Santo Domingo.- Encouraging sailors to “Cruise with a Cause,” OceansWatch, an organization which has its roots in the South Pacific, is expanding into North America.  Their aim is to work with sailors, divers and scientists on projects to help coastal communities manage their marine environment and develop sustainable livelihoods.

A team of volunteers from OceansWatch has visited Trinidad, Grenada, Union Island and Bequia as they make their way across the Caribbean to end in Dominican Republic. The current assignment as a “pioneer boat” is fact finding about each area’s particular needs, making important business and governmental contacts and building cruiser awareness.

The OceansWatch mission is to work with coastal communities that request assistance.

“We don’t try to reinvent the wheel. OceansWatch partners with any organization, large and small, already in place and any project that is undertaken by OceansWatch is by invitation from that community based on their needs,” said volunteer team member Edee Dalke from the United States.

The organization works to help preserve the ocean environments and reef ecosystems where access by sailboat is the most efficient way to reach the coastal communities they work with.

“At any given time there are many cruisers in the Caribbean, all with different skills and knowledge that could be used to help local communities,” said volunteer team member Becky Treneer from England.

OceansWatch members can help with projects by volunteering scientific skills, sailing skills or offer the use of their yacht to be a part of an OceansWatch expedition or to host a scientist.

“Volunteering with OceansWatch and visiting the Caribbean for the first time, I have to say, as a biologist,  I’m really impressed by the good will of some of the yachties showing interest in hosting scientists for future missions and their level of awareness of environmental issues,” said volunteer team member Jake Navarro from Spain

Members can become involved in many different marine projects including: Reef Check monitoring, setting up Marine Protected Areas, installing yacht moorings to protect coral reefs and marine mammal surveying. OceansWatch also does humanitarian projects such as setting up sister schools, delivering school supplies, providing medical aid and installing drinking water, sanitation and sustainable energy systems.

“As a diver, I have recently completed the Reef Check training which is a simple system of reef surveying that OceansWatch is assisting with to monitor the health of our reefs. These surveys are being continued yearly and are something that any enthusiastic diver can become involved with,” said Captain Andy Clarkson, long time live aboard cruiser from England. “I have also recently been introduced to Coral Watch which is a system that requires no training and can be conducted by anyone with a mask and snorkel.”

The emphasis of OceansWatch North America (OWNA) is on projects in the Caribbean and Central and South America. Ongoing projects include Belize and Haiti. In 2011 OWNA is initiating projects to deliver supplies to schools in Haiti and Dominican Republic, with additional projects underway or planned for Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.

“I love that it is OceansWatch’s vision that all children in coastal communities have access to primary education. I have taught sailing and outdoor education to children and know that it starts there. Working with children is ensuring that future generations have awareness and knowledge of the need to protect their islands and their environment. I believe it is a key role in developing sustainable communities so that we can all enjoy them in the future,” Treneer said.

“As a recent member I have already noticed how worthwhile it is to be actively working in these areas and responding to the needs of local communities, knowing you are making a difference,”  volunteer Mike Cormier (Canada) states.

By becoming an OceansWatch member you join a global network of sailors, divers, environmentalists, academics and other concerned people who want to help save the oceans.. Memberships start at only $25US and members then receive a newsletter and learn all about opportunities to join projects and receive guidance on being an environmentally friendly sailor.  Members are also offered opportunities to attend workshops to up-skill themselves so that they can more effectively assist in marine conservation and humanitarian projects.

Members also have access to the Members Only area on the web site which includes training materials, learning resources about climate change, reef ecology, etc, a range of resources to help teach kids and guidelines for marine mammal sightings.

Founder and CEO, Chris Bone of New Zealand started OceansWatch to fill a void he saw in the South Pacific Islands. During a time as a super yacht ship captain, he was personally impacted when sailing into a harbor in New Zealand on the day of the attack and sinking of Rainbow Warrior. The idea of OceansWatch evolved in following years as captain of a Greenpeace vessel and many other sailing excursions. OceansWatch members have made a real difference in several communities in the South Pacific working with communities in Vanuatu, The Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

“I became involved after meeting Chris Bone in New Zealand and have witnessed its achievements and the good that it has done in Melanesia,” Clarkson said. “I believe that with the help of like-minded cruisers in the Caribbean and Central America OceansWatch can be a beneficial force here too”.

Expansion into North America is being overseen by OWNA president Donna Lange of the United States, an avid sailor and solo circumnavigator.

OceansWatch North America, Inc. is a 501c3 tax exempt charitable corporation so membership dues, donations and gifts are US tax deductible as allowed by IRS tax regulations. It is an all volunteer and donor funded organization. For more information or to become a member, go to www.oceanswatch.org