Earthdive Invites Citizen Scientists to Save World's Oceans

CAMBRIDGE, UK, July 29, 2004 (ENS) - Snorkelers and scuba divers who explore all the world's oceans are being asked to enlist in a new undersea army called Earthdive. The weapons of this army will be information and the latest technology, and its mission is to safeguard Earth's the oceans and seas.

Professional and amateur divers are being asked to record the health of the marine environment for Earthdive, including coral reefs, mangrove swamps and coastal waters - whatever they observe when underwater.

The scheme is being supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) through its World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) in Cambridge, England.

Earthdive was created by diver Chris Long, who said, "If threats such as pollution, over-fishing and climate change continue, it could lead to dire consequences for the global population."

Divers adjust micromanipulator used to sample close to coral heads in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. (Photo by M. Patterson courtesy NOAA, Virgina Institute of Marine Science)

As a commercial organization, Earthdive is also seeking to effect positive change towards a more sustainable marine environment by raising global awareness and financial support for the protection of our oceans. Half of all membership fees go directly to marine conservation projects.

Earthdive membership is extended to divers and snorkellers of all abilities, as well as anyone with an interest in marine conservation issues. Members will record findings from their dives on the Earthdive website at: www.earthdive.com.

As they share their findings, they will be contributing scientific data on key indicator species to build a Global Dive Log, the cost of which is sponsored by Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O).

Diver laying transect line for conducting fish survey. Pokai Bay, Oahu. (Photo by James McVey, NOAA Sea Grant Program)

UNEP-WCMC has been providing scientific assessments of biodiversity for 25 years and is focused on coral reef conservation. The organization is providing a unique mapping service that will allow divers to pinpoint locations and log their observations, which are then more easily shared with other divers and the scientific community.

"We are making a significant contribution to the development of the Earthdive Global Dive Log through our innovative interactive map service (IMapS)," said WCMC Director Mark Collins.

"By combining recreation with conservation, Earthdive can help spread important environmental messages to a much wider audience," he said.

Long said, "Earthdive wants people with an interest in diving to understand that what they see under the oceans is not just beautiful, it also sustains human life, and they can help to preserve it by simply recording what they see."

Observations of illegal trade in endangered species are also recorded, and are then passed on to TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, a joint programme of WWF and IUCN-The World Conservation Union.

Diver riding a shrimp net watches a turtle escape through the excluder device. (Photo courtesy OAR/National Undersea Research Program)

UNEP's Executive Director Klaus Toepfer said, "The world's oceans and their valuable habitats provide food and livelihoods for many people across the globe in activities ranging from fishing to tourism."

"In conserving the oceans," he said, "we are not only saving a key part of the planet's life support systems and many wonderful marine life-forms, we are also playing a key role in meeting the UN Millennium Development Goals in areas from poverty eradication to hunger reduction."

"There is a natural link between diving and environmental protection, and we are working closely with Earthdive to encourage more people to bring the two together," said Coral Cay Conservation's Founder and CEO Peter Raines, an Earthdive partner.

"Recreational diving is a fast growing sport, with more than 1.5 million new divers being certified each year," he said. "Earthdive has a unique opportunity to unite this rapidly growing community in vital conservation activities, which are ultimately of enormous benefit to us all."