Hope Spots 

• A special abundance or diversity of species, unusual or representative species, habitats or ecosystems

• Particular populations of rare, threatened or endemic species

• A site with potential to reverse damage from negative human impacts

• Spectacles of nature, e.g. major migration corridors or spawning grounds

• Significant historical, cultural or spiritual values

• Particular economic importance to the community

The idea is that anyone can nominate a site special to him or her—a site that gives HOPE. Collectively all of these Hope Spots will create a global wave of community support for ocean conservation that leaders and policy makers can’t ignore. Once you nominated area is fully designated you become a global Hope Spots Champion.

 

 2. What does Mission Blue hope for from its new Champions and what is my role? Who maintains Hope Spots?

If you decide to nominate a Hope Spot, we hope you are also ready to commit time to working for your Hope Spot and partnering with us to achieve tangible results there. There are many ways this can happen and you will always be able to direct that progress according to your needs and timetable.

 

 3. Can I nominate a Hope Spot as a private individual, organisation or community?

Yes. The nomination process is open to all. In fact that’s what makes this so special. It’s the only global platform for informally recognizing special places in the marine world that comes from you- the global community.

 

 4. How do I nominate a Hope Spot?

You can nominate a Hope Spot by clicking here. Read our useful guidelines to the process here– it will save you lots of time.

 

 5. 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. Using our extensive resources for public outreach, Mission Blue will increase visibility for your Hope Spot through both traditional and social media; we will help you build collaboration between potential partners; coordinate expeditions; and advocate for legal protection of your Hope Spot.

 

 6. 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 new newsletter: Hope Spot Sentinel! The news will have massive social media outreach, locally and globally and so it will be a great opportunity to share your story with the world. This globally recognized platform will become a valuable education and marketing tool- the possibilities are endless and will hopefully lead to legal protection. We also have an exciting online tool available soon that will allow Mission Blue champions and partners to create their own Hope Spot related material like maps and web stories, store and manage their online presence and so much more.

 

 7. What information and how much detail do I need to fill in the nomination questionnaire/form?

Much of the information we need is what you might expect – your contact details, why you believe your Hope Spot is special etc. We also need you to give us more detailed information so the council can make an informed decision, for example what your plans are towards protecting  the area and finding partners to support you work etc. Click here to see all the questions.

 

 8. What will happen after I nominate my Hope Spot?

After you submit a completed nomination application, your Hope Spot proposal will appear on our map. If there is enough information to do so, we will be setting up an initial call between you and a council member to get a better feel for you site and its specific conditions.  After that Dr. Earle and the council, made up of a team of expert marine scientists, will review your nomination and hopefully move towards official Hope Spot status.

 

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

The stories and information you provide Dr. Earle and Mission Blue will contribute to our newsletter: Hope Spot Sentinel, to share the story and value of your Hope Spot. We aim to build a movement to ignite support for a global network of marine protected areas. In addition and with your permission, we plan to share your stories and content on Mission Blue’s vast social media networks and website. Your submissions will never be sold or used for commercial purposes.

 

 10. How can I learn more about Hope Spots?

Sign up to the Hope Spot Sentinel 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.

 

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

There are numerous ways:

 a) Financial help- make a donation (any amount is important!) to Mission Blue via the website link. You can designate whether your donation should support all Hope Spots, or be focused on support for a particular one.

 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, contact Mission Blue at .

 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 organisations are usually very grateful for any help in the field. If this is one of the ways you decide to help, send us photos and stories to share what you are doing with the world!

 

If your question hasn’t been answered yet or you want to contact us regarding other queries, feel free to email us at