The Tribune

JOSEPH Ierna Jr believes protecting oceanic resources should be a high priority for everyone, everywhere.

Mr Ierna is a founder of the non-profit organisation Ocean Crest Alliance (OCA) and hopes to see Marine Protected Areas (MPA) established globally through education and participation. The Palm Island Resort in southwest Florida is helping in that effort.

The alliance’s mission is “to honour, protect and restore the health of the world’s oceans and the Life of the Earth’s systems through conservation, research, education, science and technology”.

The resort held a fundraising beach dinner with donations from $1,000 to $5,000 and silent auction on Friday and a brunch on Saturday, with leading oceanic researchers speaking and other activities.

“Palm Island Resort is dedicated to creating a groundswell of support by educating the southwest Florida community about what a marine protection area means and why today’s ocean movement is so vitally important to future generations,” resort general manager Rick Brunette said in a statement.

While the fundraiser may be pricey for some, Mr Ierna said donors and communities, large and small, can become stakeholders. “If we make the oceans healthy, the global environment will be cleaned up,” he said.

The OCA has been working primarily in the Bahamas to create a proposed MPA that will, in part, protect Yellowtail Snapper and Grouper spawning grounds. As well as working with governmental officials, Bahamians - a large number of whom were fisherman - helped to define what needed protection and how protections would be implemented. “It’s up to locals,” Mr Ierna said of how an MPA is protected.

The alliance, he explained, works with scientists who develop an ecological assessment that is developed as a “white paper” to be presented to appropriate governmental officials. The alliance also launches educational efforts on the need for MPAs. The alliance does not work alone and has partnerships with the National Conservancy and other organisations.

Among those serving on the alliance’s advisory council are Sylvia A Earle, a noted researcher who served as a chief scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and probably most recognisable to the general public, Guy Harvey, the celebrated artist, conservationist and scientist.

For information visit www.oceancrestalliance.org

STEVE REILLY

Englewood Sun