Conservation Education Abstracts
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Plastic Fantastic: How Bottles and Carpets Provide Innovative Approaches to
Marine Conservation in Aquariums Heather Koldewey, Zoological Society of London Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
If marine conservation is truly important then why is it such a low priority for most people and bottom of the political agenda? Is the conservation community failing in selling the conservation message to the general public? Do public aquariums see conservation primarily in terms of supporting overseas projects and breeding programmes? How can we better embed conservation throughout our organisations? This presentation will explore how we might adopt different, positive and hopeful ways to engage people in marine conservation, leading to changes in behaviour and a more sustainable relationship with the ocean. In this context, I will present two case studies that exemplify how aquariums can integrate innovative approaches to conservation that provide opportunities for a more direct connection with our visitors. Net-Works is an award-winning project that has developed a novel community-based supply chain for discarded fishing nets that are recycled into carpet tiles addressing issues of marine debris and poverty alleviation in coastal communities. The resulting carpet tiles have been installed at ZSL London Zoo providing innovative education and engagement opportunities. Project Ocean is retail activism in action, a ground-breaking partnership between the luxury London department store, Selfridges, and ZSL to bring ocean conservation to new audiences and change consumer buying habits. Through this initiative, we have stopped selling single use plastic water bottles, one of the highest sources of marine litter, promoting refillable bottles as an alternative. This presentation will discuss the effectiveness of these projects and some of the challenges in their implementation, while suggesting how we might build a wider portfolio of ‘ocean optimism’ solutions that are showcased within public aquariums globally. |
Conservation in the Urban Ocean Mike Schaadt, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Field and lab conservation projects conducted by public aquariums can make significant contributions in helping maintain biodiversity in aquatic life. Many conservation projects are conducted in remote areas of the world while others are conducted next to highly populated seaside areas commonly referred to as the urban ocean. Forming partnerships with other organizations to conduct conservation projects in the urban ocean adjacent to Los Angeles, along with captive rearing at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (CMA), has created unique opportunities for both direct public engagement and student learning. Progress on these conservation efforts is shared in aquarium exhibits and a variety of public information outlets. Financial support from a variety of public and private funding sources support these in-situ and ex-situ projects. Efforts conducted by CMA in collaboration with many partner organizations provide an example for discussion as models are developed by aquariums to conduct meaningful conservation projects. |
Our Future Ocean:
The Key to Humanity's Survival Peter Neill, World Ocean Observatory Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
The ocean holds the key to humanity’s survival. Based on the scientific community’s information about the world ocean, Peter Neill calls for a new ocean ethos—a new system of valuation, organizing concept, political structure, and social behaviors. The old paradigm of unlimited growth based on consumption, driven by fossil fuels, is exhausted and on the verge of collapse. Earth’s population – now at 7.4 billion – is putting extraordinary demands on the planet’s resources, which means it’s crucial that the world’s leaders and its citizens look to the ocean and the inter-connected cycles of water as vital resources that must be protected rather than squandered away and poisoned. As citizens of the ocean, all of us must build a relationship with the ocean, independent of where we live. We must view the world in a whole new way -- where water is valued from our mountain tops to the seas. The numerous drinking water advisories in Canada and the example of lead in Flint Michigan USA’s water have brought the “value” of water to the forefront of topics. Neill will speak on why the ocean is essential for human survival as a critical resource for our food, water, health and clean energy. He will provide concrete examples of existing technologies and applications to access these sustainable resources. This bold vision for a practical and possible future is based on a revolutionary paradigm shift toward a new hydraulic society that can be implemented through the political will of individuals who understand the necessity for change, the logic of a new moral alternative, and the reality of the consequences if we fail to act in time. Specific ideas and solutions for preserving the health of the world ocean are presented. Presentation concepts are contained in Neill’s new book, The Once and Future Ocean. |
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The Role of Aquariums in Conservation Research, Education and Public Outreach
Andreas Fahlman, Fundación Oceanografic de la Comunidad Valenciana Watch Video (Login required) Full Abstract
Trained animals under managed care are an important resource for public outreach, education, and conservation research. However, coordination between researchers, trainers, veterinarians, students and staff is crucial to create a successful program. At the Oceanogràfic, Valencia, Spain, we have created a new Research Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to conservation through research, direct action and public outreach. This new initiative includes an extensive investment in a new research department with 5 full-time researchers and 3 PhD students to coordinate the research effort. We have a new team of senior trainers to lead and develop our new philosophy of animal training and husbandry, a team of 5 full-time veterinarians to supervise animal welfare, and research trials. The Foundations Research Master Plan contains 5 research programs (physiology and energetics, marine animal health, conservation research, animal welfare, and marine mammals and humans), all dedicated to conservation research. Each program consists of several research lines, and animal training is vital for many of these lines. The Oceanogràfic has a new ethics and welfare committee that approves research proposals, and a new focus on public education and conservation through research with a strong support on public media. This presentation will outline our strategy for this new vision of Oceanogràfic as a leading research, conservation and education center in Europe, integrating the activity of the different aquarium sectors and especially highlighting the role of animal trainers. |