The SDGs aim to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems from pollution, as well as address the impacts of ocean acidification. Enhancing conservation and the sustainable use of ocean-based resources through international law will also help mitigate some of the challenges facing our oceans.
Oracabessa Bay is where the author Ian Fleming created James Bond, probably the worlds’ most famous fictional spy. His house, ‘Goldeneye’ is now a luxury resort, attracting visitors from all over the world. However until recently, the seemingly idyllic landscape hid a brutal reality—coral reefs were dying off, and fish numbers had dropped precipitously. The tourism and fishing industries were threatened. Also, he had to witness a regular and heartbreaking sight—poachers killing the critically endangered Hawksbill sea turtles and stealing their eggs.
“Poachers would wait until she laid her eggs then turn her on her back, kill her and cut her from her shell, he says. “They killed every turtle and dug up all the eggs." Prized on the black market for their aphrodisiac qualities, sea turtle eggs fetched much more than an average wage in the community. “If they worked on a building site that would be the equivalent of a month's pay,”. Many residents of the village decided to fight back to protect not only the turtles but the entire community’s ecosystem.
The Oracabessa Bay Fishing Sanctuary was established in 2010 when the St Mary’s Fishermen Cooperative joined forces with the Oracabessa Foundation, a not-for-profit owned by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, who first signed reggae star Bob Marley, and who now owns Goldeneye.
And our wired world had a lot of other problems, the world has left many people feeling over-scheduled, leaving little time to keep up with critical issues, including the state of the oceans. Lack of time to seek out important ocean information can occur in a lack of awareness, indifference, and inaction. A poorly informed population will not push back against bad behavior and dangerous decisions by local, national, and international leaders.
plus we are trying to solve these problems by every week the Sea Save Foundation team researches and vets the significant stories from the last past few days. We use only reliable news. We weave the critical facts into a few short sentences and present this “Ocean Week in Review” to our audience via our blog and social media programs. By spending a few minutes each week, readers can stay abreast of current scientific breakthroughs, challenges, and advocacy efforts and incorporate this information into their understanding of the ocean. People want to do the right thing and want to protect oceans; we provide them with the information they need to best further these efforts. An informed public will choose to support a sound policy that promises secure ocean futures.
Frequently scientists write in a language understandable only by their colleagues. We break down stories published in peer-reviewed journals and reputable publications in a way that is understandable and interesting to the lay reader. We write entries using language that captivates and engages our readers. Information can contribute to knowledge, and knowledge can result in action to protect our oceans.
Sea Save. 2021. Ocean Week In Review. [online] Available at: <https://seasave.org/week-in-review/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw38-DBhDpARIsADJ3kjnx6xSNNIMbxe2vb6RmVr53y8QXSGR16NzMfsYOrpzzJkYfD1IbJe0aAv0eEALw_wcB> [Accessed 13 April 2021]. Exposure. 2021. A bay in Jamaica comes back to life - United Nations Development Programme | UNDP. [online] Available at: <https://stories.undp.org/oracabessa-bay> [Accessed 13 April 2021]. UNDP. 2021. Goal 14: Life below water | UNDP in Saudi Arabia. [online] Available at: <https://www.sa.undp.org/content/saudi_arabia/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-14-life-below-water.html> [Accessed 13 April 2021].
