On Earth Day, PADI announced the PADI Blueprint for Ocean Action, the conservation strategy outlining the organizational commitment for creating and implementing solutions to tackle the key threats facing the ocean.
By engaging millions of PADI Torchbearers passionate about saving the ocean and joining forces with like-minded global partners, together we’ll drive local action for global impact, helping to restore balance between humanity and ocean.
PADI and National Geographic Pristine Seas have partnered together with the goal to protect at least 30 percent of the ocean by 2030 through the creation of new marine protected areas (MPAs). This alliance will help advance PADI’s conservation and dive industry sustainability targets under the PADI Blueprint and PADI’s Pillars of Change respectively and provide an unprecedented opportunity for dive centers and resorts around the world to protect their local dive sites.
The foundation of the partnership is a global study of the economic benefits of the dive industry on local communities.https://www.youtube.com/embed/lX3BsO8mQaY?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fpros-blog.padi.com
In order to complete this study, PADI will call on the global network of PADI Dive Centers and Resorts to participate in the survey that will collect the data necessary to prepare a comprehensive economic analysis of diving across the globe.
By working together, PADI operators around the world have the power to protect the global ocean.
To provide the most accurate value of diving and dive tourism globally, we will need full participation from all PADI Dive Centers and Resorts. The higher the economic value that can be shown, the more powerful the data/study will be in advancing protection measures for the ocean and creating new MPAs.
“PADI ‘Mission Hubs’ play a critical role in our Blueprint for Ocean Action and are key stakeholders in the push for increased protection measures for the underwater world,” says Drew Richardson, President and CEO of PADI Worldwide. “Each PADI operator brings unique insights, local expertise, community leadership and unparalleled passion for our ocean. By coming together as a unified force, the PADI community in partnership with National Geographic Pristine Seas will provide unprecedented data, perspectives and skills to drive long-term ocean protections.”
This first-ever economic survey of the dive industry can create new MPAs around the globe.
Led by researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Simon Fraser University, this analysis will be used to inform governments how the creation of MPAs can create jobs and produce important economic outputs locally.
Utilizing the economic evaluation data derived from the survey, National Geographic Pristine Seas and PADI will create resources that PADI Dive Centers can use to advocate for the protection of their dive sites. Often located in coastal areas, these waters are invaluable to the community and the local economy.
Measurements of success will go beyond the number and size of new MPAs created. National Geographic Pristine Seas and PADI plan to co-develop a monitoring program to ensure long-term impact. A monitoring program will be required to measure progress and identify learnings that will help others accelerate effective protections and build more resilient dive communities.
In 2020, founder of Pristine Seas and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, Enric Sala, approached PADI with the idea to join forces to protect the ocean, combining his vision and proven track record of successfully creating MPAs with the global footprint and extensive reach of the PADI community around the globe.
To date, National Geographic Pristine Seas has worked to protect an area over 6 million square kilometers through the creation of 24 MPAs.
PADI Dive Centers and Resorts are critical stakeholders in their local economies and their leadership, together with the influence and expertise of Enric Sala and his team at National Geographic Pristine Seas, can be a catalyst for lasting change for a return to a healthy ocean and balanced marine ecosystem.
“Ocean conservation benefits everyone, especially the diving sector. We are excited to partner with PADI and all their dive centers, resorts and professionals worldwide to foster the protection of popular dive sites all around the world,” said Enric Sala.
The Dive Industry Economic Evaluation Survey will be available to PADI Dive Centers and Resorts through the remainder of the year. To learn more about the project and take the survey, please visit www.padi.com/takethesurvey
The post PADI Dive Centers Play a Critical Role in the new PADI® and National Geographic Pristine Seas Partnership Aimed at Protecting at least 30 % of the Ocean by 2030 appeared first on PADI Pros.
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