Ocean Heroes » endangered ecosystems

DAVID ROCKEFELLER Jr, Founder, Sailors for the Sea

Jessica Muffett — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 10:24:11 +0000

Who is Your Hero?

Sailors for the Sea, which “educates and engages the boating community in the worldwide protection of the oceans,” was the outcome of David Rockefeller’s work on the Pew Oceans Commission, which identified profound and alarming ocean health issues. As an avid sailor with a life-long love of the ocean and a philanthropist with a keen interest in environmental issues, David envisioned an organization that would educate the boating community about these ocean health issues and lead boaters to protect the waters we all love.

How has your Nominees efforts made a difference for the better?

Their flagship programs – Clean Regattas, Rainy Day Kits, and Certified Sea Friendly – directly engage boaters in fulfilling their vision. Their Ocean Watch Essays, are monthly articles that discuss current ocean health issues with with opportunities to take action. Their Clean Boating section lists steps boaters can take to reduce their environmental impact. Their link library of non profit organizations dedicated to a specific realm of conservation are proudly promoted here.

How will being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominee’s cause?

YachtWorld’s access to the recreational boater will engage the boating community in the worldwide protection of the oceans.

Please share any website or online articles about your nominee’s activities.

David Rockefeller, Jr. receives award for 2013 YachtWorld Hero from Ian Atkins, Sr. Vice President and General Manager of Dominion Marine Media

http://www.yachtworld.com/boat-content/2014/02/a-man-for-all-seas-david-rockefeller-jr-is-the-yachtworld-hero-for-2013/

http://blog.boats.com/2014/02/david-rockefeller-jr-wins-yachtworld-hero-award/#.UvzwpnlYkmw

http://youtu.be/YnkZU13vtu0

http://vimeo.com/85969720

Sailorsforthesea.org

Facebook.com/SailorsfortheSea

Twitter.com/SailorsforSea

David Rockefeller, Jr. was nominated by John Burnham, of Dominion Marine Media in the category of Defending our Oceans.

Matt Rutherford, Ocean Research Project

Jessica Muffett — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 23:07:48 +0000

Who is Your Hero?

In 2012, Matt Rutherford became the first person to solo circumnavigate North and South America. He completed the non-stop 27,000 mile journey in 10 months in a tiny, old sailboat. Solotheamericas.org

Matt has embarked on a new project, oceanresearchproject.org, that aims to make ocean research more affordable. The typical running costs for scientific research in the open ocean is between $6,000 and $15,000 a day, depending on the organization. With Ocean Research Project they have a daily running cost of $112 a day.

Together with scientist Nicole Trenholm, Matt completed the Atlantic Garbage patch expedition on August 15, 2013. They spent 80 days at sea collecting data at 40 survey sites over 2,600 miles of the mid-Atlantic, sending some of the samples to the University of Japan for toxicity research and others to a lab to check the plastic for bacteria which shouldn’t be there. They are also quantifying the data to see just how much of this plastic is out there. They shot footage during the expedition and are creating a educational based adventure documentary. Next they will create a 3 day lesson plan, which will be interrogated into the Maryland public school system teaching thousands of 5th to 7th graders about the problems of plastics in the ocean. On April 1, 2014 they are leaving on another expedition – sailing from California to Japan non-stop doing marine radiation testing, filming the expedition, and repeating the education process. “We’re living in a changing economic environment; you can no longer think big boats, big crew, big budget. Instead, a non-profit should think small boat, small crew, small budget. By doing this, you not only reduce the cost of the expedition, but also the overhead.”

How has your Nominees efforts made a difference for the better?

Matt has already proven that he does what he sets out to do with his solo circumnavigation of the world. During the upcoming first of three new expeditions, Matt and his crew will be at sea for 75 days collecting data, while sailing 6,500 miles of the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean is home to the Atlantic Garbage Patch and coincides with one of the five major oceanic gyres. The Sargasso Sea Gyre is a huge spiral of seawater formed by colliding currents. Most offshore sailors have seen floating junk on the high seas, but it’s a problem that has not been thoroughly explored in the mid-Atlantic. It’s the poster child for one of the worldwide ocean problems: plastic that’s initially created with human hands, then ends up in the ocean, often found inside animals’ stomachs.

“I caught the bug and it’s too deeply imbedded to stop. Since I’m going to keep sailing I might as well do it in a way that gives back to the sea.”

How will being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominee’s cause?

The YachtWorld Hero nomination will bring visibility to Ocean Research Project, which aims to make ocean research more affordable. It will provide scientific data and education about the changes within our oceans to inspire people to action. Equipped with a team of expert scientists and sailors, they will embark on expeditions to some of the world’s most dynamic parts of the ocean. The expeditions will be carried out on a sailboat which is outfitted in a manner conscious of economical practicality yet environmentally-friendly to perform as a mobile research and observation station. Their scientific data and audiovisual educational mediums are used for several purposes.

Please share any website or online articles about your nominee’s activities.

http://oceanresearchproject.org

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lesleyann-coker/matt-rutherford-sailing_b_3306143.html

Matt Rutherford was nominated by Tim Claxton of Dominion Marine Media in the category of Defending our Oceans.

JILL SAVERY, Head of Sustainability, America’s Cup Authority

Jessica Muffett — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 22:15:03 +0000

Who is Your Hero?

Jill Savery, Head of Sustainability, America’s Cup Event Authority, recently succeeded at making the 34th America’s Cup a sustainable event, setting the standard for all future America’s Cup events and other marine-related events worldwide. Jill is a Gold Medal Olympian (1996 Synchronized Swimming), earned a Master’s Degree in Environmental Management from Yale University, and leveraged both experiences to put her in the position she’s in today.

How has your Nominees efforts made a difference for the better?

She was responsible for making the event zero waste, carbon neutral and environmentally sustainable. For example, she and her colleagues kept event waste largely out of landfills (85% diversion rate) and plastics out of the San Francisco Bay (no single use plastics were sold or distributed by the organizers). Most of all, Savery has made environmental responsibility integral to the sport of big-time sailing, which, if one thinks about it, it should be.

How will being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominee’s cause?

Savery is on the leading edge of a vital trend: World sporting events and large corporations are gradually becoming the vanguard in sustainability programs. More and more these are genuine efforts, and because of their notoriety can have an impact that few governments or environmental groups can match.

Please share any website or online articles about your nominee’s activities.

http://www.americascup.com/en/news/3/news/18544/34th-americas-cup-earns-highest-level-clean-regattas-certification

http://www.csrwire.com/blog/posts/1049-saving-the-oceans-are-ocean-conservation-efforts-finally-starting-to-make-headway

http://www.americascup.com/en/sustainability

http://www.tradeonlytoday.com/images/stories/web/releases/sailors1023.pdf

Jill Savery was nominated by Kurt M. Hoehne, Navigator at nwyachting.com in the category Defending our Oceans.

MICHAEL T MOORE, Seakeepers.org

Jessica Muffett — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 22:19:35 +0000

Who is Your Hero?

Michael Moore is chairman of The International SeaKeepers Society, an integral pillar of YachtWorld Foundation, which became YachtWorld Heroes. Early on as we searched for a cause and road to reward our beneficiary, Michael suggested we look at ocean advocacy and use the power of YachtWorld’s reach to promote the recipient’s cause.

Invited to their events, meeting so many others involved in ocean advocacy, learning about the warnings about poor ocean health from incredibly diverse sources, it became clear that Michael’s inclusiveness – as his tenure as chair – had expanded Seakeepers’ message’s reach to many, many people in two short years. Inspired by Michael’s example of inclusiveness, we decided to expand our recognition to many – thus was born YachtWorld Heroes.

How has your nominee’s efforts made a difference for the better?

Lead by their chair Michael Moore, The International SeaKeepers Society members include influential opinion leaders who believe that the best way to protect the environment is to protect the world’s oceans, and whose members are deeply committed to finding real-world solutions to the problems now plaguing our seas. SeaKeepers works directly with the yachting community as an essential component and contributor to ocean research and conservation efforts, enabling the yachting community to take full advantage of their unique potential to advance marine sciences and to raise awareness about global ocean issues. SeaKeepers 100+ DISCOVERY Yachts augment current knowledge about the state of the oceans, rouse significant scientific discovery, raise awareness about critical ocean issues and inspire a passion for the seas.

How will being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominee’s cause?

A YachtWorld Hero provides recognition to individuals, and we hope there are those who will become involved in SeaKeepers as much for their vision as for Michael’s leadership.

Please share any website or online articles about your nominee’s activities.

The International SeaKeepers Society www.seakeepers.org

Michael T. Moore was nominated by Jessica Stewart Muffett, Founder, YachtWorld.com, in the category Defending our Oceans.

Celine Cousteau, Ocean Inspirations, Explorer, Communicator, Connector

Jessica Muffett — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 22:10:27 +0000

Who is Your Hero? Celine Cousteau is the founder of CauseCenric Productions and Ocean Inspirations, which support the global sharing of stories regarding endangered ecosystems. Her work supports everyday heroes in the fight to protect our fragile planet, by creating a visual communication tool in the form of micro and short documentaries.

How has your nominee’s efforts made a difference for the better?

Celene Cousteau explores the world, communicates stories, and connects humans with their environment. She collaborates with other non-profits and individuals to increase their world-wide exposure by creating short documentaries about their work, educating and inspiring through adventure and visual story telling. Her project Ocean Inspiration shares, recognizes and rewards the achievements of ocean advocacy in any and all of its forms.

How will being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominee’s cause?

Celine Costeau is, of course, a member of the First Family of Ocean Advocacy. Her late Grandfather, the legendary Jacques remains the standard by which all who follow are measured. Her father, Jean Michel, himself a recipient of the International SeaKeepers Society’s Award, and a YachtWorld Hero, has continued with a broad base of important work in ocean advocacy. SeaKeepers was honored in 2012 to have Celine Costeau on the committee of 42 of the world’s most renown female ocean advocates to honor another servant of science – Agnes b. who is also known for her work with Tara Marine Expeditions. God Bless Yachtworld Heroes for recognizing Celine Costeau and her work to understand and protect our fragile ocean ecosystems.

Please share any website or online articles about your nominee’s activities.

Celine Cousteau

Ocean Inspirations

Celine Cousteau was nominated by Michael Moore, Chair, The International SeaKeepers Society.