Learn, connect and act for our oceans in the Ocean Missions new exhibition room
By Belén Garcia Ovide, Safina Center Junior Fellow
How valuable is a whale´s life ? How much oxygen comes from the sea? Is it too late to save our oceans? Are whale watching activities sustainable in Iceland? There are so many important questions to answer and messages to spread!
Exhibition reception and plastic projects. Photo by Belén Garcia Ovide
Húsavík, a small town at the edge of the Arctic, is a major attraction for visitors from all over the world that come here to see whales. Yet, if we want these whales to keep coming every summer, we need to make sure we protect their natural feeding grounds. In this context, education and outreach play a fundamental role for both locals and tourists. For this reason, we created a public space in the harbor area where science, art, and education merge to inspire like-minded spirits and lead the change towards sustainability.
Data analysis facilities for zooplankton and microplastic preliminary studies. Photo by Belén Garcia Ovide
The Ocean Missions exhibit is a place that calls all change makers worldwide! It is a space to share passions and dreams, to discuss problems and to transform words into actions. It is a modest but fascinating room where people can read about our conservation efforts in Iceland and how to get involved. There is a peaceful library with the most inspiring books of our times and all kinds of art sculptures made out of trash that we find in the most remote beaches in Iceland.
One of the ideas is to provide opportunities for nature lovers to give back to nature when they are traveling or living in Iceland. We are far from delivering our promise to protect 30% of our lands and oceans by 2030 and in Iceland, less than 1% of the marine areas are protected. For this reason, this year we are launching signature campaigns to protect puffins from commercial hunting and to support the creation of the first Hope Spot in Iceland. These are open petitions available on the exhibit and on our website.
Hope Spot project on display. Photo by Belén Garcia Ovide.
Signatures on the petition to support the protection of Skjálfandi Bay in Húsavík. Photo by Belén Garcia Ovide
We are acting locally , empowering the communities and spreading awareness globally. By educating about the oceans, we highlight the values of the coastal landscapes in order to protect marine spaces and its biodiversity!
Early this month I went to the NordMar Plastic Final Conference of the Ocean in Reykjavík to present the inauguration of the exhibition and our local educational programs with kids and sailing expeditions. The initiatives were very well received by the local ocean community and bonds were created with local institutions to keep working together for similar projects in the future!
Because the only way to predict the future is to create it!
Local art on display to raise awareness on how plastic harms marine animals. Photo by Belén Garcia Ovide
Games and individual environmental challenges for kids and adults. Photo by Belén Garcia Ovide