February 2012 - Mission Blue

Monthly Archives: February 2012

“Join the Watch” to save the Ross Sea

Wellington, New Zealand

The Antarctic Ocean Alliance has launched it’s first report, “Antarctic Ocean Legacy: A Marine Reserve for the Ross Sea,” today in Wellington, New Zealand.  The report calls for a 3.6 million square kilometer fully protected marine reserve in what the Alliance’s Chuck Fox calls  “One of the most amazing and relatively untouched marine environments on earth.”

The Alliance is made up of supporters such as actor and UN Biodiversity Ambassador Edward Norton, Dr. Sylvia Earle, entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson and some 16 global environmental organizations.

“The fate of the Antarctic’s Ross Sea is likely to be decided by 24 countries and the EU this year and the global public knows nothing about it,” said Alliance Campaign Director Steve Campbell.…

Posted in Antarctic Ocean Alliance, Antarctica, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Ed Norton, Ross Sea, Sir Richard Branson |

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Google Earth Surround Liquid Galaxy & Catlin Seaview Survey

World Oceans SummitSingapore
Take a magic carpet ride through the ocean to Dr. Earle’s Hope Spots via the new Google Earth Surround Liquid Galaxy display. Then check out the new Great Barrier Reef 360s from the Catlin Seaview Survey by Underwater Earth at the Economist World Oceans Summit in Singapore.

Video Courtesy of Jenifer Austin Foulkes…

Posted in Catlin Seaview Survey, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Google Earth, The Economist, Underwater Earth, World Oceans Summit |

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World Oceans Summit Begins in Singapore

Photo: Channel News Asia

The world’s ocean is the setting for increasing economic activity and it will continue to be so for years to come. Only in recent years have scientists begun to understand the significant impact of growing industrialization on the ecosystems of the ocean and, by extension, on the broader biosphere that we call home. The Economist believes that it is the time to engage the global business community and change the nature of the debate. 
The Economist’s World Oceans Summit will examine how the increasing activity in and around the ocean can be managed sustainably and what this means for business and other key stakeholders. Chaired by John Micklethwait, Editor-in-chief of The Economist, the summit will bring together more than 200 global leaders from various sectors and disciplines, including government, business, international organizations, NGOs, think-tanks and academia to participate in a unique, outcome-driven dialogue.…

Posted in Dr. Sylvia Earle, World Ocean Summit |

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Dr. Earle on Progressive Commentary Hour Tonight

Dr. Earle will be a panel guest tonight with Dr. Gary Null at 7PM Eastern Time, along with  Professor Henry Pollack (Professor Emeritus of Geophysics at the University of Michigan and member of ICPP), and Professor David Montgomery (Professor of Geology at University of Washington). 

The subject will be an investigation into some of the critical environmental tipping points – and should make fascinating listening.…

Posted in Dr. Sylvia Earle, mission blue |

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Dr. Earle presents 6th Keeley Lecture at UC Santa Cruz this week

If you’re lucky enough to be in the San Francisco Bay Area this week, you’ll have the opportunity to hear Dr. Earle present the sixth Fred Keeley Lecture on Environmental Policy on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at the UC Santa Cruz Music Recital Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.

Photo of Dr. Earle: Becky Hale

Acclaimed nature photographer and UCSC Trustee Frans Lanting will give a special introduction. 

“As a campus committed to the environment and at the forefront of marine conservation, we are delighted to welcome Sylvia Earle who has been on the frontier of deep ocean exploration for more than four decades,” said Chancellor George Blumenthal.…

Posted in Dr. Sylvia Earle, Fred Keeley Lecture on Environmental Policy, UC Santa Cruz |

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First Ever Eco-Audit Finds More Effort Needed to Protect Mesoamerican Reef

Belize/Guatamala/Honduras/Mexico

In the first Eco-Audit of the Mesoamerican Reef, it has been determined that although progress is being made, more must be done to protect this fragile ecosystem, which is also one of Dr. Earle’s Hope Spots.  In the summer of 2011, Dr. Earle and her team mounted an expedition to the Swan Islands of Honduras, bringing increased focus to the region. The Mesoamerican reef runs over 600 miles from Mexico south to Honduras, and is a vital support system for this beautiful corner of our ocean planet.

Dr. Sylvia Earle Explores a coral reef at Swan Island, (c) Kip Evans Photography

The evaluation was carried out by The Healthy Reefs Initiative (HRI), in collaboration with the World Resources Institute (WRI), and nearly 40 local organizations, government agencies and companies. …

Posted in Dr. Sylvia Earle, Healthy Reefs Initiative, hope spots, marine protected areas, Mesoamerican Reef, World Resources Institute |

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Artist Courtney Mattison Brings Hope Spots into View

Photo: Deb Castellana

San Francisco, California
Inspired by Dr. Sylvia Earle and Mission Blue, artist, marine conservation biologist and ocean lover Courtney Mattison has created her own ecosystem of 18 Hope Spots, now on exhibit at the San Francisco University High School / Jackson Street Gallery in San Francisco, California. In doing so she hopes to bring the coral reef above the ocean waves where people can experience them, as well as educate and inspire others to take action to save our planet’s coral reef systems while there is still time.
Dr. Earle’s TED Prize wish in 2009 was, “I wish you would use all means at your disposal to ignite public support for a global network of marine protected areas, Hope Spots large enough to save and restore the ocean, the blue heart of the planet.”…

Posted in Courtney Mattison, Dr. Sylvia Earle, hope spots, mission blue |

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Major Update on Google Ocean’s Third Anniversary

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Google Earth has done it again.  Last week, on the third anniversary of an explorable ocean seafloor,  Google released yet another upgrade. Take a tour in the video below to see what’s new – a massive update of data with new features you will have to see to believe!
The update to the global underwater terrain datasest, called bathymetry is from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, in partnership with NOAA, the US Navy, NGA, and GEBCO (with major contributions from IFREMER and IBCAO).…

Posted in Google Ocean |

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Filmmakers Mike deGruy and Andrew Wight Lost in Helicopter Crash

NSW South CoastAustraliaTwo talented filmmakers and ocean advocates, Mike deGruy and Andrew Wight, have lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Australia.  Underwater cinematographer and story teller Mike deGruy had close ties to the Mission Blue family and spoke eloquently on behalf of the ocean during the first Mission Blue Voyage in 2010.  Mike will be remembered for his dedication to the ocean by those whose lives he touched through his films as well as by those who were lucky enough to know him personally.
With Mike, and piloting the craft was Australian writer-producer Andrew Wight. The helicopter crashed on takeoff near the NSW South Coast.  David Bennett, president of the South Coast Recreational Flying Club, said that the two men had left to film a documentary at Jervis Bay. …

Posted in Andrew Wight, Mike deGruy |

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