Oceans Watch
www.oceanswatch.org
OceansWatch is an international not-for-profit organisation that works with sailors, divers and scientists worldwide to help coastal communities conserve their marine environments, develop sustainable livelihoods and ensure access to primary schools.
In close co-operation with the world's sailors, divers and academics, OceansWatch undertakes marine conservation projects and offers humanitarian aid to coastal communities in developing countries.
OceansWatch offers resources, in the form of ocean-going research vessels and expertise, such as marine biologists, members training, project management and support crew.
OceansWatch strengthens the link between the global yachting and diving communities and those who are actively involved in marine research, education and conservation.
In the future OceansWatch will use environmentally friendly Wharram catamarans equipped with wet and dry laboratories, dive support facilities or clinics as our project lead boats, supported by members' vessels.
OceansWatch is all about hands on help for coastal communities. It is about running projects with the support of sailors, divers and academics. The projects that we run can fall under the following headings:
Education
OceansWatch is aware that all change begins with education. We have developed our vision and mission statement with that awareness in mind.
Our Education Vision
That all children in coastal communities of the developing world will have access to good, well resourced schools.
Our Education Mission Statement
build partnerships between schools in developed and developing countries
support the yachting and diving communities in supplying schools with basic educational resources
provide educational materials to those schools in need
run courses on coral reef ecosystems
Humanitarian work
OceansWatch wants to make a positive difference to the life of the people in coastal communities. Aid projects can be a double-edged sword so our aim is to work for the people only at their request. We intend to build relationships with the locals and see where they feel their needs lie. We will also look at the overall consequences of any aid.
Our humanitarian Vision
To empower and educate villagers in coastal communities of developing countries towards happier, more sustainable, livelihoods.
Our humanitarian Mission
To work with sailors, divers and academics to support the villagers in ways that they request that support our vision.
Marine conservation
OceansWatch recognises that a healthy and sustainable marine environment will serve the people that rely on it into the future.
Coral photo by Glenn Edney
Coral reefs are some of the most ancient and biologically diverse ecosystems that exist on earth. They serve an important role to coastal communities as a source of seafood, to generate income from tourism and to provide a buffer against storms. Many reefs have already been destroyed and understanding the state of health for the rest is in its infancy.
OceansWatch supports its Marine Conservation vision through facilitating and initiating co-operative projects with the worlds yachting, diving and academic communities. It provides resources such as project lead yachts, educational resources, expertise and project management.
Our Marine Conservation Vision
Our vision is for there to be long term sustainable fisheries for coastal communities in developing countries and wider scale megafauna protection.
Our Marine Conservation Mission Statement
To work with sailors, divers and marine scientists to support the local communities in recognising the importance of the marine environment and help them take measures that will lead towards increased sustainability
Info for Yachtsmen
Joining OceansWatch links you to a community of like-minded sailors, divers and supporting academics who all work together to support our mission of undertaking worthwhile marine conservation projects and providing humanitarian aid to coastal communities in developing countries.
" Magic Roundabout "
As a member of OceansWatch you will have access to organisations that sponsor us. Many of these organisations want to support us by supporting our members with discounts on anything from paint to insurance.
Our members library contains a growing range of educational resources developed in house or linked to third party sources on pertinent subjects such as reef ecology, climate change and sustainable fisheries management. We are developing stuff for your kids too.
We provide training materials and seminars to upskill members on systems we have carefully evaluated that are scientifically robust yet can be easily undertaken either by members on their own or in support of our project lead yachts.
We help you to understand how best to relate to the folks you may meet on your travels in the developing world through our advisory notes and provide you with Templates that we have developed to objectively assess the needs of underprivileged communities and over-stressed ecosystems.
We help you to decide what resources to carry that may assist the communities that you may visit.
Through our forum you can communicate with divers and academics who may be interested in joining you to assist you on OceansWatch or other projects that support our missions.
S/Y "The Black Sheep" er medlem av OceansWatch
