Since 2021, our Blueprint for Ocean Motion has supported world sustainability agendas via its aim to guard 30% of the ocean by 2030. Nonetheless, the flexibility to create significant change begins at house via native communities that stand collectively for ocean conservation.
Take Barbados, for instance, the place collective motion builds hope for a more healthy planet. From eradicating particles to coaching future ocean protectors, this Caribbean group is popping grassroots ardour into world affect — whereas inspiring different nations to do the identical.
On this weblog, we take a better take a look at how Barbados – and its devoted community of Ocean Torchbearers™ – is harnessing the facility of group to grow to be one in every of PADI AWARE Basis®‘s main ocean conservation success tales.
Connecting Communities, Saving the Ocean
In August 2024, seven PADI Dive Facilities joined forces with impartial PADI Professionals and freedivers to arrange Teacher Coaching Workshops and the annual Barbados Dive Fest. In the course of the week-long celebration of the ocean, actions included:
- Water Consciousness Packages
- Strive dives and expertise dives
- Conservation suggestions
- Marine life surveys
- A pictures competitors
What’s extra, divers collected 708 items of marine particles throughout 19 Dive Towards Particles® surveys. Over 40% of this was plastic – serving to deal with one of many greatest threats to marine life.
By harnessing our shared duty to save lots of the ocean, initiatives like Dive Fest strengthen connections between the Barbadian group, divers, and conservationists. United by the aim of constructing these occasions a hit, the result’s a motion of engaged and passionate Ocean Torchbearers who proceed to have a good time wins lengthy after the pageant ends.
Empowering Future Ocean Protectors
Persons are extra prone to defend what they will see and love. This makes divers and swimmers splendid advocates for marine life and ocean conservation. Nonetheless, in Barbados, greater than 80% of the inhabitants doesn’t know how you can swim.
Every summer time, a novel Water Consciousness Program seeks to beat this barrier by instructing 100 children how you can swim. Thus far, 425 youngsters have taken half, thereafter gaining confidence to discover the ocean safely. Six teenagers have since gone on to earn PADI certifications and take part in Dive Towards Particles surveys.
“Each youngster who participates within the PADI AWARE® swim program is given the chance to not solely grow to be a future dive skilled however an ocean guardian in Barbados,” says Andre Miller, proprietor of Barbados Blue.
Certainly, by nurturing a love for the underwater world from an early age, PADI AWARE and its companions join youngsters with their coastal doorsteps, sparking curiosity and look after ocean conservation that may carry ahead into future generations.
With assist from PADI AWARE and founding associate Blancpain, Barbados has absolutely embraced Undertake The Blue™, the world’s largest community of ocean conservation websites. Connecting PADI Mission Hubs with native communities extends their efforts to rid the ocean of marine particles, defend weak species, restore coral reefs, and deal with the results of local weather change.
Catastrophe Restoration
Divers are the world’s eyes and palms beneath the waves. Not too long ago, after Hurricane Beryl, the Barbadian group mobilized to evaluate reef harm and take away particles. In doing so, they benefited from utilizing standardized PADI AWARE instruments, like Dive Towards Particles and Habitat Affect Surveys. This helped the federal government determine the place sources have been greatest positioned to revive vital ecosystems – with out utilizing expensive or damaging strategies.
Coral Bleaching Surveys
The Undertake The Blue community additionally contributes to world analysis that shapes conservation plans. As an example, a 2023 collaboration between PADI AWARE Basis, Barbados, and 4 different international locations provided NOAA Coral Reef Watch with knowledge about coral bleaching from 51 surveys, demonstrating the facility of community-driven citizen science.
Ocean Conservation From Barbados to Past
By teaming up with governments and group leaders, PADI AWARE Basis bridges the hole between folks and coverage. This brings Barbados nearer to its 30×30 goal of defending 30% of its marine ecosystems whereas setting an instance for different small island nations.
In fact, each area’s wants are distinctive. So, PADI AWARE’s technique consists of tailor-made plans that assist develop blue economies in concord with ocean conservation efforts.
Waiting for 2025, PADI AWARE Basis plans to construct on its success in Barbados and past, fueled by the unwavering dedication of the world Torchbearer group to guard what they love and create optimistic ocean change.
Ocean Torchbearers are on the coronary heart of PADI AWARE’s missions. They’re passionately dedicated to restoring the blue planet we name house.
Be part of the Torchbearer group, and also you’ll grow to be a part of a strong motion to take native motion for world affect. Whether or not it’s signing a petition to guard endangered species, planting corals, or eradicating particles along with your native PADI Mission Hub, each motion counts.
