MARINE PROTECTION
By partnering with Mission Blue, the Plum Foundation aims to strengthen protection and restoration of the ocean and rise the engagement of local communities around the world.
Through our collaboration, Mission Blue will continue to build their Hope Spot community, which will propel the urgently needed shift from sharp decline of the ocean’s systems in recent decades to an era ofsteady recovery, leading to a healthy ocean for future generations.
ABOUT MISSION BLUE
Mission Blue inspires action to explore and protect the ocean. Led by legendary oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, Mission Blue is uniting a global coalition to inspire an upwelling of public awareness, access and support for
a worldwide network of marine protected areas – Hope Spots. Under Dr. Earle’s leadership, the Mission Blue team implements communications campaigns that elevate Hope Spots to the world stage through documentaries, social media, traditional media and innovative tools like Esri ArcGIS. Mission Blue also embarks on regular oceanic expeditions that shed light on these vital ecosystems and build support for their protection. Currently, the Mission Blue alliance includes more than 200 respected ocean conservation groups and like-minded organizations, from large multinational companies to individual scientific teams doing important research. Additionally, Mission Blue supports the work of conservation NGOs that share the mission of building public support for ocean protection. With the concerted effort and passion of people and organizations around the world, Hope Spots can become a reality and form a global network of marine protected areas large enough to restore the ocean, the blue heart of the planet.
OUR COLLABORATION
RAJA AMPAT ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION
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Plum Foundation is partnering with Mission Blue and the Misool Marine Reserve to safeguard the most biodiverse reefs on Earth through the empowerment of local communities, providing funds and scientific expertise.
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Located in the remote southern reaches of the Indonesian archipelago Raja Ampat, the reserve has been established in 2005 and encompasses a 300,000-acre protected area inside which all extractive practices are prohibited. No fishing, collecting turtle eggs, reef bombing, cyanide fishing, netting or shark finning are legally permitted, all activities that have proven to be highly damaging in other parts of Indonesia. A recent scientific survey, conducted between 2007 and 2013, showed an increase in fish biomass of 250% on average.
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Plum Foundation is working on:
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a. Strategic plan for the region.
b. Support the RE-SHARK initiative.
c. Identify and support Coral restoration in the region.
d. Work with Mission Blue champions to develop and implement conservation programs.
RE-SHARK 2022: coordinated by ReShark, an international conservation collective made up of more than 60 academic institutions, zoos and aquariums, nonprofits and government agencies around the world, it has been launched the project to restore the zebra shark (Stegostoma tigrinum) population in Raja Ampat. Efforts to rebuild the zebra shark population are on the national agenda in the context of conserving endangered species with significant ecological and economic importance.
KELP FORESTS IN CHILEAN PATAGONIA
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With more than 83,850 kilometers of coastline and numerous offshore islands, Chile’s marine territory counts on an astonishing variety of terrestrial and marine species. Its southern fjords offer important habitat for whales, dolphins, seals and other marine mammals, while the seafloor hosts a diverse array of coral and other invertebrates, including several species unique to the area. Marine life within the Chilean Fjords and Islands experience threats from overfishing and industrialization along the Chilean coast, and damage from bottom trawlers along the Juan Fernandez Islands.
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The Plum Foundation is working closely with Mission Blue to propel the protection of kelp forests in the area, supporting Indigenous communities to build strong nets of collaboration, providing funds and advocacy, igniting global awarness and Government policies improvements.
