Marine Institute acts as port host for ocean health activists

The Fisheries and Marine Institute (MI) of Memorial University of Newfoundland welcomed the captain and crew of the Ocean Watch to St. John's on Friday, September 11. MI will act as port host for the captain and crew during their stay in St. John's

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

The Ocean Watch is representing the Around the Americas project, an ocean environment initiative that aims to build awareness about ocean health on an international scale. As part of the Around the Americas project, the Ocean Watch will sail around the North and South American continents in a clockwise circumnavigation, utilizing the trip to engage and educate people in North and South America about ocean-health issues, using science-driven education materials and activities.

“The Marine Institute is proud to welcome the Ocean Watch to St. John’s and I want to thank the captain and crew for making St. John’s the first port visit on the east coast leg of their trip,” said Glenn Blackwood, executive director, Marine Institute. “The Marine Institute is honoured to host a group of individuals who are dedicated to protecting and restoring our oceans and coastal waters. As Canada’s foremost oceans-related post-secondary institution, we appreciate the crew’s efforts to promote safe environmental practices in the water and we look forward to discussing the data they have collected regarding the health of the world’s oceans.”

The Ocean Watch will make 31 scheduled stops in 12 countries throughout its 13-month trip around North and South America. During each of these stops, the crew will interact with members of the local community to build awareness about changes occurring in our oceans and to discuss regional threats to the marine environment.

While in St. John’s, the crew of the Ocean Watch will host a Boat Open House and Exhibit Tent on Sunday, September 13 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Pier Nine, across from Atlantic Place. The open house will include a live photo/video exhibit detailing the voyage, dockside demonstrations and displays featuring research equipment and inquiry-based education activities for all ages focused on oceans health. The crew will also tour the city, with scheduled stops at the Marine Institute and Memorial University’s Ocean Science Centre.

In honour of the crew’s visit to St. John’s, the Marine Institute will host a public lecture on Monday, September 14 at 5 p.m. in Hampton Hall. The featured speakers will be Dr. George Rose, professor of Fisheries Conservation at the Marine Institute and Mark Schrader, captain of the Ocean Watch. The Boat Open House and Exhibit Tent and the public lecture are free to attend.

The Ocean Watch crew departs St. John’s on Tuesday, September 15 in the early morning. In addition to Captain Schrader, the Ocean Watch crew consists of David Logan, first mate, yacht preparation, on-board systems, logistics; Herb McCormick, watch captain, writer, education program coordinator; Dave Thoreson, watch captain, cameraman, photographer and Zeta Strickland, Around the Americas educator from the Pacific Science Centre in Seattle, Washington.

The Ocean Watch began its trip around North and South American on May 31, sailing out of Seattle, Washington. After visiting St. John’s, the Ocean Watch will travel to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Around the America’s project is scheduled to conclude in late June, 2010, in Seattle. Around the Americas is organized by the Pacific Science Centre and Sailors for the Sea, in collaboration with the University of Washington Applied Physics Lab, the Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, RMR Co., MIT Sea Grant, the Office of Naval Research and NASA. The project is funded through grants provided by The Tiffany & Co. Foundation and the Rockefeller Family. For more information on Around the Americas, visit www. aroundtheamericas.org.