Press Release

 January 25, 2011

Contact: Edee Dalke at edeedaytona@yahoo.com

OceansWatch International Boat Comes to the Caribbean

Encouraging  sailors to “Cruise with a Cause,” OceansWatch North America, which has its roots in the South Pacific, continues to expand in the Atlantic and Caribbean.  Their aim is to work with sailors, divers and scientists on projects to help coastal communities manage their marine environment and develop sustainable livelihoods.

A team of volunteers from OceansWatch International with sister organization OWNA volunteers, has visited Trinidad, Grenada, Union Island and Bequia as they make their way across the Caribbean to end in Dominican Republic. The current assignment as a “pioneer boat” is fact finding about each area’s particular needs, making important business and governmental contacts and cruiser awareness.

The OceansWatch mission is to work with coastal communities that request assistance.

“We don’t try to reinvent the wheel. OceansWatch partners with any organization, large and small, already in place and any project that is undertaken by OW is by invitation from that community based on their needs,” said volunteer team member Edee Dalke from the United States.

The organization works to help preserve the ocean environments, reef systems, and people living in maritime communities on islands and in coastal villages in developing countries, with need for environmental sustainability and humanitarian support, where there is little infrastructure and/or support services are lacking, where delivery by sailboat is the most efficient way to reach areas in need.

“At any given time there are many cruisers in the Caribbean, all with different skills and knowledge that could be used to help local communities,” said volunteer team member Becky Treneer from England.

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Working with yacht owners, sailors, divers, students, teachers, volunteers, doctors, nurses, ecologists and scientists, OceansWatch members can help with environmental and humanitarian projects  as well as volunteering use of their yacht to be a part of an OceansWatch expedition or host a scientist.

“Volunteering with OceansWatch and visiting the Caribbean for the first time, I have to say, as a biologist,  I’m really impressed by the good will of some of the yachties showing interest in hosting scientists for future missions and their level of awareness of environmental issues,” said volunteer team member Jake Navarro from Spain

Members can become involved in conducting Reef Check surveys, setting up and monitoring Marine Protected Areas, installing yacht moorings to protect coral reefs, marine mammal surveying, and humanitarian projects such as setting up sister schools, delivering school supplies, providing medical aid and installing drinking water, sanitation and sustainable clean energy systems.

“As a diver, I have recently completed the Reef Check training which is a simple system of reef survey that OW is assisting with to monitor the health of our reefs. These surveys are being continued yearly and are something that any enthusiastic diver can become involved with,” said Captain Andy Clarkson, long time live aboard cruiser from England . “I have also recently been introduced to Coral Watch which is a system that requires no training and can be conducted by anyone with a mask and snorkel.”

The emphasis of OceansWatch North America (OWNA) is on projects in the Caribbean, Central and South America. Ongoing projects include Belize and Haiti. In 2011 OWNA is initiating projects in support of supplies to schools and children in Haiti and Dominican Republic, with additional projects underway or planned for Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.

“I love that it is OW’s vision that all children in coastal communities have access to primary education. I have taught sailing and outdoor education to children and know that it starts there. Working with children is ensuring that future generations have awareness and knowledge of the need to protect their islands and their environment. I believe it is a key role in developing sustainable communities so that we can all enjoy them in the future,” Treneer said.

By joining OceansWatch, members join a global network of sailors, divers, environmentalists, students, academics, scientists, engineers, concerned citizens, aid workers, volunteers and people who want to help save the oceans and the people who need it most. A membership will help to provide supplies, materials, logistics and support for the projects in developing countries. Memberships start at only $25US and members then receive a newsletter, have access to the member's forums to meet other members and learn all about opportunities to join projects or initiate your own, receive guidance from International OceansWatch on being an environmentally friendly sailor, have opportunities to attend workshops to up-skill yourself so that you can more effectively assist in marine conservation and humanitarian projects and receive an OceansWatch sticker for your boat or vehicle.

Members also have access to the Members Only area on the web site which includes training material, learning resources about climate change, reef ecology, etc, a range of resources to help teach kids, guidelines for observing and reporting on marine conservation, humanitarian issues and marine mammal sightings. All memberships are duel with OceansWatch International and OceansWatch North America.

Founder and CEO, Chris Bone of New Zealand started OceansWatch to fill a void he saw in the South Pacific Islands. During a time as a super yacht ship captain, he was personally impacted sailing into the harbor in New Zealand on the day of the attack and sinking of Rainbow Warrior. The idea of OceansWatch evolved in following years as captain of a Greenpeace vessel and many other sailing excursions. Having the resources to help villages by sailboat seemed a natural fit.  And it did. OceansWatch members have made a real difference in several communities. Projects in the South Pacific are going on in Tonga, Vanuatu, Soloman Islands and Papua New Guinea in partnership with other organizations.

“I became involved after meeting Chris Bone in New Zealand and have witnessed its achievements and the good that it has done in Melanesia,” Clarkson said. “I believe that with the help of like minded cruisers in the Caribbean and Central America OW can be a beneficial force here too.

Expansion into North America is being overseen by OWNA president, Donna Lange of the United States, an avid offshore sailor, the fastest American woman solo circumnavigator, who met Chris Bone in NZ on her solo sail. The organization was ‘catamaran on the wall’ when she and Chris met. That year was a foundation year as Chris poured his heart and soul and took the investment he had made with 100,000 miles of sea time in the Pacific and deep relationships with the coastal communities to build an amazing organization and do incredible projects. Over the duration of Donna’s trip, she promoted OW around the world. Once back in the US, the sister organization began to take shape.

OceansWatch North America, Inc. is a 501c3 tax exempt charitable corporation so membership dues, donations and gifts are US tax deductible as allowed by IRS tax regulations. It is an all volunteer and donor funded organization. For more information or to become a member go to www.oceanswatch.org  .

“As a recent member I have already noticed how worthwhile it is to be actively working in these areas and responding to the needs of local communities knowing you are making a difference,” Treneer said.

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