Ocean Conservation

Water Revolution Foundation guides the superyacht industry in supporting
only the most impactful ocean conservation initiatives.

OCEAN CONSERVATION AND THE SUPERYACHT INDUSTRY

Our united passion for the water is the very reason our industry exists. We are intrinsically connected to the oceans and our future relies on their health.

But the very environment we treasure is in danger. The oceans are ailing. Overfishing, pollution and negligence is putting immense pressure on the marine world. Without urgent help, it will be too late to turn the tide. To continue enjoying the oceans, we need to work together to safeguard them. Our industry, with its innate connection to the water, is in a unique strategic position to take action and help shape a better future. That’s why we work alongside conservation institutions at the highest level to guide the superyacht industry towards supporting the most impactful initiatives.

Our vision for ocean conservation

At Water Revolution Foundation, we understand that the challenges facing our oceans are also the challenges of our own industry. Alongside our efforts to reduce the footprint of the superyacht industry, we recognise that for a well-rounded approach and a sustainable future, we must also directly invest in conservation efforts. We are intrinsically linked to the water and it is only logical and right that we treat this crucial natural resource with the care and attention it so urgently deserves.

We are in a fortunate position to create change – the very nature of our business means that we are naturally passionate about the oceans, and we are also blessed with some of the world’s most affluent and influential clients, who care deeply about shaping a healthier future for our marine environment.

This is our opportunity to take on a stewardship role for the oceans and make them a key stakeholder of our industry. We need to shift from viewing ocean conservation as philanthropy to understanding that it is, in actuality, an investment. We need to beyond only reducing our impact so that we can secure our common future. Only then can the superyacht industry succeed in becoming sustainable.

We know that to make a real difference, this needs to be a collaborative effort. We follow the directions set by UNESCO and IUCN, leading international institutions that understand the leading role our industry can play. We also have a scientific advisory board, comprising of some of the most renowned researchers in the field of ocean conservation, determined to help the superyacht industry optimising its strategic position and positive impact. By joining forces and aligning our efforts, the superyacht industry can truly become a force for positive change.

By following the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the United Nations, and by working closely with the scientific community, we support the oceans at the highest possible level, taking care to invest in the initiatives that truly make a difference. This is the only way we can create true change.

We see a vital role for ourselves as connectors, directing support to the most relevant and effective projects. Our first endorsed project, the Important Marine Mammal Areas programme, exemplifies this approach.

Getting to grips with the issues we face

We need to fully understand a problem before we can solve it. That’s why ocean literacy is a big part of our work. Ocean literacy ensures that we all understand our influence on the oceans and similarly, the ocean’s influence on us. Education is a vital building block when it comes to improving ocean health.

Influenced and guided by ocean literacy frameworks at the highest scientific levels, including the United Nations and UNESCO, we want to arm our industry with knowledge, promoting a deeper understanding of the issues we face and raising awareness about the ways our own industry can reduce its impact.

This is our opportunity to create an engaged superyacht industry which actively wants to take a collective responsibility in protecting our precious oceans. We look forward to launching our ocean literacy educational programme in 2021.

Support the IMMA programme

The Important Marine Mammal Areas programme is our first endorsed ocean conservation project. It aims to support the restoration of the balance of life in the ocean by identifying the most important marine habitats for marine mammals and prioritising them for conservation actions. This will help marine mammals thrive and, in doing so, fight climate change.

We encourage the superyacht community to support the IMMA programme by contributing to our crowdfunding campaign.

Between

30-35%

of critical marine habitats have already been destroyed

31%

of CO2 emissions in the
atmosphere are absorbed by
the oceans

If the concentration of atmospheric CO2 continues to increase at the current rate, the ocean will become corrosive to the shells of many marine organisms by the end of this century
Ocean acidification may render most regions of the ocean inhospitable to coral reefs, affecting tourism, food security, shoreline protection, and biodiversity.
By the year 2100, without significant changes, more than half of the world’s marine species may stand on the brink of extinction.

Between

30-35%

of critical marine habitats
have already been destroyed

31%

of CO2 emissions in the
atmosphere are absorbed by
the oceans

If the concentration of atmospheric
CO2 continues to increase at the
current rate, the ocean will
become corrosive to the shells of
many marine organisms by the
end of this century
Ocean acidification may
render most regions of the
ocean inhospitable to coral
reefs, affecting tourism, food
security, shoreline protection,
and biodiversity.
By the year 2100, without
significant changes, more
than half of the world’s
marine species may stand on
the brink of extinction.
Source: UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission