Sent 8 October 2017. Part of Little Blue Letter.

"Defend the ocean like your life depends on it, because it does!"
~ Sylvia Earle

Last week saw ocean influencers stream into Malta for the 4th Our Ocean Conference. Highlights included the announcement of huge new marine protected areas (totalling a whopping 2.5 million square kilometres), €7.2 billion worth of commitments (full list here), and show-stopping speeches from John Kerry and Prince Charles. Also, check out this 400kg whale made out of marine debris!

The Sustainable Ocean Alliance organised the Youth Leadership Summit in the sidelines, bringing the next wave of ocean leaders together with current ocean champions. The 100-strong cohort participated in workshops, developed ocean solutions, and strengthened their leadership skills (read some participant reflections here and here). After the summit, those staying on practiced what they preach, organising an impromptu beach clean-up.

Across the Atlantic, the UN Secretary-General has appointed a Special Envoy for the Ocean.

Gif of the week

Optimism
Coral Vita is restoring reefs by growing and transplanting healthy and resilient coral. Pret a Manger asks: What if we stopped selling bottled water? Women4Oceans celebrate Day of the Girl with this inspiring little video.

Opportunity
The UN is looking to appoint 17 Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The leaders will become part of a “brain trust”, advocating for the SDGs and promoting innovative communication strategies. Find out more, and apply to represent the Ocean SDG here. Feeling over the hill? You can still support the program.

Meanwhile, on land…
A Stanford University study found that changing behaviors may be easier when people see norms changing - “Just learning that other people are changing can instigate all these psychological processes that motivate further change.” 

Further reading
‘No-take marine reserves are the most effective protected areas in the ocean’. This new study shows that there are, on average, 670% more fish in these reserves than in adjacent unprotected areas, and 343% greater than in partially-protected MPAs. Read the full paper here.

Hello! You just read the first ever edition of Little Blue Letter, you lucky thing! This is a new initiative that emerged from the Our Ocean Youth Summit. It is a splash of uplifting ocean stuff, lovingly curated by young ocean leaders and shipped straight to your inbox every Friday. Please do encourage other ocean lovers to sign up and follow along on Twitter.