Latest news with #SylviaEarle
The National
2 days ago
- Science
- The National
Oceans face unprecedented challenges, says UAE Climate Minister
The health of the world's oceans is at serious risk warned Dr Amna Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment. The minister was making her comments on World Oceans Day, June 8. The UAE is committed to protecting ocean ecosystems and enhancing their sustainability as a vital resource at both the national and global levels, she was quoted by state news agency Wam as saying. 'Covering more than 70 per cent of the Earth's surface, our oceans are undeniably essential to human lives and livelihoods,' said Dr Al Dahak. 'They are the lifeblood of our planet, regulating our climate, providing sustenance, and supporting countless ecosystems. 'We recognise, however, that our oceans face unprecedented challenges. From the impacts of climate change, evidenced by coral bleaching and rising sea levels, to the pressures of unsustainable fishing practices, the health of our oceans is at risk.' The UN has said that urgent action needs to be taken to address the harm being done to oceans, with 90 per cent of big fish populations depleted, and 50 per cent of coral reefs destroyed. Earlier this year, The National reported how Sylvia Earle, one of the world's most famous oceanographers and marine biologists, had raised the alarm over the threat posed to ocean ecosystems by climate change and overfishing. She said the world is 'perilously close' to tipping the balance of ocean life. 'As a nation deeply connected to the sea, we understand the urgency of these challenges and are committed to leading the way in finding solutions,' said Dr Al Dahak. 'We recognise the responsibility we have to safeguard these resources for future generations, and we are actively implementing strategies to mitigate these threats and restore the health of our marine ecosystems.' The UN states the ocean is key to the global economy with an estimated 40 million people being employed by ocean-based industries by 2030. Oceans also produce at least 50 per cent of the planet's oxygen. They also absorb about 30 per cent of carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the impacts of global warming. Dr Al Dahak highlighted the efforts being made by the UAE as examples of its commitment to tackling the issue both regionally and globally. 'Our efforts in mangrove preservation and coral rehabilitation have been highly successful. Work is under way on our coral rehabilitation project to outplant more than four million coral colonies in the emirate's waters by 2030,' she said. 'We are also working to achieve our 100 million mangrove plantation target by 2030. These are goals that we must all work together to achieve. 'Our commitment extends beyond our national waters. The UAE is proud to be the first nation in the Middle East to join the 100 Per Cent Alliance, a UN initiative by the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, calling on coastal states to commit to sustainable management of all ocean areas under their jurisdiction.'
Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
When Every Day Is World Ocean Day: The Call To Underwater Exploration
Award-winning underwater photographer, writer, ocean conservationist and diver Pier Nirandara. It isn't often that you meet someone as accomplished as Pier Nirandara, who got a jump-start at a very young age. She began her career as Thailand's youngest English-language author, publishing her first national bestselling young adult novel at age 15. Then, she followed up with two more. Now a gifted underwater photographer, award-winning writer, conservationist and modern-day explorer, Nirandara recently photographed aquanaut Fabien Cousteau for his groundbreaking underwater research station in Curaçao, and joined the legendary Dr. Sylvia Earle and other world ocean advocates for a talk at The Explorers Club. Nirandara is also a PADI AmbassaDiver™ and founder of Immersiv Expeditions, where she leads expeditions around the globe for those who wish to take a deep dive and swim with marine wildlife. Based in Bangkok, Capetown and LA, Nirandara's adventurous spirit has taken her diving with sharks and whales in the South Pacific and South Africa, tracking pink dolphins in the Amazon and documenting the ancient practice of shark calling in Papua New Guinea. When the two of us met, we were about as far from the ocean as you can get–at an altitude of 12,000 feet, in Lhasa, Tibet. We spent the day touring the capital city, sampling momos (traditional Tibetan dumplings), shopping for Tibetan textiles and talking about some of the most pressing issues facing the oceans today. 'Climate change, coral bleaching, industrial fishing — these crises are intensifying and intersecting at an alarming pace,' says Nirandara. 'But underlying them all is a deeper issue: disconnection. Without a sense of relationship, there's no sense of responsibility. If we don't feel kinship with the ocean, we won't fight for it,' she continues. 'That's why storytelling — especially from voices and communities historically excluded from the conservation narrative — matters more than ever.' Photographing a swirling school. I was incredibly lucky to grow up in Thailand, a country surrounded by a vast coastline, and one that gave me a profound respect for the sea. I recall years ago waiting restlessly on the shore, much too young to join in on the activity and waiting impatiently as my mother went on a PADI Discover Scuba Dive. She emerged from the water, breathless with wonder. 'That was the most incredible experience of my life,' she exclaimed. To this day, I don't think I've ever felt that level of envy in my life! From that moment, I vowed to get underwater. Despite diving during my entire childhood in Thailand, it was a trip to South Africa that changed everything. Far from the centers of Cape Town and Johannesburg, I traveled to the Wild Coast, an area where few venture, to dive for a phenomenon known as the annual sardine run. Nicknamed the Blue Serengeti, it's the largest migration on earth in terms of biomass. Think sharks, whales, dolphins and birds plowing through bait balls of fish, hunting them in frenzied feeding. The experience blew open my mind. In storytelling, we'd dub this 'the call to adventure.' I flew back to Los Angeles, quit my job as a Hollywood film executive, and pursued a life of underwater storytelling full-time. At home in the ocean I'm a storyteller at heart. My work explores the intersection of travel, adventure, culture and conservation, often through immersive experiences that invite awe as a catalyst for change. With this ethos in mind, I founded Immersiv Expeditions, an adventure company built on the idea that meaningful travel can transform us. We lead small-group journeys around the world to swim with marine wildlife, often in remote, off-the-map locations where nature feels raw and unfiltered. These are not just wildlife encounters—they're invitations to reconnect with the world, and with ourselves. Diving with orcas. From swimming with whales in the open ocean to tracing ancestral stories along remote coastlines, every journey is designed to spark curiosity, deepen connection, and leave guests changed. We also work closely with local operators and captains who know their waters best, grounding each expedition in place, partnership, and purpose. Our ethos is simple: Seek adventure. Embrace discomfort. Explore the unknown. These aren't just bucket list trips — they're opportunities to break out of the routines and habits of daily life to reconnect with something larger than ourselves. A return to place, to self, and to a deeper sense of awe, wonder, and responsibility. A lone marlin Each expedition offers its own kind of magic. The sardine run in South Africa is perhaps the most cinematic — dolphins herding fish, sharks plowing through bait balls, birds raining from the sky. In French Polynesia, we swim with humpback whales as they arrive to give birth and nurse their young in the warm waters of the South Pacific. Imagine playing alongside milk-drunk baby whales! Meanwhile, every spring in Baja, Mexico, mobula rays gather by the thousands, swirling in a hypnotic vortex. Every expedition is unique, and a reminder that the ocean still holds mystery — and immense beauty worth saving. I've also been fortunate enough to join legendary aquatic pioneers like Dr. Sylvia Earle and Fabien Cousteau on initiatives that blend exploration with advocacy. These moments remind me that there's a fierce, brilliant, and deeply committed community fighting for the sea. It inspires me to keep showing up — and to keep lending my pen and lens to a good cause. Melting ice. Because the ocean is the life force of the planet. It regulates our climate, feeds millions, and gives us every second breath we take. Yet for many, it remains distant — something to visit, not something we're a part of. World Oceans Day is an invitation to remember that we are ocean people, whether or not we live by the shore. It's a chance to reconnect with what sustains us, to re-imagine our relationship with water, and to recommit. It's a reminder that protecting the ocean isn't just about saving the sea, but also about saving ourselves. Ghost gear — abandoned fishing lines and nets — quietly ensnaring marine life. Sonar disrupting whale navigation. Coral trampled by unregulated tourism. Even well-meaning travelers can do harm if they don't know better. The damage isn't always visible, but it's real — and often borne by the most marginalized communities. Privilege and accessibility are real issues within the marine space — who has admission to these spaces, and who bears the burden of climate change and rising sea levels. Support Indigenous and local stewardship. Expand and enforce marine protected areas. Reform extractive fishing policies. And on a human level — get people in the water. When someone submerges beneath the surface, watches a pod of dolphins leaping beside the boat, or — if they're lucky enough — meets a whale eye-to-eye, something in them changes. It's why at Immersiv, we're so passionate about getting people up close and personal with the wonders of the ocean. Awe transforms. Mother and calf. The best properties partner with local communities and embed conservation into their core model. Others greenwash with bamboo straws while building over nesting beaches. Real impact requires transparency, not trends — and a commitment to give more than they take. Pier Nirandara, ascending We also need to decrease the barrier to entry to the water — from systemic to socioeconomic inequalities. Access to the ocean is a privilege not always afforded to all, and if we're to truly make a difference, we need a all hands on deck approach. People have to feel a personal bond with the ocean in order to care about its plight. Conservation cannot be inclusive if access isn't. To tell stories that make people feel, and through that feeling, move them to act. I want to bridge the gap between science and storytelling, amplify underrepresented voices, and decolonize conservation narratives. This work isn't only about saving the ocean. It's about remembering that we're not separate from it — we're part of it. And in protecting it, we protect something essential in ourselves.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
'Ignorance' Is Most Pressing Issue Facing Ocean Conservation, Says Sylvia Earle
Credit - Erika Larsen Marine biologist Sylvia Earle could easily rest on her laurels. In a career that began in the 1950s, she has become a pioneer in ocean exploration and conservation. She holds the record for the deepest walk under the sea and was the first female chief scientist at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But on the cusp of her 90th birthday this August, she has no plans to slow down—and believes that the problems currently facing our oceans now have never been more urgent. Her most recent venture, Mission Blue, aims to create a worldwide network of marine protected areas known as 'Hope Spots.' As of June 2, this includes the Chesapeake Bay. TIME spoke to Earle in May after a dive she made in the country's largest estuary. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Read more: Fishing Communities in the Philippines Are Fighting for their Future as Waters Rise TIME: You have been involved in ocean conservation work for decades. What changes have you noticed since you first started this work? EARLE: We have learned more about the nature of the ocean, of the planet as a whole, and even about ourselves. When I was a child, no one had been to the moon, no one had been to the deepest part of the sea. The internet did not exist. Think about the things we did not know, even about the microbial world, and how influential that is on everything and every one. That was just missing in our understanding of how the world functions. [We've learned more about] the magnitude of our climate and what our role has been in bringing about change. In many cases, we've lost more than during all preceding history. What do you feel is the most pressing issue facing our oceans now? Ignorance, complacency, lack of awareness that the ocean is essential to everyone, everywhere, all the time. Every breath we take, every drop of water we drink, we are connected to the ocean. Our very existence depends not just on the existence of rocks and water. 97% of Earth's water is ocean, and ocean is essential to life, but what really matters is that the ocean has populated with creatures who preceded us, not just by centuries or millennia, but hundreds of billions of years, fine tuning rocks and water into a habitable planet. It just seems perverse that we take so much for granted and are so casual about consuming nature [when] you realize how long it has taken for the natural systems to come to a state where we actually can not just survive here, but thrive here. We know what to do. We just need, in this really critical crossroads in time, to use the knowledge we have and to come together. Everybody is, without exception, vulnerable to the state of the planet, the habitability of Earth. If you can't breathe, nothing else quite matters. Or if you don't have water, if you don't have food. All of the basics anchor back to [the idea that] we've got to take care of what keeps Earth, our home, safe in a universe that is really inhospitable. For those who want to go to Mars and set up housekeeping, I say, good luck. It's a great vision. I think we'll get there for a small number of people, for small periods of time, but it's not an alternative to Earth. We are of the Earth. Actually, we are of the ocean, because it's the ocean that makes our existence possible. As someone who has led more than 100 expeditions and logged more than 7,000 hours underwater, what's one thing you wished more people knew about our oceans? I wish people could understand [that the ocean] is not just a massive amount of salt water, but rather it's a living system. What we put into the ocean changes the chemistry of not just the ocean, but of the planetary functions as a whole. The consequences to planetary chemistry, to planetary security, are right now facing us with the prospect of the sharp changes that we won't be able to control if they get to that tipping point. The good news through all of this, I think, is that the world has not tipped yet into a state from which we cannot recover. We've got all the warning signs, the rapid increase temperature, the rapid increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the rapid loss of forests on the land, and the consequences of clear cutting forests, disrupting the carbon cycle, clear cutting the ocean of fish, of squid, of krill from Antarctica, all of this. We know what we need to do. A big part of Mission Blue's work is identifying 'Hope Spots' in the ocean. When much of our ecosystems are under threat, why is it important to you to highlight these areas? The real purpose underlying the Hope Spot concept is to ignite public awareness and support for protecting nature. The Hope Spot is a means to a broader end, to get people to be aware of why the ocean in particular matters. Land and sea together, the whole world is one big, mostly blue hope spot, but [we want to] energize individual champions, communities, institutions, to come together with a common purpose of protecting a place that they know and love. And this is meant to highlight and enforce and support everybody else who's trying to do something to turn from declined to recovery, one hope spot, one community, one champion at a time. And it is contagious. People want to know, what can I do to make a difference? You are almost 90 years old—what keeps you diving? Why not? I think it's important to keep doing the things you love as long as you can. How can I resist when most of the areas on Earth where life exists have yet to be explored. I want to keep doing it as long as I can breathe. Don't you want to do the same thing? Read more from TIME's Ocean Issue The World Isn't Valuing Oceans Properly Meet the Marine Biologist Working to Protect Our Oceans from Deep-Sea Mining Geopolitical Tensions are Shaping the Future of our Oceans Write to Simmone Shah at
The Advertiser
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
All-women aboard: these cruise ships are all-female missions
Inspired by the all-female space mission? Women can swap the rocket ship for a cruise ship, with better food and a journey lasting longer than 11 minutes. There are two special sailings for the sisterhood: a river cruise in France and a polar expedition. Personally, I like a few men on my cruises. Alas, in the spirit of Mother's Day, I shall celebrate this pioneering trend. It's a great idea for a mum-and-daughter trip. It gives a wife an excuse to travel without her husband, especially if he refuses to ever go on a cruise. And it reassures single women that they won't be chased around the ship by dozens of single men. (Trust me, that never happens on cruises, but I live in hope.) The world's first women-only cruise is Uniworld's sojourn along the Saone and Rhone rivers. Departing this year, on August 31, the week includes such traditional hobbies as lavender weaving, truffle hunting and burlesque. In Burgundy and Provence, you can count on daily wine-tasting, too. The celebrity guest is Saturday Night Live comedian Rachel Dratch, who will deliver a 45-minute comedy set, followed by a Q&A the next day. Australian company Aurora Expeditions is planning an Antarctic voyage for women, designed by women and led by women, aboard Sylvia Earle, a ship named after a marine biologist, with six decks named after other female conservationists. The 10-day adventure celebrates the power of women in exploration, storytelling and environmental conservation. The guest speakers are former NASA astronaut Dr Sandra Magnus and photographer and author Lola Akinmade Akerstrom. Departing February 23, 2027, this cruise suits anyone worried about seasickness. Passengers will fly both ways across the Drake Passage, skipping the roughest seas and maximising the time on the continent. Lesbian and LGBTQ+ women can travel together with Olivia Cruises, which charters the whole ship for each trip. Among upcoming itineraries are the Mekong River, Tahiti, Alaska, Iceland, Greek Islands, Italy and Croatia. Some tour operators offer women-only group cruises. Insight Vacations has a 12-day Egypt package with a week on the Nile, and Melbourne-based Sisterhood Women's Travel escorts an Alaska/Canada rail-cruise combo. Certain theme cruises attract mostly women. In the past year, you could have joined the Taylor Swift-themed cruise, called In My Cruise Era or Golden Fans in the Caribbean, inspired by the 1980s TV show Golden Girls. People can easily fall off cruise ships It's not possible to accidentally fall overboard, unless you have deliberately climbed up on your cabin's balcony, which is strictly not allowed. Overboard incidents usually involve reckless behaviour, intoxication or intentional actions. Modern cruise ships have high railings - about chest height on the average person - on all balconies and open deck areas. Safety protocols, surveillance systems and lockable balcony doors also help to prevent such accidents. The idea that someone could simply trip and tumble into the ocean is misleading. Despite the tragic stories often portrayed in the media, cruising is one of the safest forms of travel. Inspired by the all-female space mission? Women can swap the rocket ship for a cruise ship, with better food and a journey lasting longer than 11 minutes. There are two special sailings for the sisterhood: a river cruise in France and a polar expedition. Personally, I like a few men on my cruises. Alas, in the spirit of Mother's Day, I shall celebrate this pioneering trend. It's a great idea for a mum-and-daughter trip. It gives a wife an excuse to travel without her husband, especially if he refuses to ever go on a cruise. And it reassures single women that they won't be chased around the ship by dozens of single men. (Trust me, that never happens on cruises, but I live in hope.) The world's first women-only cruise is Uniworld's sojourn along the Saone and Rhone rivers. Departing this year, on August 31, the week includes such traditional hobbies as lavender weaving, truffle hunting and burlesque. In Burgundy and Provence, you can count on daily wine-tasting, too. The celebrity guest is Saturday Night Live comedian Rachel Dratch, who will deliver a 45-minute comedy set, followed by a Q&A the next day. Australian company Aurora Expeditions is planning an Antarctic voyage for women, designed by women and led by women, aboard Sylvia Earle, a ship named after a marine biologist, with six decks named after other female conservationists. The 10-day adventure celebrates the power of women in exploration, storytelling and environmental conservation. The guest speakers are former NASA astronaut Dr Sandra Magnus and photographer and author Lola Akinmade Akerstrom. Departing February 23, 2027, this cruise suits anyone worried about seasickness. Passengers will fly both ways across the Drake Passage, skipping the roughest seas and maximising the time on the continent. Lesbian and LGBTQ+ women can travel together with Olivia Cruises, which charters the whole ship for each trip. Among upcoming itineraries are the Mekong River, Tahiti, Alaska, Iceland, Greek Islands, Italy and Croatia. Some tour operators offer women-only group cruises. Insight Vacations has a 12-day Egypt package with a week on the Nile, and Melbourne-based Sisterhood Women's Travel escorts an Alaska/Canada rail-cruise combo. Certain theme cruises attract mostly women. In the past year, you could have joined the Taylor Swift-themed cruise, called In My Cruise Era or Golden Fans in the Caribbean, inspired by the 1980s TV show Golden Girls. People can easily fall off cruise ships It's not possible to accidentally fall overboard, unless you have deliberately climbed up on your cabin's balcony, which is strictly not allowed. Overboard incidents usually involve reckless behaviour, intoxication or intentional actions. Modern cruise ships have high railings - about chest height on the average person - on all balconies and open deck areas. Safety protocols, surveillance systems and lockable balcony doors also help to prevent such accidents. The idea that someone could simply trip and tumble into the ocean is misleading. Despite the tragic stories often portrayed in the media, cruising is one of the safest forms of travel. Inspired by the all-female space mission? Women can swap the rocket ship for a cruise ship, with better food and a journey lasting longer than 11 minutes. There are two special sailings for the sisterhood: a river cruise in France and a polar expedition. Personally, I like a few men on my cruises. Alas, in the spirit of Mother's Day, I shall celebrate this pioneering trend. It's a great idea for a mum-and-daughter trip. It gives a wife an excuse to travel without her husband, especially if he refuses to ever go on a cruise. And it reassures single women that they won't be chased around the ship by dozens of single men. (Trust me, that never happens on cruises, but I live in hope.) The world's first women-only cruise is Uniworld's sojourn along the Saone and Rhone rivers. Departing this year, on August 31, the week includes such traditional hobbies as lavender weaving, truffle hunting and burlesque. In Burgundy and Provence, you can count on daily wine-tasting, too. The celebrity guest is Saturday Night Live comedian Rachel Dratch, who will deliver a 45-minute comedy set, followed by a Q&A the next day. Australian company Aurora Expeditions is planning an Antarctic voyage for women, designed by women and led by women, aboard Sylvia Earle, a ship named after a marine biologist, with six decks named after other female conservationists. The 10-day adventure celebrates the power of women in exploration, storytelling and environmental conservation. The guest speakers are former NASA astronaut Dr Sandra Magnus and photographer and author Lola Akinmade Akerstrom. Departing February 23, 2027, this cruise suits anyone worried about seasickness. Passengers will fly both ways across the Drake Passage, skipping the roughest seas and maximising the time on the continent. Lesbian and LGBTQ+ women can travel together with Olivia Cruises, which charters the whole ship for each trip. Among upcoming itineraries are the Mekong River, Tahiti, Alaska, Iceland, Greek Islands, Italy and Croatia. Some tour operators offer women-only group cruises. Insight Vacations has a 12-day Egypt package with a week on the Nile, and Melbourne-based Sisterhood Women's Travel escorts an Alaska/Canada rail-cruise combo. Certain theme cruises attract mostly women. In the past year, you could have joined the Taylor Swift-themed cruise, called In My Cruise Era or Golden Fans in the Caribbean, inspired by the 1980s TV show Golden Girls. People can easily fall off cruise ships It's not possible to accidentally fall overboard, unless you have deliberately climbed up on your cabin's balcony, which is strictly not allowed. Overboard incidents usually involve reckless behaviour, intoxication or intentional actions. Modern cruise ships have high railings - about chest height on the average person - on all balconies and open deck areas. Safety protocols, surveillance systems and lockable balcony doors also help to prevent such accidents. The idea that someone could simply trip and tumble into the ocean is misleading. Despite the tragic stories often portrayed in the media, cruising is one of the safest forms of travel. Inspired by the all-female space mission? Women can swap the rocket ship for a cruise ship, with better food and a journey lasting longer than 11 minutes. There are two special sailings for the sisterhood: a river cruise in France and a polar expedition. Personally, I like a few men on my cruises. Alas, in the spirit of Mother's Day, I shall celebrate this pioneering trend. It's a great idea for a mum-and-daughter trip. It gives a wife an excuse to travel without her husband, especially if he refuses to ever go on a cruise. And it reassures single women that they won't be chased around the ship by dozens of single men. (Trust me, that never happens on cruises, but I live in hope.) The world's first women-only cruise is Uniworld's sojourn along the Saone and Rhone rivers. Departing this year, on August 31, the week includes such traditional hobbies as lavender weaving, truffle hunting and burlesque. In Burgundy and Provence, you can count on daily wine-tasting, too. The celebrity guest is Saturday Night Live comedian Rachel Dratch, who will deliver a 45-minute comedy set, followed by a Q&A the next day. Australian company Aurora Expeditions is planning an Antarctic voyage for women, designed by women and led by women, aboard Sylvia Earle, a ship named after a marine biologist, with six decks named after other female conservationists. The 10-day adventure celebrates the power of women in exploration, storytelling and environmental conservation. The guest speakers are former NASA astronaut Dr Sandra Magnus and photographer and author Lola Akinmade Akerstrom. Departing February 23, 2027, this cruise suits anyone worried about seasickness. Passengers will fly both ways across the Drake Passage, skipping the roughest seas and maximising the time on the continent. Lesbian and LGBTQ+ women can travel together with Olivia Cruises, which charters the whole ship for each trip. Among upcoming itineraries are the Mekong River, Tahiti, Alaska, Iceland, Greek Islands, Italy and Croatia. Some tour operators offer women-only group cruises. Insight Vacations has a 12-day Egypt package with a week on the Nile, and Melbourne-based Sisterhood Women's Travel escorts an Alaska/Canada rail-cruise combo. Certain theme cruises attract mostly women. In the past year, you could have joined the Taylor Swift-themed cruise, called In My Cruise Era or Golden Fans in the Caribbean, inspired by the 1980s TV show Golden Girls. People can easily fall off cruise ships It's not possible to accidentally fall overboard, unless you have deliberately climbed up on your cabin's balcony, which is strictly not allowed. Overboard incidents usually involve reckless behaviour, intoxication or intentional actions. Modern cruise ships have high railings - about chest height on the average person - on all balconies and open deck areas. Safety protocols, surveillance systems and lockable balcony doors also help to prevent such accidents. The idea that someone could simply trip and tumble into the ocean is misleading. Despite the tragic stories often portrayed in the media, cruising is one of the safest forms of travel.
