In this issue:

-Message from the President of SOS

-Marine Life Conservation Districts

-Clean Oceans '98

- Save Our Seas Progress Report

- Membership Information

Message from the President

Aloha friends,

Today, John Muir's legacy is a priceless and irreplaceable series of national parks which include Yosemite, Mt. Ranier, The Petrified Forest, and the Grand Canyon National Parks. Without Muir's vision, we would be a country devoid of the natural wonders that sustain our spirit, nurture our connection to the planet, and inspire our reverence for creation.

But what about the last wilderness, our Living Oceans? What have we done to create a similar park system for the seas that sustain all life on our planet? According to Dr. Sylvia Earle, author of SEA OF CHANGE, the United States has only set aside ten (10) national marine parks. With Governor Cayetano's recent approval of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, the grand total is now a pitiful eleven (11)!

At Save Our Seas Headquarters in Hawaii, we are commencing a new campaign for the establishment of marine parks on the local, national, and international levels. We hope to complete our initial blueprint of the World's Ocean Parks for the festivities celebrating the United Nations 1998 International Year of the Ocean.

Mahalo, Teri Tico,

President Save Our Seas

MLCD's are established by the State's Department of Land & Natural Resources (DLNR), as authorized by Chapter 190 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Anyone may request the DLNR to study an area for consideration as an MLCD.

Once an area is recommended for designation as an MLCD, a number of criteria are evaluated. One of the key considerations is whether the area may be clearly delineated so it is easily recognizable for compliance and enforcement. The area must also be large enough so that fish populations can be restored even with ongoing fishing activity outside the MLCD.

The MLCD's in Hawaii are Hanauma Bay (est. 1967), Pupukea (est. 1983,) Waikiki (est. 1988), Kealakekua Bay (est. 1969), Lapakahi (est. 1979), Waialea Bay (est. 1985), Old Kona Airport (est. 1992), Manele Hulopo'e (est. 1976), Molokini Shoal (est. 1977), and Honolua-Mokule'ia Bay (est. 1978). There are no MLCD's on the islands of Kauai, Niihau, Kahoolawe, and Molokai.

The United Nations has declared 1998 the International Year of the Oceans (IYO) to draw attention to the crises afflicting our marine resources world-wide.

Depletion of fisheries, contamination of coastal waters, deep ocean toxic chemical dumping, degradation of coral reefs, air pollution (which contaminates the sea below), global warming and El Nino, and introduction of alien species (from dumping of water ballast from ships in foreign waters) are some of the issues to be addressed in conferences and symposia scheduled throughout the year.

In Hawaii, Save Our Seas is planning an Internation Year of the Ocean event in Hawaii (the Ocean State), to celebrate Oceans Day. Tentatively scheduled for June 11-14, 1998, on Maui, the Conference theme is Sustainable Fisheries and Marine Protected Areas.

Marine and fishery experts will use model marine parks to demonstrate their effect on fisheries. In Guam, for example, 10% of the coastline have been designated for protection. In Kenya, 5% of the shore and nearshore have been established as marine parks.

In Kenya, studies reveal that coral and fish abundance increased quickly within the first few years after the protected area designation. Fishers who remained in the park areas and elected to fish outside the designated boundaries (many fishers left the areas) experienced improved catches.

In the Mombasa Marine Park area, studies show that catches near the park are nearly 35 to 50% higher than father away. Consequently, the creation of the park and the spillover of fish from the park was able to partially compensate for the lost fishing grounds. Of course, the goal over time is complete compensation for fishers and the community through restoration of the marine environment.

Save Our Seas is establishing a Marine Protected Areas section on our website, so please let us know any information or ideas concerening the establishment of these underwater parks. Our hope is to create an area on our internet site to help others in the creation of marine protected areas. Your help is sincerely appreciated. Sponsors and partners are needed for the conference and the website.

I. MISSION STATEMENT

"To preserve, protect, and restore the health and well-being of the world's oceans for future generations." We incorporated under the Laws of the State of Hawaii in February 1993, and set out on our first project--open ocean recycling.

II. Open Ocean RECYCLING PROGRAM

We formulated a plan for recycling on the high seas and submitted a proposal for "onboard" recycling during the 1993 Trans Pac Yacht Race from Los Angeles to Honolulu. The Trans Pac Board of Directors not only endorsed our proposal, but made recycling a requirement and added a new regulation that any racer who threw anything overboard from a yacht during the race would cause that yacht to be disqualified from the race.

Racers were instructed to recycle paper, aluminum and glass. All other debris was kept onboard, as well. We formed a partnership with BFI Hawaii who provided the recycling and trash bins at the Ala Wai Yacht Basin, and the State of Hawaii, who provided State land for placement of the bins. At the conclusion of the race, racers disposed of their recycled items and trash at the Ala Wai and BFI took over.

The open ocean recycling program was highly successful and serves as a global role model for all ocean going vessels.

III. MARINE POLLUTION SURVEY

Simultaneous with the recycling program, we conducted a "Marine Pollution Survey." We asked the yacht racers to maintain a "log" which described any contamination sighted during the race, along with latitude and longitude of sighting. The 100 year history of the race and sightings were phenomenal. This surprised the racers the most, and increased awareness among them as to the magnitude of pollution in the high seas.

When the logs were turned in and data compiled, it was determined that 90 percent of the contamination sightings consisted of plastics--driftnets mostly. There were contamination sightings at least once every 30 minutes, everyday of the 10 day race.

IV. INTERNATIONAL OCEANS DAY

In 1992, at the Rio Conference on the Environment and Development, the United Nations declared the second Saturday in June of every year as International Oceans Day. As far as SOS could determine, no organization in the United States recognized International Oceans Day. We asked Governor Cayetano and each of the mayors throughout Hawaii to issue written proclamations declaring June 8, 1995 (and in perpetuity) as Oceans Day throughout the State of Hawaii. They did, and we have these beautiful proclamations on display at our headquarters on Kauai.

V. PROJECT "Ocean Pulse"

By far our most successful program to date, Project Ocean Pulse enlists eighth graders from public and private schools in creating databases for coral reefs around Kauai (and, as the program expands, around the world). Dr. Maragos and Dr. Brian Tissot supervised the project. Marine Biologist and assistant supervisor Karen Chandler, M.S., named the program. Thus far, Kapaa Intermediate and Kula School have participated. The students, using transects, count corals, marine life, and measure water quality. In taking personal responsibility for the reefs adjoining their communities, they become "reefkeepers" and help preserve their reefs for future generations. Not only does the program educate, but it instills pride in and respect for our oceans.

The plan is to take Project Ocean Pulse to island communities throughout the world, teach the students science, how to run transacts, to compile marine data and measure water quality.

VI. CLEAN OCEANS '96 and '97

The Save Our Seas "Clean Oceans '96 and '97" Conferences were held at the five star Princeville Hotel, Island of Kauai, overlooking beautiful Hanalei Bay, June 7-9, 1996, and June 13-15, 1997.

The conferences took place over a three day period and were divided into three themes. On Friday, we showed free films to the general public in the Princeville Theater addressing the theme "Oceans in Peril."

The theme on Saturday, was "Ocean Solutions." A series of workshops were presented addressing solutions to ocean problems. Reef Check, water quality monitoring workshops, workshops on: coral reef monitoring, marine sanctuaries, artificial reefs, the International Coral Reef Network, and various slide shows were featured. Hawaiian entertainment, a silent auction, Hawaiian chanting and blessing, buffet dinner and Keynote Address by Dr. Eugenie Clark, and in 1997 was Robert Kennedy, Jr.

The theme on Sunday, was "Ocean Fun." Conference attendees were taken down Kauai's pristine Na Pali coast via Zodiac and catamaran for a half day excursion and appreciation of the ocean while others kayaked or just had fun at the beach.

The purpose of the conferences were to bring people together and raise awareness about the world's oceans, increase communication, and create proactive solutions to problems. Our hope is to instill a united vision into varied groups and businesses in the world community. In the new millennium our vision has communities working with scientists for a principal centered tomorrow. We plan to make this an annual event.

The focus is on community education, and to have everyone working together to help the ocean.