More than a dozen superyacht yards have committed to supporting an ocean-conservation program for marine mammals. In fact, the builders have committed to donating one euro per gross ton of every yacht they plan to deliver by year’s end.
The shipyards are all supporters of the Water Revolution Foundation, a non-profit driving sustainability in yachting. Specifically, the superyacht yards are Abeking & Rasmussen, Amer Yachts, Baglietto, Feadship, Gulf Craft, Heesen, Horizon, Lürssen, Oceanco, Royal Huisman, Sanlorenzo, Silver Yachts, Southern Wind Shipyards, Tankoa, Turquoise Yachts, and Vitters Shipyard. Over the summer, the Foundation endorsed funding Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs). IMMAs are habitats home to various species that need managing—balancing human activities against the species’ future—for conservation. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), comprised of global government and private-sector organizations, identifies these habitats. Notably, 159 IMMAs exist across the Southern Hemisphere. However, scientists still wish to identify areas in the Northern Hemisphere. In fact, they still need to map a total of eight more regions of the world’s oceans, besides the Northern Hemisphere.
However, since megayachts crisscross the ocean between the Caribbean and Mediterranean regularly, the Northern Hemisphere and even more so the North Atlantic are scientists’ current priorities. Their North Atlantic efforts start early next year.
So, why are the superyacht yards donating one euro per gross ton? (They will do so through the Water Revolution Foundation.) The total tonnage should be 455,000, and the North Atlantic IMMA project requires €555,000 in funding. Therefore, it’s a significant portion of that funding.
Vienna Eleuteri, the Water Revolution Foundation’s initiator and sustainability scientist, is delighted with the superyacht yards pledging to assist. They further are requesting more builders step up. “Today, an innovative approach towards ecological transition is about acknowledging the ocean-climate nexus and the central role of marine ecosystem conservation for a healthy planet,” Eleuteri says.
Water Revolution Foundation waterrevolutionfoundation.org
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