newsletter

Dear Friend,
Oceans of thanks! You donated over $15,000…and climbing! The Robert & Lisa Margolis Family Foundation will match your generosity with a gift of $10,000 to support our ocean research. Our #GivingTuesdayNow gratitude runs deeper than the Mariana Trench.

In case you missed it, in celebration of the global day of unity, we hosted a couple of fascinating guest speakers and conversations with Geoff Shester, Oceana and David Helvarg, Blue Frontier.

We are still short of our goal. Though #GivingTuesdayNow may be over, we will continue to accept donations towards the campaign through the end of the month as part of Firespring’s Nonprofit Matching Fund Initiative. Don’t forget, we are sending a MARE-branded face mask to all donors over $100, and the top 5 donors will receive a specially-designed mask.
Take care and best fishes,

Dirk Rosen
Founder and Executive Director
Individually, we are one drop.
Together, we are an ocean.
​
Support ocean research for a resilient blue planet. Donate today!

Dear Friend,

On this Earth Day, we honor bold actions taken 50 years ago to collectively work towards a healthier planet, and recognize the challenges that lay ahead. In this moment, with the world on pause, we have a unique opportunity to reflect on our blue planet. We get to watch nature recover right before our eyes, as bird song returns and the air clears.

During these last weeks the ocean, the great ventilator of the planet, has been given room to breathe. This is a great reminder that nature is resilient and can bounce back quickly. Perhaps it will inspire us to be bolder as we look towards our new future.

In the spirit of this vision, and as we celebrate our blue planet this week, MARE is excited to announce the launch of the Deep Sea Robotic Challenge. With this pilot program, being piloted by students at Richmond High School, we strive to inspire the next generation of innovators to help solve marine research challenges. And you can help too! If you are interested in learning more and joining our team as a mentor or judge, please contact Natasha Benjamin.

Dirk Rosen welcoming students to Deep Sea Robotic Challenge

Take care and best fishes,

Dirk Rosen

Founder and Executive Director

YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!

“The sea, the great unifier, is man’s only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: we are all in the same boat.”
– Jacques Yves Cousteau

I hope this email finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. As everyone is navigating new waters during this time, MARE wanted to share how our work has been directly impacted by COVID-19. Please see this letter from our Executive Director and Founder, Dirk Rosen.

OCEAN FORECAST

Scientists say that oceans could be restored by 2050
Some good news to report – the ocean is resilient! Scientists have reported that we have the tools to restore the ocean by 2050. This includes protecting large swathes of ocean to allow fish species to recover.

Could COVID-19 help fisheries recover?
The pandemic has left many boats unable to leave the harbor and an 80% reduction of commercial fishing in some areas. Fishermen around the world will suffer from this global slowdown of the commercial fishing industry, However, for the world’s fish populations—and the scientists trying to revive them—this unplanned fishing pause presents a research opportunity.

STAYING SALTY

Podcast for other 71% of the Planet
Check out Rising Tide: The Ocean Podcast, hosted by Blue Frontier’s Executive Director, David Helvarg. You will meet today’s ocean champions to discuss climate change, overfishing, and plastic pollution.

And don’t miss “Know The Rules of the Game for Intelligent Ocean Management” Podcast with part of the MARE Team.

Bring the Ocean Straight to your Couch
While we may not be able to get to the ocean right now, the International Ocean Film Festival is bringing the ocean to you! They have made a special collection of highlights and award winning films to enjoy at home.

We will have to wait for the sea cucumber film on the big screen, but for now we are making this short film on ocean research collaboration available to you!

And join MARE for deep sea virtual Blue Drinks on Thursday April 16th!

OCEAN INNOVATORS

In the mean time we are enjoying the creativity of our followers! Thank you to everyone who participated in the Underwater Robot Challenge. You can still submit your ideas to natasha@maregoup.org. Please send drawings, the name of your robot and how it will save the ocean.

Our gratitude goes to you, our MARE family, for enabling us to better understand our ocean wilderness! Again, best wishes to you and your family during these difficult times.

Dear Friend,

During these challenging times we are thinking of everyone who has been affected by this pandemic and are very grateful to the health workers and others on the frontline putting their lives at risk. We are also thinking of families and friends who are directly impacted by the coronavirus.

I am also filled with gratitude and appreciation for you, our supporters and fellow ocean lovers. Over the coming weeks, we will be leaning further into our mission to Explore, Discover and Protect our ocean, bringing the deep sea to you in more creative ways. We hope you enjoy the awareness, education, and engagement we will virtually offer. Please follow us online (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn) for some ocean-minded distraction during these difficult times.

We hope that you are all staying safe and healthy… and for now please enjoy our first installment in this renewed outreach with a recent podcast featuring MARE’s Kellie Aamodt, Natasha Benjamin, and Erin O’Toole – with thanks to Desiree Patno and her organization NAWRB for the opportunity.

Wishing you health,

Dirk Rosen
Founder and Executive Director

Dear Friend,

Sea cucumbers need love too! Although they might not have the same charisma as marine megafauna, these invertebrates are an important player on the seafloor. Don’t miss MARE’s world premiere of Warty Sea Cucumbers: A Story of Collaboration in California showing on March 15th at the International Ocean Film Festival. This is a story of hope and collaboration to save one of California’s critical fisheries before it’s too late!

MARE’s new film showcases California’s collaborative research efforts bringing together commercial fisherman, a deep diving ROV and scientists to gather data and identify strategies to sustainably manage this critical resource.

Dear Friend,

As we reflect back on our year, we are proud of what we were able to achieve with your support. Check out MARE’s 2019 Impact Report to find out more.

These accomplishments underscore just how much we still need to learn about our deep sea. As we look ahead, we resolve to do more to explore, discover, and protect our ocean.

You are the key to saving the ocean and we are grateful for your continued support. We hope you continue to make ocean a priority in the year to come.

Wishing you a healthy, prosperous 2020!

Sincerely,

Dirk Rosen
Founder and Executive Director

Happy holidays from the MARE Team

Oceans of joy and exploration this holiday season!

Dear Friend,

Dive into MARE’s 2019 Impact Report to learn more about last year’s deep sea expeditions…

Oceans of gratitude to our supporters who share in these achievements. You are our heroes! This work would not happen without your support.

Please consider MARE in your holiday giving and invest in ocean exploration, discovery, and protection!

Sincerely,

Dirk Rosen
Founder and Executive Director

Dirk Rosen welcoming students to Deep Sea Robotic Challenge

Take care and best fishes,

Dirk Rosen

Founder and Executive Director

YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!

Dear Friend,

MARE is excited to release a new video showcasing a collaborative research project studying California’s warty sea cucumber! This project was a unique partnership with California Department of Fish & Wildlife, the National Park Service, sea cucumber fishermen and MARE.

Sea cucumbers are an important component of the sub-tidal zone in Southern California, feeding on benthic waste and recycling nutrients. ​Similar to other sea cucumber fisheries around the world, demand is increasing, while the resource is becoming less abundant.

CLICK HERE to see video highlighting a research partnership between fishermen, resource managers and scientists.

The video showcases the results of a collaborative research project to study the population of warty sea cucumbers in Southern California. The project brought together commercial fisherman, a deep diving robotic submarine and state and federal agency biologists to gather data and identify strategies to sustainably manage the warty sea cucumber fishery.

Sincerely,

Dirk Rosen
Founder and Executive Director

Dear Friend,

Breaking news! MARE’s Aloha Challenge has been extended until the end of July. We are almost there but still need your help to bring the BATFish to Hawai’i.

When you can see a problem, you can solve a problem. MARE is bringing our BATFish and 15+ year MPA experiences to Hawai‘i to look further, deeper, and more intently in order to develop effective solutions.

Join us in our quest to bring critical information to Hawai’i’s bold plan to effectively manage 30% of its waters by 2030. One week left to support our work to ensure a vibrant, sustainable Hawai’i for generations to come.

We are $20,000 away from achieving our goal and your gift will be doubled with a matching Peter J Davis Family Foundation of the Marin Community Foundation!