I wish you would use all means at your disposal — films, the web, expeditions, new submarines, a campaign! — to ignite public support for a network of global marine protected areas, hope spots large enough to save and restore the ocean, the blue heart of the planet.”- – Dr. Sylvia Earle’s 2009 TED Prize wish that launched Mission Blue.

Most marine conservation efforts are either falling short or have already failed entirely. There are several reasons for this, however, all too often it is because conservationists make the mistake of putting the needs of our ecosystems above those of the coastal communities that depend on them for their livelihoods, inevitably resulting in an impasse. What we need is a grassroots movement to ignite support among ordinary Vincentians to take responsibility and overcome this dilemma so we can safeguard our marine environment and its resources before
we lose them.

We all know that St. Vincent & the Grenadines was originally named Hairouna by our ancestors and it means ‘Land of the Blessed’. And indeed our 32 islands and cays are truly blessed, especially with marine flora and fauna. From whales, dolphins, rays, and sharks, to marine turtles, mangroves, seagrass, coral reefs and a spectacular variety of fish, our home supports a unique abundance of biodiversity not common in the rest of the Caribbean Sea.

However, many of us, unfortunately, take this blessing for granted and do not yet appreciate that our island-country is one of the last few on earth that remains almost as wild, pristine and bountiful today as it did thousands of years ago. The fact is, increasing pressure from many different issues such as pollution, habitat destruction, land-based runoff, coastal development, invasive species, overfishing and, of course, climate change, all threaten to upend our fragile ecosystems and the people who depend on them.

To address these problems, St. Vincent & the Grenadines was designated a Mission Blue Hope Spot at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Congress in Hawaii by Dr. Sylvia A. Earle and SalvageBlue on September 9, 2016. A Hope Spot is an area in the ocean recognised by scientists for having unique ecological attributes that make it especially deserving of designation as a marine protected area because it has the special ability to regenerate marine life that has already been lost in other parts of the world.  Some Hope Spots are already formally protected, while others like SVG still need defined protection.

SalvageBlue is a non-profit, marine conservation organisation based on mainland St. Vincent and is currently exploring smarter strategies that will empower coastal communities so they may reclaim their traditional custodianship of the sea and restore a balance we once had.  

To connect with Salvage Blue, visit: salvageblue.org

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