2021: We made it. 2020 proved to us that there’s no more time to look back on what’s happened before moving forward. We need to change the course we are going on, and we need to do it now. What’s that going to take?

A different mindset, approach, and view on the word “time.” We’ve never had to move faster than we do right now… And at Beneath the Waves, we’ve assembled the team to do it. We’re out on the water, we’re in the boardroom, and we’re in our communities figuring out the most innovative, epic, engaging ways to bring sharks—and ocean conservation—to you. Now’s our time to shine, and we’re going all in. Welcome to our version of the Decade of Ocean Science. Who’s with us?

So, what is the Decade of Ocean Science, anyway? Starting January 1, we entered what the United Nations are officially declaring the “Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.” Through 2030, this new decade marks a global effort to reverse the damage and decline in ocean health and abundance. To achieve this, it will take all of us—beyond just the ocean community—to come together and adopt a framework for collaboration, support, inclusion, and innovation: from the largest nations to the smallest. And as our human populations continue to increase, we need to act quickly and intelligently, together.⁠
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That’s where science comes in. This decade is dedicated to doubling down on research and understanding, to create adaptation strategies and informed policy responses to our global ocean changes. And at Beneath the Waves, we take science and innovation pretty seriously. ⁠Our research is not only cutting-edge, but policy-relevant. We want to explore new regions, discover new species, advance scientific baselines, reveal healthy habitats and never-before-seen interactions… Because we believe that optimism, resilience, and intrigue are some of the most powerful tools for inspiring change. ⁠
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And, we know that this change is possible. Over the last decade, we’ve seen amazing recoveries of large sharks in The Bahamas due to the protections of The Bahamas Shark Sanctuary, alongside the amazing opportunities for economic and ecosystemic restoration that those sharks have created. ⁠Our ocean—and our planet—aren’t doomed. Far from it. But, we’re not off the hook yet. It’s time to get to work.