Going into the Living Oceans Summit

Guest written by Robin McGahey, an Ocean Conservationist and enthusiastic volunteer at this year's Jackson Wild Summit. Currently residing in her native San Francisco, she is the Fall Benefit Coordinator for the International Ocean Film Festival, as well as an active member in Surfrider's Rise Above Plastics Campaign. 

This year, the Conservation Focus at Jackson Wild is Living Oceans. Wow, that immediately makes me feel warm on the inside. Crashing waves, breaching whales, little baby turtles making their way to the water, and flourishing coral reefs are all springing to mind. What a truly beautiful idea to have been raised on. 

Photo Credit: The Ocean Agency

​Unfortunately, today the image has changed. Whenever I hear “ocean”, more often than not my brain goes to floating plastic debris, washed up whales, bleached coral, and shark fin soup - just to name a few. 

Photos: Adobe Stock Photo

It’s important to remember though, that this is the LIVING Oceans Summit we are going to, so although the basis is about what we have lost, the conversations are about what we still have to fight for. Like my hero, Dr. Sylvia Earle, said in her 2009 Ted Talk, “50% of the corals are gone, but 50% still remain.” The questions now are: Where do we stand? What needs to be done? What can we do? and most importantly, What is standing in our way?
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​A few weeks ago, Australia came out with their 2019 Outlook Report on the status of the Great Barrier Reef. They officially downgraded it from “poor” to “very poor”, and unsurprisingly named climate change as the biggest threat to this natural wonder.

Photo Credit: The Ocean Agency

​They also said though, that the protective and management services that they have been implementing as a result of the 2050 Reef Plan and Blueprint for Resilience have been yielding positive results. Humpback Whales are coming back in larger pods, Southern Green Sea Turtles are swimming better, and some species of coral have shown signs of healing. ​

Great Barrier Reef, July 2019 Photo Credit: Robin McGahey

Great Barrier Reef, July 2019 Photo Credit: Robin McGahey

Like this study, the conditions of the oceans across the board are very poor. Global fish stocks have been depleted by 90%, plastic is now part of the chemical composition of seawater, 880k lbs of oil is released into the ocean every year, and MPAs only consist of 4.8% of the 70% of the globe that is ocean. Our oceans, and all of the wondrous life that lives within them, have been hit worse than we could have ever imagined, all due to a lack of knowledge and care on our part. However, as there is still life, there is still hope, and most importantly, work to be done.

• For the past two years, Trump has been trying to implement an executive order to increase offshore oil drilling off the coasts, but has been blocked by the Supreme Court and much of Congress. This is in part thanks to the unwavering support from campaigns such as Surfrider’s #DrillingisKilling. So excited to say that as of last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed not one, but two bills banning Offshore Oil Drilling.

Adobe Stock Photo

• Reusable water bottles are now one of the trendiest products on the market and straws are getting their butts kicked by organizations like Lonely Whale and 4ocean. Their secret? Targeting Gen Z through Social Media, as a means to spread awareness and influence policy action.
  

• The G7 Summit took place last week, and French Prime Minister, Emmanuel Macron, in conjunction with the other attendees said enough is enough with the Garment Industry. Together, they created the Fashion Pact, in the hopes of reducing carbon emissions, plastic pollution and water waste. Currently, 150 top brands and designers have signed on, including Stella McCartney, Chanel, Nike, Tapestry, Gap, Zara, and so many more.​​​

• In 2018, the UN enacted a decree that by 2020, 10% of all oceans had to be designated within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Although many have their doubts, it has not stopped courageous organizations like WildTrust and Mission Blue from taking matters into their own hands. In the past two years, WildTrust’s WildOceans program has been working with scientists and community activists to increase MPAs from 0.4-5% in South Africa, which they did alongside a large group of partners, and are now working toward 10% by 2020. In addition, Mission Blue’s Hope Spot initiative, led by the Queen of the High Seas, Dr. Sylvia Earle, now includes funding for research and protection to 127 communities around the world, so they can ensure the safety of their surrounding marine habitats. 

• Many people are now asking if Seafood is still safe to eat, especially after all of the controversial news regarding fish farms. The best answer is to consult your Monterey Seafood Guide, which there is an app for, and make sure to ask your server if the fish you are about to order is sustainable. Also, check to see if there is an Ocean Friendly Restaurant nearby through the Surfrider App!

Adobe Stock Photo

• Ben Lecomte, a French-men and conservationist, touched shore for the first time over Labor Day-Weekend, after swimming for eighty days through the Great Pacific Patch as a way to demystify the truth behind the area. He, and his fearless team used the opportunity to document the plastic debris found and collect samples of the Sea Water. Welcome back Ben!
• ​Of course who could forget Greta Thunberg. The 16-year Swedish eco-activist arrived in Manhattan after sailing for 15 days from Sweden. She sailed in protest, to go and protest climate change at the United Nations. She also graced the cover of Vogue, GQ, and is being recognized with the Next Generational Award by the International Ocean Film Festival.
  

Photo credit: Robin McGahey

​All in all, the Ocean, that is the reusable glass made out of recycled water bottles, was half emptied by overfishing, poaching, pollution, and discarded plastic, to name a few. In fact, it was probably more emptied by more than that. But, the glass is still half (well, a little less than) full of life, wonder, mystery, and teeming with possibility, just as we remember it from when we were little.  The people and organizations that I just mentioned are just a few dedicating their lives to filling that glass back up. Many of whom, along with so many others, will be in attendance at Jackson Wild’s Living Oceans Summit, representing the outstanding work that they have done, and discussing what there is still left to do. I can’t wait to hear what they have to say.