New Hope Spots to be Announced at IMPAC 3!

October 17, 2013

Next week, the Third International Marine Protected Area Congress (IMPAC 3) will convene in Marseille and Corsica. The Congress brings together major maritime stakeholders from around the globe to work together for the conservation and sustainable development of the oceans, and is the largest gathering of its kind ever held.

On Tuesday, October 22, Dr. Earle will host a celebration, “Hope for the Oceans with Dr. Sylvia Earle.” Mission Blue’s new global Hope Spot map will be unveiled, and Her Deepness has exciting Hope Spot news to share. Also appearing will be Dan Laffoley of IUCN and Mission Blue Board Director, Dr. Lance Morgan of Marine Conservation Institute, Jenifer Austin Foulkes, Manager, Explore the Ocean layer in Google Earth and Mission Blue Board Director,  Charlotte Vick of Mission Blue and Google Earth’s Explore the Ocean Layer and Kristina Gjerde of The Sargasso Sea Alliance and the High Seas Alliance. Attendees will also get sneak peek at the upcoming Mission Blue film! 

In her 2009 TED Wish, Mission Blue founder and legendary oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle asked something of us all –

         “I wish you would use all means at your disposal – films, the web, expeditions, new submarines, a campaign! – to ignite public support for a network of global marine protected areas, hope spots large enough to save and restore the ocean, the blue heart of the planet.”

Video: Kip Evans, Mission Blue

Since Dr. Earle made this bold wish, we have continued to learn a great deal about the decline of the ocean, and also much about what can be done to restore it to at least a reasonable facsimile of the healthier ocean of the past. One thing we now know for sure is that Marine Protected Areas have been proven time and time again to provide marine life with a sanctuary where they can and do bounce back to health, shielded at least to some degree from human pressures.

Most national and international administrations have ambitious ongoing programs for the study and conservation of marine ecosystems, of marine protected areas, and of connected zones. IMPAC3 gives them a chance to report back on their work, so that participants may draw intermediate lessons from initiatives already underway, and improve current and future programs. 

IMPAC3 aims to deliver a new vision and new tools to achieve the goal of protecting 10 percent of the world’s oceans by 2020.

WebTV will be there 24/7 to share IMPAC 3’s plenary sessions, the daily magazines and fascinating stories from the partners of IMPAC3 which showcase the latest initiatives related to the management of marine protected areas and oceans.

Carl Gustaf Lundin talks about IMPAC3 by Aires-marines-protegees

IMPAC 3 is organized by IUCN, WCPA and Agence des aires marines protégées (The French Marine Protected Areas Agency)

Follow all the action at IMPAC 3:

Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/IMPAC3

Twitter      @IMPAC_3

Website    http://www.impac3.org/en/

WebTV     http://www.impac3.org/en/news/webtv

Feature Photo: Kip Evans Photography