Uniting the Global Voice of SCUBA Divers to Reach Marine Conservation Goals

Author: Hannah Pragnell-Raasch

Partners: Save Our Marine Life Alliance

• Project AWARE – Who We Are

• SCUBA divers: A Community of Ocean Advocates

• Australia’s Network of Commonwealth Marine Reserves

• The Turning Tide

• Looking to the Future

• An Inspiring Solution?

• What Makes it Work?

Overview

2. Uniting the Global Voice of Scuba Divers to Reach Marine Conservation Goals PROJECTAWARE.ORG

Project AWARE – Who We Are

• MISSION: To mobilize the world’s divers into a global force to protect our ocean planet

• VISION: A return to a clean, healthy and abundant ocean planet

• International not-for profit marine conservation organization, IUCN Member• Over 1.4 million supporters worldwide and growing• Unique partnership with PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors)

3. Uniting the Global Voice of Scuba Divers to Reach Marine Conservation Goals PROJECTAWARE.ORG

SCUBA Divers: A Community of Ocean

Advocates

4. Uniting the Global Voice of Scuba Divers to Reach Marine Conservation Goals PROJECTAWARE.ORG

Australia’s Network of Commonwealth

Marine Reserves

5. Uniting the Global Voice of Scuba Divers to Reach Marine Conservation Goals PROJECTAWARE.ORG

Australia’s Network of Commonwealth

Marine Reserves

5. Uniting the Global Voice of Scuba Divers to Reach Marine Conservation Goals PROJECTAWARE.ORG

The Turning Tide

• November 2012: Australia’s National Network of Commonwealth Marine Reserves declared

• March 2013: NSW State Government winds back marine sanctuary protections

• October 2013: Dive store owners unite to reinstate marine sanctuary protections

• December 2013: New Federal Government suspends Network of Commonwealth Marine Reserves declared in 2012

• January 2014: Polling commissioned by the Dive Industry Association of Australia demonstrates overwhelming public support for marine sanctuaries

6. Uniting the Global Voice of Scuba Divers to Reach Marine Conservation Goals PROJECTAWARE.ORG

An Inspiring Solution?

NGO’S

INDUSTRY

CORPORATE

BROADER APPLICATIONIMPLEMENTATION

& IMPACT

INNOVATIVE &

EFFECTIVE

8. Uniting the Global Voice of Scuba Divers to Reach Marine Conservation Goals PROJECTAWARE.ORG

Sectors working together

Harnessing the power of the diving

community in other international

campaigns

2012: NETWORK ESTABLISHED

2013: DIVE BUSINESSES UNITE TO

REINSTATE MARINE SANCTUAREIES

What Makes It Work?

9. Uniting the Global Voice of Scuba Divers to Reach Marine Conservation Goals PROJECTAWARE.ORG