Guest Blog: Mission Blue’s Work to Protect the Antarctic, by Deb Castellana
This is a guest blog written by Deb Castellana. Aside from serving on the Board of Directors for ASOC, Deb Castellana is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Mission Blue, Dr. Sylvia Earle’s international non-profit dedicated to inspiring action to explore and protect the ocean. Deb works with the Mission Blue team to support marine protected areas, mitigate climate change, raise funding, and promote public awareness of ocean issues. She also serves on the boards of the Turtle Island Restoration Project, Ocean Conservation Research, On Wings of Care, and The Double Bay Sanctuary Foundation. Her background, from leading communications for ocean sailing races, teaching scuba diving to sailing international waters on her own yacht, has deeply connected her to marine environments, fueling her advocacy for their protection. Deb believes in the Antarctic’s critical role in our planet’s ecosystem, emphasizing, “Protecting Antarctica ensures a sustainable future for our planet,” underscoring her commitment to global biodiversity and climate health.
As a member of the Board of Directors for the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC), and Director of Strategic Partnerships at Mission Blue, I have the honor of working alongside some of the planet’s greatest minds to protect some of our most precious and vulnerable marine ecosystems. The Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica is truly the heart of our global ocean, driving currents that regulate the Earth’s climate and supporting an incredible abundance and diversity of life found nowhere else. Yet these crystalline waters and the creatures that call them home face mounting threats from climate change, industrial fishing, tourism, pollution and other human pressures.
Image credit: Amos Nachoum
At Mission Blue, our goal is to inspire action to explore and protect the ocean. We work with a global coalition of partners to educate the public, advocate for policy change, and ignite a worldwide network of Hope Spots – special places that are critical to the health of the ocean. Our Hope Spot Council has designated the Ross Sea and the East Antarctic Peninsula as Hope Spots, recognizing their vital importance as a climate regulator, wildlife haven, and one of the last great wilderness areas on Earth. The champion of these Hope Spots is the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition.
Through expeditions and outreach, Mission Blue shines a spotlight on the wonders of Antarctica and the perils it faces. Our founder, Dr. Sylvia Earle, has traveled to the region many times. “The Antarctic is key to the survival of life on Earth as we know it,” she has said. “What happens in Antarctica affects all of us, and the entire world must come together to protect this irreplaceable treasure.”
Image credit: Mission Blue
One of Mission Blue’s key strategies is to work with partners to advocate for the establishment of a representative network of marine protected areas (MPAs) around Antarctica. By safeguarding large areas from human activity, the goal is to provide sanctuaries for wildlife, build resilience to climate change, and help keep the Southern Ocean healthy and functioning. ASOC has been at the forefront of the global push for Antarctic MPAs, and Mission Blue is proud to support this crucial effort.
In 2023, the Special Meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR-SM-III) held in Santiago, Chile, aimed to address a multi-year stalemate of progress in establishing new Marine Protected Areas in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. Despite proposals for new MPAs in regions like East Antarctic, Weddell Sea, and Antarctic Peninsula, opposition from a couple of Members hindered the progress towards creating these protected areas. Clearly, much work still needs to be done and both as a member of ASOC and through other policy efforts, Mission Blue will continue to advocate for additional Antarctic MPAs, with the ultimate goal of fully protecting 30% of the ocean – or more – by 2030.
Image credit: Amos Nachoum
Of course, MPAs alone are not enough. To truly conserve Antarctica and the global ocean, we must also tackle the overarching threat of climate change. The icy ecosystems of the Southern Ocean are the proverbial canary in the coal mine when it comes to our warming world. As the Antarctic heats up, we are already seeing devastating consequences, from collapsing ice sheets to declining penguin populations.
Addressing the climate crisis will require a wholesale transformation of our society and economy, from rapidly phasing out fossil fuels to rethinking our relationship with nature. It’s a daunting challenge, but I remain hopeful thanks to the tireless efforts of organizations like ASOC and Mission Blue, and the growing global movement for climate action. By working together across borders and sectors, I believe we can secure a vibrant future for the Antarctic and the entire planet.
The wonders of Antarctica have captivated me since I was a child, although I choose to admire its wonders from afar. The towering glaciers, the charismatic wildlife, the unearthly shade of blue – it’s a magical place, full of wonder and awe. In my role with Mission Blue, I feel enormously privileged to play a part in protecting this awe-inspiring ecosystem at the bottom of the Earth.
Source: https://www.asoc.org/ice-archive/mission-blues-work-to-protect-the-antarctic/
