2009 TED Prize winner Sylvia Earle aims to raise awareness of the need to protect ocean environments -- from shallow dappled reefs to the oceans’ deepest places --through Mission Blue

Less than one percent of the ocean falls within a marine protected areas, according to recent estimates. And of that, only a small fraction is fully protected and set aside for marine wildlife. But Sylvia Earle and Mission Blue want to change that statistic.

“The ocean is in trouble, and therefore so are we,” says Earle, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and a renowned marine conservationist.

Earle is the driving force behind Mission Blue, an organization dedicated to igniting global public support for efforts to save our oceans. Earle calls our oceans the “blue heart of the planet”. Mission Blue aims to create “Hope Spots” -- protected marine sanctuaries -- that will provide respite for marine species and habitats.

“Marine protected areas are places in the ocean that merit special protection because of their wildlife and important underwater habitats. They provide hope for the ocean, hope for us. Each hope spot can give the ocean respite from human impacts, and a chance to recover and to flourish.”

Mission Blue recently launched a first-of-its-kind sea voyage conference aboard the National Geographic Endeavour. It was an opportunity for like-minded people to come together and discuss, plan and dream of a healthier ocean.

Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Fisher Stevens, explorer-filmmaker Jean-Michel Cousteau, Leonardo DiCaprio, Glenn Close and Chevy Chase were among more than a hundred global leaders, marine scientists, deep-sea explorers and environmentalists who joined Earle for the four-day conference.

Co-sponsored by TED, the Mission Blue Voyage to date has received over $15 million in pledged funds to further protect ocean wildlife habitats in areas like the Galapagos Islands, the Arctic and the Sargasso Sea. The Mission Blue plans also include broad programs for education and long-term research into the state of marine ecosystems.

Over 20 TED talks were recorded during the conference. I for one can’t wait to see every one when they are released later this year.

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