This project was launched in 2009 and is supported by Rolex’s Perpetual Planet initiative.
We know that the oceans are essential ecosystems for the planet: they occupy three quarters of the earth’s surface and are home to most of the planet’s biodiversity. Sylvia Earle has spent more than half a century researching them as a marine biologist. She has led several marine expeditions to understand and protect the ecosystems, and in 2009 she initiated the Mission Blue project, part of Rolex’s Perpetual Planet initiative.
Mission Blue is a project led by Sylvia Earle. Editorial credit: Mission Blue.
Mission Blue is building a global coalition to inspire public awareness, access and support for a worldwide network of marine protected areas called Hope Spots. They also create communications campaigns and embark on regular ocean expeditions that shed light on ecosystems. The Mission Blue alliance currently includes more than 200 respected ocean conservation groups and like-minded organisations, and supports the work of conservation NGOs that share a mission to build public support for ocean protection.
Through the Mission Blue website, organisations, local governments and individuals can submit a nomination for a particular marine area to be declared a Hope Spot. A team of marine biologists then studies the feasibility of the proposal. In total, more than 145 Hope Spots have been created worldwide by organisations and communities in 69 countries.
In addition, since its foundation, it has also organised more than 30 specialised research projects to explore underwater fauna and flora.
Mission Blue’s ultimate goal is to help protect 30% of the oceans by the year 2030, by which time the Sustainable Development Goals are set and following the recommendation of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This makes even more sense following UN studies that there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050.
