#ProtectOurBeds: We've launched a global project to facilitate seagrass conservation.
An exciting new campaign between Clean Sailors, the Ocean Conservation Trust and all-in-one navigation app, savvy navvy, supports sailors to combat climate change by digitally mapping sensitive seabeds and eco-moorings across boating hotspots around the world.
Our new global campaign, ‘#protectourbeds´, will help stop vital seagrass being destroyed. It’s about bringing greater awareness to water-users on where sensitive seabeds lie and encouraging them to minimise disruption by especially anchoring.
Seagrasses combat climate change by absorbing and storing huge amounts of carbon, but are estimated to be the fastest disappearing habitat on the planet mainly due to avoidable human activity . While starting in the UK, the campaign is now looking for data partners across Europe and the USA for the next milestone of the project
“The #protectourbeds campaign is collating geo-spatial data on sensitive seabeds and showing the information in the savvy navvy navigation app - providing sailors and water-users with a clear view of where seagrass beds are and alternatives to anchoring.
By mapping and sharing sensitive seabed locations with digital navigators, and the location of alternatives - eco-moorings - we can educate, inspire and encourage our sailing community to make more informed anchoring choices when out on the water. Making this data visible to those of us who can mitigate our impact when boating, across the world, is incredibly exciting and just makes so much sense to seagrass conservation efforts globally,” says Holly Manvell, founder of Clean Sailors.
Seagrass meadows store 10% of the ocean’s carbon and are key protagonists in the combat of climate change. They can be up to 35 times more efficient at absorbing carbon than rainforests of the same area and also provide a habitat for rare and endangered species. Despite the importance of seagrass, in the UK alone, we have lost nearly half our seagrass beds since the 1930s, mainly due to avoidable human activity.
“The Ocean Conservation Trust has been working with the boating community to conserve nature for the past decade, so we are delighted to be the scientific adviser in this project. The addition of sensitive habitat information on savvy navvy navigational charts is the first time the boating community can easily understand what lies beneath the keel. Seagrass habitats are biodiversity hotspots and in decline from multiple pressures, so providing this information to the conscientious boater is a significant step forward in the recovery of this vital Ocean habitat,” said Mark Parry, Head of Ocean Habitat Restoration at the Ocean Conservation Trust.
Users of the savvy navvy are from today will be able to see the location of existing seabeds and eco-moorings around the South West of the UK in the all-in-one navigation app. The project will build UK-wide sensitive seabed data and then focus on European waters and beyond through the course of 2023-24.
Image by Ocean Conservation Trust
“We are so excited to work with Clean Sailors and the Ocean Conservation Trust, and be one of the only navigation apps on the market helping to build environmental awareness of carbon footprint through showcasing vital seagrass data. While savvy navvy is all about simplifying boating technology by making navigation safe and easy for everyone, innovative campaigns helping boaters to make better choices when out on the water is something we feel very strongly about. This year we are looking to build one of the most insight-rich platforms on boating behaviour, helping marine businesses across the globe and the #protectourbeds campaign is a great way to kickstart this,” says David Cusworth, Head of Innovation and Partnerships at savvy navvy.
The #protectourbeds campaign is looking for data partners across Europe and the USA for the next milestone of the project. All enquiries and applications can be directed to Clean Sailors via info@cleansailors.com .
About Clean Sailors
Clean Sailors is a not-for-profit, mobilising the global sailing community in conservation of our oceans. Launched in July 2020, Clean Sailors' mission is to set a new standard of sailing within our global sailing community: clean sailing, by raising awareness of ocean conservation opportunities within our sport, our passion, our pastime.
The crew's aim is to make an ocean ambassador of each and every sailor around the world, and Clean Sailor’s already counts three-time world champion and four-time Paralympian Hannah Stodel, as well as CJ Perez, the youngest ever sailor to join the SailGP league, as ambassadors to their cause.
In 2021, Clean Sailors launched Cleaner Marina with industry partners including boatfolk, MDL Marinas, savvy navvy and Ecoworks Marine, to encourage better, cleaner standards across marinas, ports and harbours, globally. Their global platform, ReSail, connects sailors and their old sailing equipment with projects and businesses around the world who have commercial use for such second-life materials.
In January 2022, Clean Sailors announced the launch of the Clean Sailors Youth Racing Team with three international Champion sailors; CJ Perez (18) the youngest sailor ever to join the SailGP league and the first latina, Lukas Hesse (22), German Champion 2020 and Swiss sailor Jann Schüpbach (20). They made it to the Grand Finale of the Youth Foiling Gold Cup in 2022 and will be competing for the same through 2023. More information: www.cleansailors.com
About savvy navvy
Simplifying boating technology has always been the aim of savvy navvy, founded by lifelong sailor and ex Googler Jelte Liebrand. He was baffled at the amount of data sources you needed to get a clear picture of where you were, what the tide was doing, what weather to expect, how to plot your course to steer and how to find a good anchorage or marina and then how to share your plans with your buddies and family. He focused on tech that is already in the hands of most boaters. So, turning a phone or tablet into your boating buddy seemed like an obvious next step. In less than five years, savvy navvy has attracted global users from all over the world all using the app to help their experience on the water. As part of savvy navvy’s continuous growth, they have expanded to support kayakers, jet-skiers and paddleboarders with simplified navigation.
Today savvy navvy is available on Android, IOS, PC and Mac and can be used on an unlimited number of devices simultaneously. Find out more on www.savvy-navvy.com
About Ocean Conservation Trust
The Ocean Conservation Trust focuses on two key areas: habitat restoration and behaviour change. Following their ground-breaking conservation pathway that has been proven to work, the charity’s approach puts people at the centre, working hard to create meaningful connections between people and the Ocean as the first step to inspiring long-term behaviour change. This is done in tandem, with more traditional conservation work, surrounding the protecting, monitoring and restoration of crucial Ocean habitats, with a particular focus on seagrasses. Find out more on www.oceanconservationtrust.org
Through their Ocean Habitats Programme, they design, deliver and monitor active, in situ, Ocean restoration projects, reversing habitat damage and supporting habitats to recover. Their biggest and most ambitious seagrass project yet, Blue Meadows, will deliver a holistic approach to seagrass protection, regeneration and restoration.
Through their Ocean Advocacy Programme, they work tirelessly to advocate for the Ocean, creating inclusive campaigns and digital programmes so that everyone can find their Ocean connection.
Through their Ocean Experiences Programme, they use education and experience to influence perceptions of, and relationships with the Ocean, with the ultimate goal of positive, pro-Ocean behaviour.