Happy World Oceans Day! In 1992, the United Nations established World Oceans Day to celebrate the oceans, address alarming degradation of wildlife and habitat, and help accelerate solutions. World Oceans Day 2020 is growing the global movement to call on world leaders to protect 30% of our blue planet by 2030. This critical need is called LOVE 30×30. By safeguarding at least 30% of our ocean through a network of highly protected areas we can help ensure a healthy home for all!
Hope Spot Announcement
This World Oceans Day 2020 we are celebrating the newly designated Ombai-Wetar Strait Hope Spot in Timor Leste. Earth Island’s Shark Stewards partnered in the nomination of this international recognition for the northern waters of Timor-Leste. Developed by Mission Blue’s Director and marine scientist Dr. Sylvia Earle, Hope Spots are special places critical to the health of the ocean that recognize, empower, and support local communities and governments around the world in their efforts to protect the ocean.
We are proud to partner with the Association of Marine Tourism Timor Leste and Timor Blue to recognize this region of some of the richest and most biodiverse coral reefs on the planet. We thank Mission Blue staff and Dr. Earle for this recognition and will help support the government, businesses and local people to protect sharks, marine mammals, sea turtles and the entire reef and pelagic reef ecosystems into the future.
Celebrate the Ocean the new Hope Spot in Timor Leste
TRUMP DECLARES WAR ON MARINE MONUMENTS
On Friday, in front of a collection of industry fishermen, President Trump opened the Atlantic Seamounts Marine National Monument to commercial fishing, despite a clear lack of legal authority. The only marine monument in the Atlantic, this designation protects endangered right whales, deep sea corals and fish stocks in recovery, from overfishing.
Now, industrial tuna fishers have appealed to open the Pacific marine national monuments to commercial fishing. With Earth Island Institute and the International Marine Mammal Project, we are preparing for legal battle to protect nearly 25% of the total Pacific marine protected areas from tuna and shark fishing.
Learn More and sign the petition to tell the Trump Administration hands off the healthiest coral reefs in US waters.
In these challenging times we at Shark Stewards wish everyone health and equal respect: respect for all races, and for all life. Staying healthy, respecting the members of our land and ocean communities, and keeping us and them healthy should be everyone’s priority. Together, we can take action for human rights, our health and ocean health with respect. We stand together with the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
Live Like a Shark
Swim in a Shiver, but keep your distance; Stay connected and try not to bite each other; Wash your fins frequently and: Always keep smiling.
June 12 and Fridays at noon. Join Shark Stewards for our Facebook live Ocean Action series with talks and film on sharks and adventure.
With your support, we keep sharks swimming and the ocean healthy. Shark Stewards is a 4 star Charity Navigator, Platinum Guidestar ranked charity and a proud project of the Earth Island Institute.
