Looking from outer space, our planet looks like a blue marble with swirls of white. The blue areas are the oceans, which cover 70% of the Earth. Oceans contain the most biodiversity, regulate our climate, and create over 50% of the air we breathe. If marine life died, life on our planet would cease to exist.
Last week, Vancouver hosted the 5th annual IMPAC conference, or International Marine Protected Areas Congress for short. This year’s goal was to build momentum on delivering international commitments to protect 30% of the oceans by 2030. Some high profile attendees believe there is a good chance we can do that. “We need to shift the way people think about and relate to the ocean” stated Aulani Wilhelm, Senior VP for Oceans, Conservation International.
Dax Dasilva, founder of Lightspeed, showcased ways in which his non-profit, Age of Union, has been successful in changing the way people think about marine life. Since forming in 2020, the organization has embarked on sponsoring 10 different projects, one of which was the documentary Caught. The movie visually connected mass dolphin deaths off the coast of France to the illegal and damaging fishing methods employed by thousands of fishing boats. The storytelling had an impact on both fishermen in France and locals who previously did not connect the fish on their plates to the thousands of dead dolphins.
Oceanographer legend Sylvia Earle made the point that “you cannot care if you don't know – the most successful way of keeping an area safe is by knowing”. However education about ocean life is only part of the battle. Topics during IMPAC5 also focused on merging ecology and economy and creating jobs that have a meaningful impact on the planet. Local populations are often the best managers of environmental projects which must be designed within the parameters of the local context.
The conference was attended by representatives of Indigenous nations around the world. For them, it was a chance to be heard by inter-governmental panels and offer their knowledge of the natural world, gathered over thousands of years of stewardship.
“We need to make it easier for Indigenous communities to work with all levels of government, NGOs and stakeholders to protect what is here. If we don't there will be nothing for our grandchild’s grandchildren” – Carleen Thomas, Special Projects Manager, Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
The Canadian government announced its intention to create 10 new national marine conservation areas in collaboration with Indigenous peoples. Additionally, in consultation with the Mamalilikulla First Nation, the first marine refuge has been created within the Northern Shelf Bioregion, which covers two thirds of coastal British Columbia. This requires the closing of fisheries in the area to ensure full protection. As a result of measures like these, there needs to be a transfer of the workforce to new, sustainable jobs and industries. IMPAC is advocating for the creation of a global network of marine protected areas that would overlap and interconnect. This creates an opportunity for businesses to fill in the gaps left by departing fisheries, seabed mining and other harmful activities, to both employ the existing workforce and create alternative, sustainable products. For example, Cascadia Seaweed is growing kelp and investigating its range of possible uses, from container replacements to consumables.
As for the individual consumer, we leave you with this remark by Sylvia Earle, “we make choices about what we buy, what we eat, how we live. And if we have an understanding of how our actions affect the oceans, we almost don't need special protected areas. What we need is to change the attitude that we have”.
One of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), number 14, is Life Below Water. The goal is to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. On an individual level, we should make ocean-friendly choices when buying products or eating food sourced from the oceans. Selecting certified products is a good place to start.
Corporations can also take meaningful action to promote this goal. Even if your company is not directly involved in the marine industry, chances are your supply lines run through some oceans. We can help your company integrate the “Life Below Water” SDG into your sustainability goals.
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