Sea Change Row

To achieve the #GlobalGoals, we should not ignore more than 70% of the planet.🌍 The ocean is alive, and we are connected to it in every way. No matter where on earth you live, we can #ActNow to #SaveTheOcean. It's time to #PutTheOceanFirst 🌊 via Ocean Innovation Challenge

In 2017 when Chip Cunliffe started working on #OceanRisk, it wasn't really a concept that many thought about, which is exactly why we worked with amazing partners to set up the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance. But it is now. It's heart-wrenching to watch the devastation of hurricane Beryl in the #Caribbean. It's also incredibly frustrating to hear/watch/read the surprise over the speed at which it formed, its intensity and the 'very warm ocean'. Given the Ocean has absorbed 90% of the heat from our carbon emissions, did we think that this wouldn't happen? At the UN's recent World Ocean Day event, Prof Johan Rockstrom (PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research) said that daily sea surface temperatures are dramatically deviating away from what they were before and the speed and interconnectivity of change are deeply inter-related, making what is going on in the Ocean extraordinarily concerning -- extraordinarily. The buffers that this now stressed system has been freely providing, are breaking down. It is the most exposed countries of the V20 that are bearing the brunt, with economies and communities devastated, indebted and having to claw their way back before the next storm hits. And this year, the hurricane season has just begun. In a year in which climate finance and investing in adaptation and resilience are supposed to be at the top of the international climate agenda, what will happen over the next several months will be incisive - at the same time, the countries hit by this season's Atlantic hurricanes will be desperately trying to recover. The Caribbean has the potential to be at the leading edge for investments into marine Nature-based Solutions. Coastal Ecosystems like reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, wetlands & saltmarshes play a critical role in coastal protection, and nature – our planet’s premier engineering firm - has been working on refining these adaptive infrastructure solutions for millenia.  They are a first line of defense against storm surge and sea level rise and are critical to sustaining local livelihoods, communities and their economies, and protecting the most vulnerable, especially women and girls. A 2019 study concluded that coral reef and mangrove restoration projects in the region are 10 to 100 times cheaper than artificial coastal defenses - the median costs for coral reef restoration in the Caribbean are USD$1million/km compared to USD$19m/km for artificial breakwaters and levees. (Narrayan et al. 2019). The CCRIF SPC (formerly the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility) found that, in 7 out of the 8 countries examined, reef and mangrove restoration were among the most cost-effective approaches for coastal risk reduction and adaptation. My thoughts are with all our partners and friends in the #Caribbean, and how we can all work together to build coastal and ocean resilience to meet the challenges we all now face.

1️⃣ Week One: it feels like yesterday - and also years ago - that we set off from Tower Bridge to such incredible support from our friends and families and had a glorious row down the #Thames (highlight being a #porpoise 🐬 spotted at sunset just after coming under the Dartford crossing)!! Let's be honest, since then it hasn't been the week we'd hoped for - but boy have we learned a lot... about the #ocean 🌊, about our boat 🚣♀️, about one another and about ourselves. 💨 Facing 20kn onshore winds on day 2 while navigating between the #shipping channel 🚢 and the land ⛱️ was a significant test requiring quick thinking, rapid deployment of equipment and some troubleshooting on the fly. 🤢🥱 dealing with this so early meant it came on top of nausea and sleep deprivation as our bodies hadn't had a chance to adjust to the sea yet. This made it waay tougher than it would have been even just a few days later. Everyone did brilliantly but we lost an oar and damaged one of our most important ropes which was a blow so early on! 🕐 24 hours later we were experiencing just how satisfying it is to eat up the miles as we pushed past Dover at the end of a favourable tide... little thinking we'd be back a day later and still here at the end of the week ⏳️ So much to be said about having to make the call to come into a marina so early on, but we've seen it as just another element of the #challenge to be dealt with, and have made the most of the opportunity to get truly #shipshape for what's to come in the weeks ahead. Our oar is recovered and our rope fixed🪢, our cabins sorted and organised, a few improvements made to our set-up, and everyone fighting fit and raring to go again... hopefully in just 24 hours time 🤞🤞🤞🤩 GB Row Challenge Kat Bruce Madeline Craig Jess Mc Iver Lorena Nichols Chrissy Durkin Aoife Luscombe Sponsors: Silverstrand Capital Walking Softer Nature4Climate OSB Group ERM Ørsted RWE Ecosulis Kelp Blue Islandbridge #VLSCapital Agathos Management LLP Inspirit Capital #locus Partners: NatureMetrics WildMon Better Worlds Krenshaw Films Nature Tech Collective Harwin RS Aqua Ltd Porvair Filtration Group Simply Sustainable #seachange #ocean #adventure #expedition #oceanrowing

We didn't expect to be here, but the incoming weather systems made it unsafe to remain at sea on the SE corner of Britain, so the Sea Change Row crew is sheltering safely in #Dover for a few days until we can carry on with our challenge to make it right the way around the coast. Making the most of the opportunity, we're looking for people to talk to! 🌊🐟 Got #stories to tell about this part of the coastline? We'd love to capture some local insights on changes people have seen in the #ocean over the last years or decades, or work that's now underway to protect / restore coastal #biodiversity and #ecosystems. 🎥 We're also happy to do video tours of our boat if there are any #school classes out there who are interested ❓️🤔💭 Got questions about our row or our boat? Ask in the comments or send us a DM and we'll post some video responses Check out our #skipperslog for the story of our journey so far... it's been more eventful than we'd have preferred!! Chrissy Durkin Madeline Craig Aoife Luscombe Jess Mc Iver Lorena Nichols

We didn't expect to be here, but the incoming weather systems made it unsafe to remain at sea on the SE corner of Britain, so the Sea Change Row crew is sheltering safely in #Dover for a few days until we can carry on with our challenge to make it right the way around the coast. Making the most of the opportunity, we're looking for people to talk to! 🌊🐟 Got #stories to tell about this part of the coastline? We'd love to capture some local insights on changes people have seen in the #ocean over the last years or decades, or work that's now underway to protect / restore coastal #biodiversity and #ecosystems. 🎥 We're also happy to do video tours of our boat if there are any #school classes out there who are interested ❓️🤔💭 Got questions about our row or our boat? Ask in the comments or send us a DM and we'll post some video responses Check out our #skipperslog for the story of our journey so far... it's been more eventful than we'd have preferred!! Chrissy Durkin Madeline Craig Aoife Luscombe Jess Mc Iver Lorena Nichols

A couple of weeks ago, I headed out on shoot with our UK projects team to see how seabirds are faring across the Solent to continue the development of an exciting new project I am working on with Blue Marine Foundation. 🎙 The conditions for recording on day one were challenging to say the least as we were met with strong winds and rain, a classic British summers day one might say? But nothing spending a day out on a boat looking for some of the rarest UK seabirds couldn't fix. A new film for the Solent Seascape Project is in the works and I look forward to revealing more about the exciting project I've been working on in due course... 👀 Thanks to the legend that is Matt Jarvis for the action shot!

It's never a straight line to success, but getting out of the way of this weather system 💨🌊 gives us the best chance of achieving our aim of getting right around the country. Hoping we won't have to be here for too long before we get going again! 👀

📣 BREAKING: Sweden Announces Historic Ban on Bottom Trawling 🇸🇪 In a groundbreaking move, Sweden has declared a ban on bottom trawling in its Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), joining the EU's Marine Action Plan. This aligns with Greece’s recent pledge to eliminate bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas by 2030. 🪸 Why This Matters: 🇪🇺 EU-Wide Initiative: This ban is part of the EU’s ambitious goal to end bottom trawling in all MPAs by 2030. 🤝 Collaborative Effort: The decision was made after extensive consultations with environmental organisations, marine scientists, and industry stakeholders. Tangible Impact: 🐟 Increased Fish Biomass: In areas where bottom trawling was restricted, fish biomass increased by up to 40%. 🌊 Enhanced Biodiversity: Seafloor biodiversity saw a rise of approximately 30%. 🎣 Economic Benefits: Sustainable fishing practices have led to a 25% increase in fishery yields in regions with similar bans. 🫧 Carbon Sequestration: Protected marine areas have shown a 20% increase in their capacity to sequester carbon, helping combat climate change. ⛴ Tourism Boost: Areas with healthy marine ecosystems have seen a 15% rise in eco-tourism, benefiting local economies. The Bigger Picture: 🐬 Environmental Impact: The ban is poised to safeguard marine ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, and promote sustainable fishing practices. 🌍 Global Movement: Nations like the UK, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Portugal are pursuing similar environmental protections. Sweden's ban on bottom trawling marks a significant milestone in marine conservation and serves as a compelling model for global environmental stewardship. 🙌 (🎬 Credit: Greenpeace International) #MarineConservation #SustainableFuture #ProtectOurOceans

Sea Change Row would like to send their immense gratitude to Emma Lloyd at Create the Ripple for her amazing generosity, kindness and support of our journey towards tomorrow’s start line 🏁 Being able to stay in accommodation together, near the boat and have the space to do all the last minute things we needed to do was just amazing 🤩 also her contribution towards a delicious meal together topped the whole experience off perfectly 🥰🫶 With all our thanks 🙏 we are in the best shape to now take GB Row Challenge on! 💥💪🙌 Follow us: www.seachangerow.earth

When the sea changes it affects the whole planet. On World Ocean Day this is our #seachange. What's yours? #ocean #oceanrowing #expedition #adventure #nature #climate #biodiversity #oceanhealth #beneaththewaves #conservation #positiveimpact #storytelling GB Row Challenge Harwin NatureMetrics OSB Group Walking Softer Silverstrand Capital Nature4Climate Krenshaw Films WaterBear Network Better Worlds Ecosulis Kelp Blue ERM Ørsted Agathos Management LLP Inspirit Capital Islandbridge Porvair Filtration Group Nature Tech Collective Lorena Nichols Aoife Luscombe Jess Mc Iver Chrissy Durkin Madeline Craig Laura Fantuzzi Basil Childers Amy Wade Lindsay Kent