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How Conservation Is Getting Creative

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Emma Love

Sideways image of free diver Ocean Ramsey, who floats above a smiling Great White Shark which swims towards the camera.

The ocean is the world’s largest ecosystem, yet it is at risk like never before due to rising temperatures, overfishing and declining coral reefs. Meets the passionate cohort who think it’s not too late to turn the tide.

The Artist: George Nuku

From hammerhead sharks made from transparent blue water drums to jellyfish with tentacles made of strung-together bottles, New Zealand artist George Nuku’s room-sized installation, Bottled Ocean 2123, imagined a future seascape created entirely from single-use plastic waste. It was presented at the National Museum of Scotland’s climate-focused Rising Tide exhibition in early 2024. Nuku began making these kinds of works a decade ago; since then, he’s been invited to create around 15 site-specific variations at museums worldwide, from Taiwan to Vienna.

The Diver: Hanli Prinsloo

While setting and breaking 11 national freediving records, South African freediving champion Hanli Prinsloo was also working as a social-political documentary filmmaker. “Freediving was my passion, but my job and heart was in storytelling about Africa,” she recalls. To help bridge this divide, she founded the non-profit I Am Water Ocean Conservation in 2010, which acts as a bridge between communities and the environment to empower people to become custodians of the ocean. The foundation's flagship program gives underserved children the opportunity to snorkel and learn about marine ecosystem preservation. Prinsloo also co-founded I Am Water Ocean Travel, which offers bespoke freediving trips for private clients, with a portion of the proceeds supporting the non-profit.

A diving stands on the tips of her flippers on the seabed greeting a shark in an image that overlays a photo of a jellyfish.
Diver, Hanli Prinsloo swims in a kelp forest with seals in an underwater photograph with a red frame.

The Designer: Cyrill Gutsch

A conversation with marine activist Paul Watson in 2012 inspired German-born, New York-based designer Cyrill Gutsch to take action for ocean conservation. Gutsch swiftly transformed his design agency into Parley for the Oceans, an environmental organization involving industry insiders in creating sustainable products. His first major project was a collaboration with Adidas to create a running shoe prototype made from high-performance yarns recycled from marine plastic waste and illegal gillnets. Parley also pioneered Ocean Plastic, the world’s first supply chain for upcycled marine waste, and has since collaborated with companies and governments worldwide.

The Author: Ocean Ramsey

In her 2019 book What You Should Know About Sharks, Hawaii-based author Ocean Ramsey seeks to show readers that sharks are far more complex and valuable than their often-misleading Hollywood portrayals. “As a keystone species, sharks are crucial for marine ecosystems – they keep fish stocks healthy by preying on the sick and help patrol coral reefs. But people won’t protect something they’re afraid of, so we have to address the fear first.” To do this, she co-founded One Ocean Diving, an immersive conservation program where educational dives led by Ramsey and her team of marine biologists help fund shark research and data collection.

The Photographer: Cristina Mittermeier

Cristina Mittermeier, who was a marine biologist before she stepped behind the lens, is known worldwide for her powerful conservation photography. She spends much of her time capturing images of crown-shaped icebergs in Antarctica and schools of jacks in French Polynesia. She is also the co-founder of SeaLegacy, a nonprofit that uses storytelling campaigns to raise awareness about ocean conservation. Next, Mittermeier will embark on an expedition aboard SeaLegacy I, the boat she owns with her husband, conservation photographer Paul Nicklen, to document the traditional Maori practice of rahui – restriction zones established to protect coral reefs and ecosystems.

KEEP READING

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Author

Emma Love specialises in writing about travel, interiors and design. She is a contributing editor at Conde Nast Traveller and Elle Decoration.

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