Hope Spot Nomination Guidelines - Mission Blue

Hope Spots

Nomination Guidelines & FAQs: Wish, Act, Protect!

Thank you for your interest in nominating a Hope Spot. While anyone is welcome to nominate a Hope Spot we do hope that you are ready to commit time to working for your Hope Spot and partnering with others in your local community that will help achieve tangible results. All nominations must be supported by the local community in the Hope Spot. Please note that work in the Hope Spot will take place for years to come therefore we request that you are committed long term.

 

Overview of the Hope Spot Nomination Process:

Step 1: Find and establish partners within the community who support the nomination and will also support ongoing work if it becomes designated as a Hope Spot.

Step 2: Fill out the initial nomination inquiry form listed below.

Step 3: Once you have filled out the inquiry form a member of the Hope Spots team will contact you as needed, for further information and will perform an initial review to determine whether your inquiry qualifies to continue in the nomination process.

Step 4: If your initial inquiry is selected to proceed in the nomination process, a more detailed nomination form will be sent to you to be completed. You and your partners will work to fill out the nomination form and provide all supporting information as required in the nomination package.

Step 5: Once the nomination package is completed, it will then be submitted to our Hope Spots Council who will review the nomination and determine whether or not it will be designated as an official Hope Spot.

Step 6: Once the Hope Spot is officially designated by the Hope Spots Council, we will work with you to launch it publicly on our media channels. You as our Hope Spot Champion and your partners will work on a variety of actions to help achieve results and protection in your Hope Spot.

 

Who can nominate a Hope Spot?

There are two types of nominators, an individual who is not representing an NGO or an individual representing an NGO and/or multiple parties. In either case we require that the nominator is local and has at least 5+ years experience working in this area on conservation/research/community engagement with local stakeholders. Community support will help ensure the success of the Hope Spot and future actions.

  • Individual not representing an NGO:

For an individual who is not representing an NGO we recommend you partner with an NGO or scientific organization who will be able to assist you in filling out the scientific questions in the nomination form and be a scientific partner if the Hope Spot is designated.

  • Individual representing an NGO:

For an individual representing an NGO, while you don’t need to partner with another organization to submit the nomination, we do require a minimum of three letters of support from outside organizations or individuals, although more letters are highly regarded and required for larger areas with higher populations.

We have provided an initial inquiry form below where you can submit information related to your Hope Spot nomination. We ask that you provide some details for each of the following points:

  • Summary about the area including – location, current threats and protection, ecological significance, level of community support. 
  • Details on the goals and actions planned for the nominated Hope Spot or any information on actions that have already been undertaken in the area.
  • Background on the nominator – individual, NGO etc and their link/involvement to the area.
  • Details related to any community/government support for the Hope Spot.

Please contact us by filling out the initial inquiry form HERE

 

Once you have submitted the initial inquiry form a member of the Hope Spots team will get in touch to discuss next steps. If your nomination is selected to proceed in the nomination process a full nomination package will need to be submitted, the requirements of which are detailed below:

  • We will create and share a Dropbox folder where you can upload all of the supporting information.
  • A more detailed nomination form will be sent to you which will need to be completed. 
  • List of partners who are supporting the nomination. We recommend at least two additional partners other than the nominating party. 
  • A minimum of three letters of support from outside organizations or individuals. These can be NGO’s, schools, universities, political leaders, community leaders etc. The letters of support should state their intention in supporting this nomination and the actions that will be taken in the future should it be designated as a Hope Spot. More letters of support are recommended for larger geographic regions.
  • Photos are required, we request a minimum of 30 images but always welcome more if they are available. These images will be shared on our public platform and media channels and should have photographer authorization to be shared with Mission Blue. Please label all photos as follows: shortdescription_Photographercredit.jpeg. e.g. blue_whale_Tom_Smith.jpeg. You may also group photos in folders with the name of the credited photographer or organization.
  • Videos are not required but highly regarded. B-roll is always welcome as it will help with the launch video should your Hope Spot be approved.
  • Please submit any documents that highlight the area you are nominating. These can include scientific papers, news articles etc. 

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How does Mission Blue support Hope Spots?

This is a really exciting time for marine conservation as the world is gaining momentum in dealing with the many threats our oceans are facing. Please see the infographic below that shows how we support Hope Spots:

 

2. What is the advantage of being identified as a Hope Spot?

 Upon approval as a Hope Spot, Mission Blue celebrates with you or your organization by scheduling a press announcement and assisting in increasing local, national and governmental appreciation. We will also host and share online stories about your Hope Spot on multiple platforms including our beautiful newsletter: The news will have massive social media outreach, locally and globally and will be a great opportunity to share your story with the world. This globally recognized platform is a valuable education and marketing tool, the possibilities are endless and will hopefully lead to legal protection

 

3. Why should I champion a Hope Spot (become a Hope Spot Champion)?

Hope Spot Champions want to stand up, take action and make a difference for the area they nominate. Every individual counts and you can help lead by example!

As a Champion:

  1. Your efforts reach a worldwide audience of more than a million Mission Blue brand online followers. We elevate Hope Spots and create public pressure for their official protection, putting your Hope Spot and your efforts on the map!
  2. You’re connected with more than 200 Mission Blue partners, ranging from large corporations to small non-profits who support Hope Spots.
  3. Mission Blue’s global network of supporters will be at your fingertips to help fuel your petition, attend your beach clean-up, participate in ecotourism at your Hope Spot and more! As a Champion, you have access to a worldwide community of marine conservationists and ocean stewards dedicated to making the planet a healthier place.

 

4. What will happen to my stories and the information I give you?

The stories and information you provide to Mission Blue will be shown on our Hope Spots Information Platform so people from around the world can learn about your Hope Spot. We will also use it to contribute to our newsletter and to be shared on our website and social media networks. We are building a movement to ignite support for a global network of marine protected areas.

 

5. How can I learn more about Hope Spots?

Sign up to the Hope Spot newsletter and explore the Mission Blue website for general information about the initiative, as well as maps, videos, photos, descriptions, stories and much more about individual Hope Spots. If Netflix is available in your location, you may view the Emmy Award Winning documentary, for the story behind Dr. Earle and Hope Spots.

 

6. How can I support Hope Spots apart from just nominating one?

There are numerous ways:

  1. a) Financial help- make a donation (any amount is important!) to Mission Blue via this website link.
  2. b) Media support- You can help by donating photographs and videos you may have from Hope Spots – especially those underwater and from remote areas. To donate content please email:
  3. c) Volunteering support- Contact a local organization working in your Hope Spot area and offer your time to volunteer for them. It’s free for you, but has a huge impact and the organizations are usually very grateful for any help in the field.

If your question hasn’t been answered, feel free to contact us below: 

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