We had the opportunity to interview Jose Luiz Moutinho from the Blue Mission AA project to find out how progress is being made in the Atlantic and Arctic. In our conversation, Jose provided valuable insights into the initiatives undertaken by Blue Mission AA and their impact on marine conservation efforts. Join us as we explore the vital role played by Blue Mission AA in safeguarding our oceans and coastal waters.
Hi Jose Luiz, can you give us an overview about the objectives and activities of Blue Mission AA?
In our work, we have one single objective, which is to protect and restore marine and coastal ecosystems and biodiversity. Our focus is straightforward: we aim to engage every organization and individual we can in pursuit of this goal, aiming to protect and restore 30% of these ecosystems, with 10% under strict protection.
To achieve this, we've organised our efforts into five main activities. Firstly, we prioritise mapping and involving key stakeholders. Secondly, we're developing a monitoring platform called wavelinks.eu, which serves to coordinate and visualise collaborative efforts. Thirdly, we're focused on mapping solutions, which encompass technologies, processes, methods, or any innovative approaches that can be replicated and scaled up to accelerate our mission's implementation.
Linked to this activity, we provide services for those who have endorsed the Charter, such as connecting them with experts and identifying potential funding opportunities. Additionally, we're fostering innovation through our innovation pipeline, where we map stakeholders, develop solutions, and prepare them for presentation to potential investors, philanthropists, and funders.
From ‘alternative’ to mainstream
Our overarching aim is to transform restoration from an alternative business to a mainstream one, demonstrating that it can be a lucrative endeavour. We're actively working on developing innovative business models, crafting compelling narratives to attract investors, and establishing robust reporting mechanisms.
Lastly, we prioritise citizen engagement, holding meetings across Europe, often in collaboration with other organisations. For instance, we recently organized a gathering in Milan with Blue Mission Med, where we engaged 500 students in workshops focused on exploring how young people can pursue careers in marine conservation and restoration. These workshops yielded creative ideas, such as addressing the issue of urchin overgrazing on kelp forests by promoting urchin consumption as a solution.
These five activities constitute our core approach to marine protection and restoration, reflecting our commitment to collaboration, innovation, and community engagement.
Tell us about the local partners you work with
In our collaboration efforts, we engage with various innovation actions. Within the Atlantic Antarctic Lighthouse, we operate as a cohesive unit, undertaking all activities together. This entails close cooperation with partners such as A-AAgora. We actively participate in their events, stakeholder engagement meetings, and campaigns, leveraging these opportunities to consolidate our joint efforts. Through this collective approach, we maintain a comprehensive understanding of activities ranging from Arctic fishermen to high-level representatives in Brussels.
Collaboration at all levels
Our engagements span a wide spectrum, encompassing interactions with fishing lobbies, maritime clusters, restoration companies, research institutions, and local governments. Recently, we held discussions with maritime clusters and restoration companies, underscoring our commitment to engaging diverse partners. Additionally, we're organising an event with local government in Portugal, reflecting our efforts to foster collaboration at regional levels.
Furthermore, our outreach extends to individuals and groups involved in coastal restoration projects at the grassroots level. We engage with surfers, windsurfers, and other community members invested in local initiatives. Essentially, our collaborative efforts transcend geographical boundaries, encompassing stakeholders across the Atlantic and Antarctic regions.
You deal with a very wide range of perspectives. Is there anything that these perspectives have in common, or are they all very, very diverse?
The thing that connects them all is passion. They are passionate about what they do and are passionate about the marine ecosystem.
A venture that’s all about passion
We recently had the Mission Ocean Annual Forum event in Brussels. This is a venture that’s all about passion. Everyone involved knows we have to face this huge problem right now. I met so many passionate people. They really want to make a difference everywhere: in government, companies, scientists. Even fishermen, who we see sometimes resisting change for very good reasons, because this is their way of life, eventually come around, saying, "Let's see what we can do together." And it's always about people. You have to find the right people, right time, in the right place. If you find only one in the right place, then it's like a ripple wave, you know.
What are some examples of innovative solutions or projects that Blue Mission AA is involved in?
One example is the toolkit developed by CLIMAREST, which stands out for its versatility. This toolkit offers standalone solutions applicable to various restoration projects such as oyster restoration, rock bottom restoration, and seagrass restoration. It incorporates a range of tools for data analysis and provides guidance to local governments and research institutions seeking to develop their own restoration initiatives.
The collaboration with A-AAgora also showcases innovative solutions for sustainable tourism. They collaborate closely with local fishermen and communities to address the main issue of aquaculture's impact on kelp forests. Their approach involves practical strategies like deploying autonomous tools to manage urchin populations and collaborating with authorities to replant kelp forests. Notably, they even integrate these efforts into tourist services, offering opportunities for visitors to participate in urchin removal while diving, demonstrating creativity and engagement.
Another noteworthy example comes from Ocean City, where they are pioneering the concept of underwater gardens. They are introducing a new profession termed "underwater gardeners" and providing tools and methods to mobilise local stakeholders for marine forest restoration efforts. These initiatives exemplify innovative approaches to addressing marine ecosystem restoration across different locations.
How do you ensure that solutions can be replicated across different ecosystems and environments?
To enhance the replicability of these solutions across different locations, we've initiated associated region calls, which are currently in progress. The associated regions play a crucial role in testing and refining the implementation of these solutions. For instance, in the case of A-AAgora, in March, they welcomed three new regions into the fold, paving the way for testing restoration solutions in places like Cyprus and Croatia. These calls enable us to explore how solutions developed for specific contexts, such as marshlands in Croatia, can be adapted and applied to diverse environments, including freshwater ecosystems in the Croatian basin. By leveraging the insights gained from these associated region initiatives, we aim to identify common lessons and best practices that can facilitate the replication of successful solutions across different locations.
How do you engage with local communities?
When engaging citizens, our approach is to highlight the benefits for them. Instead of presenting a doomsday narrative, we focus on portraying a vision for a new future, demonstrating how their involvement can have a positive impact. To achieve this, we collaborate with our Mission Ocean Partners, so that we can develop narratives and methods for citizen engagement. We draw heavily on their expertise to create compelling stories and user experiences that inspire others to take action. Building on this foundation, we've already conducted two successful citizen campaigns, with plans to hold one every three months moving forward. These campaigns serve as platforms to showcase individuals who have made a tangible difference and are willing to share their experiences with others. By highlighting these stories of citizen action, we aim to inspire further engagement and empower more people to contribute to marine restoration efforts.
What is it going to take to meet the Mission Ocean objectives?
In order to meet the mission goals in the Atlantic and Arctic, we need to accelerate our efforts. One thing that can really help is clearer communication. The complexity of the mission is a significant challenge. While we may not need to delve deeply into explaining the technicalities of the mission, we must effectively communicate its objectives and significance to garner support.
Drawing on the analogy of the Apollo mission, we understand the power of framing a mission and providing resources to achieve it. Convincing people of the importance of the mission requires compelling narratives that resonate with them on a personal level.
Improved physical and mental health, enhanced living environments and brighter prospects for future generations
We need to articulate not only the benefits of achieving the mission but also the positive impact it will have on individuals' lives, including improved physical and mental health, enhanced living environments and brighter prospects for future generations. Currently, we're still grappling with creating these narratives effectively.
Instead of focusing solely on explaining the technical details of the mission, we must concentrate on convincing people that we're heading in the right direction. Ultimately, it's about inspiring belief and mobilising support for our shared mission.
Delve deeper into the initiatives and projects undertaken by Blue Mission AA on their website.