue 35

1. Letter from the Editor: Overdue for a mental detox in nature?

Whether at the beach, mountain climbing, or out at sea, we can all agree that traveling sustainably and environmentally-centered not only realigns and detoxes your mind, but can really help protected areas.

2. How to Almost Survive a Tropical Cyclone at Sea.

My pride and joy, and home, a 42-foot sailing catamaran named “Shaguar”, was moored in Roebuck Bay at Broome and she could be in trouble if the tropical low developed into a cyclone.

3. Loving Sharks with African Dive Adventures.

If you are looking for a pure adrenaline experience, then African Dive Adventures is for you…

4. Shop our store this season and support ocean conservation

We just opened up our first e-commerce site! Best part is 100% of the proceeds to go SEVENSEAS Media.

5. Wildscreen Exchange Feature for March: Whale Shark

Whale shark (Scientific name Rhincodon typus) with mouth wide open, filter feeding.

6. FEATURE DESTINATION: A Coruña, a Different Side of Spain

Tucked away in the green, rugged Northwestern corner of Spain, the sparkling coastal city of A Coruña is a side of Spain that many never see.

7. FEATURE DESTINATION: Islas Cíes: the Islands of the Gods

a hidden paradise off the coast of northwestern Spain. The wild landscapes, white sand beaches, and turquoise waters beckon to those wishing to escape civilization.

8. FEATURE DESTINATION: The Galician Seafood Sector, Allies in Conservation

Conservation and the seafood sector are typically viewed as opposing forces, but in Galicia, Spain, they have found hope in a different perspective.

9. FEATURE DESTINATION: Galician Seafood

In Galicia, Spain, seafood is far more than just something to put on a plate. With centuries of fishing tradition…

10. FEATURE DESTINATION: Galicia, a Photo Series

A collection by Sarah Murray

11. Jack’s March Photo: The Mandarinfish

Synchiropus splendidus, the mandarinfish or mandarin dragonet, is a small, brightly colored member of the dragonet family, which is popular in the saltwater aquarium trade…

12. Volvo Ocean Race Ocean Summit.

11th Hour Racing, the Founding Principal Partner in sustainability for the Volvo Ocean Race shared their recap with us on the third of seven Ocean Summits held in Hong Kong last week.

13. Aquarius: Excerpted from Blue Frontier

Below me appears something resembling the underwater lair of a James Bond villain. Actually, it’s a 48-foot cylindrical habitat called Aquarius, the last underwater research station in the world.

14. Trash Talk with Michael Crawford-Hick in Nepal.

…The bank was not of normal dirt, but layers and layers of dust and plastic bags….

15. March for the Ocean

Government “listening sessions” on opening up 90% of public seas to offshore oil ends March 9…

16. Surasak Nuibut, Mountain Climber, Adventurer & Travel Photographer: Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia

This month Em takes us to Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia. Are you ready for an trip like this?

17. More Trees, More Bees, More Honey, More Money.

Solution Search winner Apis Agribusiness is making life sweeter for a new generation of Ethiopian youth

18. 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.

19. New tool to help companies fight plastic pollution

An online tool which helps companies measure their plastic footprint, developed by the social enterprise Searious Business and IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, was launched today at the Ocean Plastics Crisis Summit in London, UK.

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

35 Issues, readership in 174 countries, over 16,000 subscribers, 20,000 monthly visitors…and growing.

ECO-TRAVEL DEALS

Be sure to mention SEVENSEAS Media for special rates and discounts when making your inquiry.

1. Oceanic Society Expeditions.

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

2. Bangkok Photo Tours.

We visit traditional sights but focus on markets, street art, and local food. All camera forward and environmentally sensitive.

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

If you are interested in swimming with or photographing humpback whales Karim guides…

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. SEE Turtles.

…protect endangered turtles throughout Latin America and the world by supporting community-based conservation efforts through ecotourism, education, and Billion Baby Turtles.

8. Pete Oxford Expeditions.

We offer unique, small group expeditions for travelers and photographers to remote and pristine destinations and cultures around the world.

Conservation Photography

Surasak Nuibut, Mountain Climber, Adventurer & Travel Photographer: Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia

Complete strangers offered beers, meals, words of support, and random acts of kindness. On the trail I made some of the most unlikely friends and met some of the most determined, unique, intelligent and kindly people. I hiked with Thai, Malaysian, Australian, and Indonesian adventurers.

We laughed, danced, swore, spit, walk under stars, woke wet and cold, but mostly just walked. I felt bored, felt crazy, felt exhausted, I performed a feat without any concrete value, that most folks can’t quite seem to grasp.

Somehow with each day I fell more in love with the wild, with the journey, with humanity.
And people must have seen this in me.

Mount Kinabalu is a mountain in Sabah, Malaysia. It is protected as Kinabalu Park, a World Heritage Site. Kinabalu is the highest peak in Borneo’s Crocker Range and is the highest mountain in the Malay Archipelago as well as the highest mountain in Malaysia. Mount Kinabalu is also the 20th most prominent mountain in the world by topographic prominence.

The mountain and its surroundings are among the most important biological sites in the world, with between 5,000 and 6,000 species of plants, 326 species of birds, and more than 100 mammalian species identified.

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.

Conservation Photography

Galicia, a Photo Series

Sarah is a researcher, writer, photographer, and artist with a lifelong love for the oceans.

Contact her at sarah.murray6289@gmail.com and visit sarahamurray.com

SEVENSEAS Media is close to reaching our fundraising goal thanks to donations from wonderful supporters like you! We are aiming to raise $14,000 before April 15. Please consider a tax-deductible donation by clicking the button here.

The mission of SEVENSEAS Media is to connect individuals and resources inside and out 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 400 authors, photographers and researchers
Inspiring and educating our readers through rich imagery, engaging content and a compelling conservation message.

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.

Find the latest articles on SEVENSEAS Media here.

Want to get in touch with questions or a submission? Contact us here.

Conservation Photography

Overdue for a mental detox in nature?

When was the last time you were completely cut-off and immersed in nature? If your answer is yesterday then you are on the right track. Whether at the beach, mountain climbing, or out at sea, we can all agree that traveling sustainably and environmentally-centered not only realigns and detoxes your mind, but can really help protected areas.

Detoxing your mind

A walk in the park is great but may not always cut it if you need to clear your head. Shutting off the lights to meditate is nice to cleanse your mind but is not always enriching. If you can afford to spend a full day or two (or three) offline and surrounded by the natural world you are sure to come back refreshed and invigorated.

The first miraculous discovery once you disconnect and commit to a nature detox is realizing the rest of the world is functioning and there is nothing you can do till you are back online. Step two is to be amazed, humbled, and reminded of the power and beauty of nature. The old growth of a tree, or crashing of waves, or the song of birds are all easy triggers to make your feel small in this vast world. Then look deeper to the decay of leaves or the gentle growth of sea algae to notice the clear connectivity and balance of it all- and that you are a part of it.

For some it may take two or three days before they start to let go. Others might never fully shut off but at least be able to work through their priorities and recenter their lives. On my most recent trek I wasn’t able to completely forget the rest of the world existed but I at least worked through some stresses that were getting me down. More so it is the persistence and fragility of nature that reminds us we are a small part of this moving world.

Plan for an impact on nature

No matter where you live there is likely a National Park or reserve close enough that you can make a weekend or at least a day out of. Plenty of these places are free to visit but if you have the means, you can really make an impact by visiting a park, reserve, or protected area where your entrance fee goes towards conservation measures. It is an easy way to help fund a conservation project while also providing much needed PR so others know they can make the same impact.

Report back on your environmental excursion

You would be amazed on how many individuals you can inspire by sharing a photo of yourself out in nature. Family and friends will comment on how they should plan something similar soon, just from seeing your post on social media.

It is great to demonstrate how you don’t have to be a life-long mountaineer to visit a National Park. Many don’t realize how easily they can make their way to a park or reserve- and even more are unaware that their visit can directly support the places they go.

Our trip to New Zealand

My husband painstakingly organized a trek through the Routeburn Trail near Queenstown, New Zealand which is one of the best things you can do if you save a handful of vacation days. It was a three day, two night, hike and camp on one of New Zealand’s nine Great Walks covering nearly 35km and going over mountains rivers, and grasslands. All images in this article are from our experience on the Routeburn Trail.

The hike was long, exactly 300% all uphill, and I wasn’t packed appropriately for the cold. But was all worth it to witness the sheer majesty of the mountains, forests, and waterfalls. This humbling experience in the vast expanse quickly grounded my priorities and allowed for a quick check-in with my inner self. Also knowing our camping dollars support the maintenance and protection of the park left us feeling we contributed in some way.

Plus, after hitting the highest peak and our final descent, what a great feeling to share our experience with friends and family.

What about your next trek into nature? Where do you want to go next? If you have any questions or need other ideas, feel free to reach out. If there is any way SEVENSEAS Media can help connect you or amplify your impact, do not hesitate to contact us.

Cheers,

Giacomo Abrusci, Executive Director and Editor-in-Chief

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 400 authors, photographers and researchers
Inspiring and educating our readers through rich imagery, engaging content and a compelling conservation message.

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.

Find the latest articles on SEVENSEAS Media here.

Want to get in touch with questions or a submission? Contact us here.