HAPPY WORLD OCEAN DAY!
Today, we are celebrating all of the people leading ocean action in the Blue Prosperity Coalition global network. Without them, sustainable ocean management around the world would be vastly different.
BARBUDA: BARBUDANGO
Barbuda was ahead of its time protecting 33% of its ocean space in 2013. We are celebrating the 10 years of Barbuda trailblazing this work. A local NGO, barbudanGO, is carrying on the work of ocean conservation in Barbuda and are hosting a series of tours to visit the dunes and mangroves this month to highlight their ocean space.
Image: BarbudanGO team members Pethrolyna Isaac, Asha Frank, and Brandon Walker
AZORES: BLUE AZORES
The Blue Azores team has been hard at work with the Regional Government of the Azores to advance the proposed 30% protection of the Azorean Sea. The team is excited to welcome four new members including Mafalda Neuville and Inês Jorge supporting communications, Catarina Santos supporting program management, and Mariana Andrade supporting Marine Spatial Planning.
Image: Blue Azores team members Inês Jorge, Adriano Quintela, Ana Monteiro, Mafalda Neuville, Mariana Andrade, and Catarina Santos.
BERMUDA: BERMUDA OCEAN PROSPERITY PROGRAMME
The BOPP team has gone above and beyond collecting public feedback from Bermuda residents, recently completing six focus group sessions following a public consultation period from September to December last year. Today on World Ocean Day, the team announced winners of their art contest with over 230 entries that encouraged children and adults to show why they know #BermudaIsWorthProtecting.
Image: Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Walter H. Roban JP, MP, joined by Dr. Bill Curry, members of the BOPP team, and the Bermuda Government Department of Energy and Natural Resources team.
FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA: BLUE PROSPERITY MICRONESIA
Blue Prosperity Micronesia (BPM) is making great strides in Marine Spatial Planning; the BPM Task Force recently approved two offshore plans for public consultations. The BPM team is celebrating World Ocean Day with a premiere of a video celebrating the deep cultural connections between Micronesians and the ocean. In this video, BPM Program Coordinator Yolanda Joab Mori and Science Advisor Nicole Yamase join fellow Micronesian ocean leaders in sharing the importance of environmental stewardship for a better future.
Image: Blue Prosperity Micronesia team wraps up a successful Marine Spatial Planning workshop.
FIJI: BLUE PROSPERITY FIJI
In partnership with the Government, local NGOs and Universities, Blue Prosperity Fiji is currently conducting Fiji's first nationwide Ocean Science Expedition to gain a better understand of the existing marine life and resources. Ahead of the expedition, the Blue Prosperity Fiji team conducted more than 100 community consultations in partnership with the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs to gain permission to enter the waters of each area. The expedition was launched with the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Prosperity Fiji partner the Uto Ni Yalo, a traditional sailing vessel to highlight the history and culture of discovery and exploration in Fiji.
Image: Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Prosperity Fiji team launch Ocean Science Expedition at Suva Yacht Club with members of the Waitt Institute.
THE MALDIVES: NOO RAAJJE
The Noo Raajje team has been busy with community outreach and engagement! The team recently engaged more than 400 community members at the Maldives Coral Festival, including developing an interactive game to teach youth about ocean planning. Noo Raajje also premiered a short film titled “Our Ocean: Basis for Blue Economy” at the Coral Festival. The film celebrates the Maldives’ efforts towards becoming the world’s first Smart Ocean State by blending traditional practices with new and innovative technologies for sustainable development and climate change resilience.
Image: Noo Raajje MSP Engagement Strategist Dr. Shaistha Mohamed, Science & Communications Liaison Maeesha Mohamed and Assistant Ocean Use Survey Coordinator Nashfa Nashidh presenting at the Maldives Coral Festival.
SAMOA: SAMOA OCEAN STRATEGY (SOS)
The Samoa Ocean Strategy (SOS) team, led by Danita Strickland and Leilani Duffy-Iosefa, is in process of finalizing the Draft Marine Spatial Plan. SOS is proud to announce the launch of the short film, 'Samoa's Ocean Strategy: Preserving Our Lifeline for the Future'. This film highlights Samoa's journey towards sustainable marine resource management as they strengthen their oceanic sanctuary and protected area networks.
Image: Samoa Ocean Strategy team conducting community consultations for the Draft Marine Spatial Plan.
TONGA: VAVA'U OCEAN INITIATIVE
Tonga already has an approved Marine Spatial Plan that protects 30% of its ocean and is now working hard toward implementation, including passing legislation and drafting a National Ocean Policy to support a holistic and integrated approach to ocean management. Ocean7, with support from the Vava’u Ocean Initiative team, finished in-person consultations on the draft Tonga Ocean Management Bill and are working on finalizing a Blue Economy Framework.
Image: Participants in an Ocean7 workshop to inform implementation of the Tonga Ocean Management Plan and Blue Economy Strategy development.
VANUATU: BLUE PROSPERITY VANUATU
Blue Prosperity Vanuatu launched in February to advance Marine Spatial Planning, sustainable fisheries management, and Blue Economy development. The team is in the midst of work planning to identify priorities and develop a joint program of work for the next five years. Image: The Blue Prosperity Vanuatu team and members of the Waitt Institute.
We're hiring!
We’re hiring for an administrative assistant in San Diego, California, USA and various roles in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
New Blue Prosperity team member
Alison Rowe
Waitt Institute Program Manager
Blue Prosperity Partner Spotlight
MPA design recommendations can be overwhelming, especially for practitioners tasked with achieving specific conservation objectives. Collaborators at the Environmental Markets Lab (emLab) at UCSB reviewed, synthesized, and grouped recommendations to streamline MPA planning in a new paper entitled Finding Harmony in MPA Guidelines.
Image: Graphic courtesy of emLab.
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