Ocean Conservation Expedition: September 7-10
Before we even set sail from Mulgrave on September 7 our expedition was off to a hustling start. While we continued to pack and prepare the ship for our 22 day journey around the eastern coast of Nova Scotia and into the Bay of Fundy we were visited by Aaron Beswick from Saltwire. Aaron took the time to talk with our expedition leader, Geoff Green, about our Ocean Conservation Expedition and the importance of highlighting the ecological diversity of this area. Make sure you check out Aaron’s article here.
That evening we set sail along Nova Scotia’s east coast and into the Eastern Shore Islands region, our first stop was at Wolfes Island. Islands like this one are surrounded by rich beds of eelgrass, kelp, and salt marsh that provide important habitat for many marine species. Along with the rest of the archipelago, Wolfes Island provides important nesting and foraging ground for many colonial seabirds and shorebirds. Our visit there supports our project partners at the Canadian Wildlife Service and the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources. It also allows for the collection of water samples for eDNA analysis, as well as of core sediment samples, which will allow for a better understanding of the diversity and presence of species in this area. This will also give us some insights to the natural history of one of the last remaining intact and ecologically rich island groups of its size in North America.
After exploring the 100 Wild Islands we set our sights to Halifax. In the Great Harbour (also known as Kjipuktuk in Mi’kmaq) we spent the day engaging with community members at the One Port City Day, an event put on by the Port of Halifax. There, we were joined by our partners Miawpukek Horizon Maritime Services, Ulnooweg, and Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. It was great event and an amazing opportunity to teach some of the public about the sustainable blue economy, the UN’s 30X30 designation, and the role SOI is playing to help achieve that. We also learned about Katal Energy, whose innovative green fuel solution is used in the Polar Prince, the ship we’re traveling on!
“The goal is to showcase the wonders of these parts of the world, the ocean and why it’s so important that we take care of our ocean.” – Geoff Green
Many new participants joined the expedition in Halifax. They’re researchers, artists, staff and crew. That evening, after a brief round of introductions, we talked about the ocean’s meaning for each of us. For some, the ocean is home that inspires poetry, for others it’s a grounding place. The ocean also represents adventure and possibilities for some participants. Ultimately, the ocean is life, because it’s that important. So, what does the ocean mean to you?
Bubbling with excitement and anticipation, we made out of the port, and continued our journey along the east coast to our next stop, St. Andrews-by-the-sea.
To view the full expedition page click here.
To view the full photo gallery for this portion of the expedition click here.