OceansWatch is a global network of yacht owners, sailors, cruisers, divers, academics, aid workers and volunteers who are:
• Helping to protect the Oceans and Marine Environment
• Providing Humanitarian Aid to Islands and People in Developing Countries
• Helping to Preserve threatened Coral Reef Systems and Fisheries
• Helping to support Island & Coastal Schools and Children
OceansWatch works in partnership with the global yachting community, as well as individuals and organisations actively involved in marine conservation and humanitarian work, to offer practical solutions to problems experienced by coastal communities and in their associated marine environments.
Although young, the organization is receiving strong support from a rapidly growing membership made up of sailors, medics, engineers, divers, international development specialists, marine biologists, teachers and many more skilled individuals committed to using their expertise in a positive way.
OceansWatch aims to support, coordinate and inspire these human resources to work on a variety of marine conservation and humanitarian assistance programs, initially in the Pacific and Caribbean regions, but ultimately world-wide. The organization has already generated so much interest that plans are being made to establish OceansWatch in Australia and Europe in addition to New Zealand and North America.
In the marine environment OceansWatch will initially be working under two protocols:
Coral Watch, www.coralwatch.org is used to measure the effects of pollution and global warming.
Reef Check, www.reefcheck.org is used to measure the effects of pollution, over-fishing, the aquarium and curio trade - all demands placed on reefs by local populations as they struggle to make a living.
The lack of alternative livelihoods for coastal communities is a very important issue and one that OceansWatch aims to work on in partnership with them, exploring more sustainable ways for them to earn an income.
In this fourth year of operation projects are being focused in the Western Pacific on Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa and PNG where OceansWatch team members are already familiar with the local conditions, and in the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico.
Initially, OceansWatch will work with existing organizations such as Project MARC (Medical Assistance to Remote Communities) www.project-marc.org, the Red Cross, NOAA and Fisheries Agencies, but will gradually be initiating its own projects as it identifies and develops relationships with communities in need.
OceansWatch is developing a Yacht Management Program in partnership with owners who would like their boats to be involved in environmental and humanitarian projects.
As a member of OceansWatch there will be opportunities to up-skill with a variety of training program. The first course was in April 2008 when a group went to Tonga for Reef Check training. Glenn Edney of OceanBlue Adventures www.tonga-dive.com hosted the training at his centre in the Ha'apai Island group. At all future similar programs a trainer from Reef Check will instruct participants in the methodology of surveying coral reef health, and once accredited they will have the opportunity to join in with the 2010 and future surveys.
As well as practical projects, OceansWatch is also a forum for discussion and networking amongst like-minded people and organizations, all working together for the benefit of our marine environment and its associated communities.
