An exciting new campaign between Not-for-profit, Clean Sailors, the Ocean Conservation Trust and all-in-one navigation app, Savvy Navvy, supports sailors to combat climate change by digitally mapping sensitive seabeds and eco-moorings across boating hotspots around the world.
L'objectif de la nouvelle campagne mondiale "#protectourbeds" est de contribuer à empêcher la destruction d'herbiers marins essentiels. Il s'agit de sensibiliser les utilisateurs de l'eau aux endroits où se trouvent les fonds marins sensibles et de les encourager à minimiser les perturbations, notamment en jetant l'ancre.
Les herbiers marins combattent le changement climatique en absorbant et en stockant d'énormes quantités de carbone, mais on estime qu'ils sont l'habitat qui disparaît le plus rapidement sur la planète, principalement en raison de l'activité humaine évitable. Après avoir débuté au Royaume-Uni, la campagne recherche maintenant des partenaires de données en Europe et aux États-Unis pour la prochaine étape du projet.
“The #protectourbeds campaign is collating geo-spatial data on sensitive seabeds and showing the information in the Savvy Navvy navigation app - providing sailors and water-users with a clear view of where seagrass beds are and alternatives to anchoring.
By mapping and sharing sensitive seabed locations with digital navigators, and the location of alternatives - eco-moorings - we can educate, inspire and encourage our sailing community to make more informed anchoring choices when out on the water. Making this data visible to those of us who can mitigate our impact when boating, across the world, is incredibly exciting and just makes so much sense to seagrass conservation efforts globally,” says Holly Manvell, founder of Clean Sailors.
Les prairies sous-marines stockent 10 % du carbone de l'océan et sont des acteurs clés de la lutte contre le changement climatique. Ils peuvent être jusqu'à 35 fois plus efficaces pour absorber le carbone que les forêts tropicales de la même superficie et constituent également un habitat pour des espèces rares et menacées. Malgré l'importance des herbiers marins, rien qu'au Royaume-Uni, nous avons perdu près de la moitié de nos herbiers depuis les années 1930, principalement en raison d'activités humaines évitables.
“The Ocean Conservation Trust has been working with the boating community to conserve nature for the past decade, so we are delighted to be the scientific adviser in this project. The addition of sensitive habitat information on Savvy Navvy navigational charts is the first time the boating community can easily understand what lies beneath the keel. Seagrass habitats are biodiversity hotspots and in decline from multiple pressures, so providing this information to the conscientious boater is a significant step forward in the recovery of this vital Ocean habitat,” said Mark Parry, Head of Ocean Habitat Restoration at the Ocean Conservation Trust.
Savvy Navvy users are from today able to see the location of existing seabeds and eco-moorings around the South West of the UK in the all-in-one navigation app. The project will build UK-wide sensitive seabed data and then focus on European waters and beyond through the course of 2023-24.
“We are so excited to work with Clean Sailors and the Ocean Conservation Trust, and be one of the only navigation apps on the market helping to build environmental awareness of carbon footprint through showcasing vital seagrass data. While Savvy Navvy is all about simplifying boating technology by making navigation safe and easy for everyone, innovative campaigns helping boaters to make better choices when out on the water is something we feel very strongly about. This year we are looking to build one of the most insight-rich platforms on boating behaviour, helping marine businesses across the globe and the #protectourbeds campaign is a great way to kickstart this,” says David Cusworth, Head of Innovation and Partnerships at Savvy Navvy.
La campagne #protectourbeds recherche des partenaires de données en Europe et aux États-Unis pour la prochaine étape du projet. Toutes les demandes de renseignements et les candidatures peuvent être adressées à Clean Sailors via info@cleansailors.com.
