ANNUAL REPORT 2019 INSPIRING ACTION TO EXPLORE AND PROTECT THE OCEAN AR2019 “AS NEVER BEFORE, THERE IS KNOWLEDGE OF WHY THE OCEAN MATTERS TO EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME.” DR. SYLVIA EARLE CABO PULMO, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO DR. SYLVIA A. EARLE © KIP EVANS, MISSION BLUE AR2019 FOUNDER’S MESSAGE FROM DR. SYLVIA EARLE As never before, there is knowledge of why the ocean matters to everyone, everywhere, all the time. Knowledge now exists that did not and could not exist prior to advanced technologies that have taken humans Whether you are an artist, a congressman, a scientist, high in the sky, deep in the sea, and provided the means a corporate leader, a teacher, an entrepreneur or you are to look into the past, assess the present, and anticipate still a kid, there are plenty of opportunities to protect the the future. Now we know. The ocean makes possible everything we ocean while there is still time. Around the world, people care about — our health, our wealth, our security, and everywhere are finding ways to make a difference. The ocean holds 97% of Earth’s water, drives climate and everything else that matters to our species — by providing weather, regulates planetary temperature and chemistry, Our Hope Spot Champions are collecting debris, writing the one thing that matters most of all: our existence. provides the greatest diversity and living space for life in letters, conducting surveys, posting blogs, documenting Without the ocean, Earth would be as barren and inhospi- the known Universe. the environment, and changing their habits to do all they table as the moon or Mars. It is the cornerstone of our life can right now. We hope you will join us. support system. No ocean, no life. No blue, no green. The ocean will not dry up tomorrow, but trouble for the ocean means trouble for us. I could have only dreamed in 2009, the year Mission Blue was founded, that Hope Spots would be scattered across the vast ocean by the end of 2019. This year has been Mission Blue’s most productive yet. We managed to welcome 21 new marine ecosystems into the Hope Spots network of increased ocean protection. Working with community-based Champions, Mission Blue has initiated enhanced exploration, protection, education, documentation, and a vigorous program of communication in 127 Hope Spots and strongly supports full protection for the High Seas — the global commons beyond national jurisdictions. 1 AR2019 DR. SYLVIA EARLE AND MISSION BLUE TEAM WITH MEXICAN PARTNERS IN CABO PULMO, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO © KIP EVANS, MISSION BLUE AR2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 Our Mission 6 Mission Blue Hope Spots — 2019 Snapshot 8 The Hope Spot Information Platform 11 Mission Blue Impacts 12 Advancing Ocean Literacy 13 Mission Blue Hope Spots — In Action 15 Mission Blue Hope Spots — Highlights 25 Expedition Program — Exploring Hope Spots 38 Future Mission Blue Expeditions 39 Financial Report 40 Partnerships — Key to Our Success 42 The Year 2019 in the Life of Her Deepness 43 The Next Decade: Diving Into The Future 44 Mission Blue Board of Directors 45 Hope Spot Scientific Advisory Council 46 Mission Blue Staff DR. SYLVIA EARLE AND PRESIDENT OF PALAU TOMMY REMENGESAU JR. DIVING © KIP EVANS, MISSION BLUE AR2019 OUR MISSION Our overarching goal is to have 30% of the ocean fully protected In 2009, Dr. Sylvia Earle won the TED Prize, a culmination by 2030, in line with IUCN’s mandate to safeguard ocean health. of both her life’s work and her heroic vision to save the world’s ocean. From this remarkable dream of protecting All of our Hope Spot work puts this objective at the forefront. and restoring the ocean, Mission Blue was born. At that time, less than 1% of the ocean was protected. As of 2020, through worldwide efforts of groups and Dr. Earle and the Mission Blue team have been working individuals like Dr. Sylvia Earle and allies, about 10% of vigorously and without pause for a decade, acting as the ocean is currently under some form of protection. international ambassadors for the ocean. Our global influence is making a substantial impact in awareness and policy, be it from Dr. Earle’s 300-days-per-year speaking schedule, our Hope Spots expeditions, the Netflix documentary, Mission Blue, major media coverage such as TIME’s cover of Dr. Earle, or the millions reached every year via our social media channels. We have no plans to slow this amazing momentum towards ocean conservation. DR. SYLVIA EARLE WON THE TED PRIZE IN 2009, AND WITH THE PRIZE STARTED MISSION BLUE TO REALIZE HER WISH OF A NETWORK OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS — HOPE SPOTS — TO PROTECT THE BLUE HEART OF THE PLANET. DR. SYLVIA EARLE GRACES THE COVER OF TIME MAGAZINE AS PART OF THE FIRSTS SPECIAL PROJECT, FOCUSED ON WOMEN WHO ARE SHATTERING GLASS CEILINGS AND CHANGING THE WORLD. ‹ DR. EARLE ON THE COVER OF TIME FOR KIDS. 4 AR2019 SCIENTIST ANDREA ASUNSOLO SWIMS WITH AN OCEANIC MANTA RAY AT THE REVILLAGIGEDO ARCHIPELAGO HOPE SPOT © KIP EVANS, MISSION BLUE AR2019 MISSION BLUE HOPE SPOTS — 2019 SNAPSHOT From the beginning, Mission Blue has ignited hope for Within this vast Hope Spot network is a vibrant ecosystem the ocean through outreach, expeditions, and a growing of people as diverse as the ocean itself. Mission Blue global network of Hope Spots. The past ten years have has both championed local citizens and empowered brought a groundswell of support from every corner of international leaders, uplifting the spirits of people around this ocean planet with the Hope Spot community growing the globe with the belief that we can still restore the faster than ever before. ocean’s health. SHANNON THE SHARK, AKA SHANNON RAKE, MISSION BLUE’S HOPE SPOT PROGRAM MANAGER, CATCHES UP WITH A YOUNG MARINE CONSERVATIONIST AT THE FLORIDA GULF COAST HOPE SPOT LAUNCH EVENT IN OCTOBER, 2019. © MISSION BLUE ARTIST AND MISSION BLUE PARTNER PAM LONGOBARDI SHARES HER COLLECTION OF COASTAL PLASTICS DURING A BIOTHERM SPONSORED EXPEDITION TO THE BALEARIC ISLANDS HOPE SPOT © KIP EVANS, MISSION BLUE 6 AR2019 MISSION BLUE HOPE SPOTS — 2019 SNAPSHOT CONTINUED Mission Blue is proud to report the creation of 131 Hope Spots this decade, with 21 designated in 2019. Each one is making meaningful strides toward restoration Our team has completed 30 ocean expeditions, with three and protection. We work directly with more than 120 local in 2019. These are supported by the generosity of partners, communities in more than 69 countries to restore and researchers, and sponsors who often join us. Expeditions protect their unique ocean environments. build collaborative relationships with local government authorities, industry leaders, and community members, including local schools. Stories and findings from each expedition are shared with millions of people through Mission Blue’s digital platforms. To safeguard ocean health, IUCN has called for 30% of the ocean to be highly protected from extractive activities by 2030, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR BRETT LOVEMAN FILMS DR. EARLE IN SAN FRANCISCO. and Mission Blue is putting its © DEB CASTELLANA, MISSION BLUE full weight behind this goal. 7 AR2019 THE HOPE SPOT INFORMATION PLATFORM The Hope Spot Information The interactive platform is accessible from the Hope Spots With the support of ESRI, this conservation technology map on Mission Blue’s website and features a library of platform was launched in 2020 and will continue to Platform is a spatial, scientific, multimedia story maps, articles, videos, photos and scien- evolve to meet the needs of the rapidly-scaling Hope Spot tific data for each Hope Spot. The platform also facilitates program. multimedia database that enables the nomination of new Hope Spots from the public. broad public engagement with Hope Spots and facilitates collaboration between Hope Spot champions. MISSION BLUE HOPE SPOT MAP © COURTESY OF ESRI 8 ARAR20192019 CLICK LOGOS ON MAP FOR ACCESS TO STORYMAPS SELECTED STORYMAPS 9 AR2019 “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 MALLORCA COAST BALEARIC ISLANDS HOPE SPOT © KIP EVANS, MISSION BLUE AR2019 MISSION BLUE IMPACTS Collectively, We Empower More Than We Share Our Information With The With More Than Ocean Community, 100 Communities 250 Partners Our Goal is 30% By Providing And Allies Protection A Global Platform To Foster An Informed Community By 2030 To Give Voice To Of Ocean Advocates Their Goals And Achievements We Launched Hope Spots In Ocean Conservation Aligned To Meet United Nations 127 New SDG14 Target MISSION BLUE HOPE SPOTS Hope Spots MAKE THE DIFFERENCE since 2010 We Reached We Explore Our Hope Spots Through Expeditions 83 Million People On Our Media Platforms — 30 In The Last Decade — With Our Vital Message Of Hope To Catalog Species And Gain Scientific Knowledge Through Ocean Restoration Of The Threats These Habitats Are Facing 11 AR2019 ADVANCING OCEAN LITERACY Our channels and partners share Partnerships Expeditions inspiring Hope Spot stories which are amplified by major In 2019, working directly with Hope Spot Champions all around the world, we planned and executed Communications Technology news outlets, in-person speaking a record 21 Hope Spot launches and folded them into Hope Spots a Hope Spot-centric communications campaign that engagements, and our growing garnered a reach of over 83 million, created over 1.4 million engagements and increased our audience global online community. to just shy of 1 million unique followers. Community Engagement Science Advisory Followers IN MILLIONS Social Media Reach IN MILLIONS 1 100 0.9 90 0.8 80 0.7 70 0.6 60 0.5 50 0.4 40 0.3 30 0.2 20 0.1 10 0 0 2009 2017 2018 2019 2009 2017 2018 2019 12 AR2019 MISSION BLUE HOPE SPOTS — IN ACTION Hope Spot champions are agents of change for a better future.