Earle’s wish for oceanic Hope Spots was facilitated by a 2009 TED award.

Earle disclosed, in her speech accepting the TED award, that, having seen 90% of ocean life vanish during her 50 years as a marine biologist, she wished to preserve “Hope Spots” in the ocean. She saw reason to believe there is still time to save the ocean from ecological destruction, but not much time.

She expressed that, when she began her career as a marine biologist, Earle had not realized such a vast resource as the ocean could be depleted.

Earle drew parallels between ocean, environmental, and outer space science.

Comparing the challenges of the ocean to those of outer space, Earle drew parallels with the technical hurdles of living under water and living in outer space. With collegial humor, she challenged fellow 2009 TED award recipient, space scientist, Jill Tarter, to accord ocean life forms as much respect as would be given any extraterrestrial life form that awaits discovery.

Earle then compared the 1872 beginning of environmental awareness, in the United States, with the start of the national park system at Yellowstone, to a start, in 1972, of a counterpart in environmental protection of the sea.

[Editor’s note: In 1972 the U.S. Congress passed the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (Ocean Dumping Act or ODA) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act amendments (Clean Water Act or CWA).
Read more on this legislation.]

Noting that most oxygen on the planet is generated on the sea, Earle noted that, likewise, the wilderness at Yellowstone, now officially protected, is providing a carbon sink, with vast areas of vegetation absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and generating oxygen.

Earle stated that due to conservation efforts, there are 4000 protected spots in the ocean. She indicates that she urged Google Earth to expand to include a map of the ocean floor.

Earle noted that, thanks to Google Earth, a computer explorer can now find these protected spots, seeing them from an underwater vantage point, in Google Earth. However, although the locations cover 340,000 square miles of ocean, one has to look hard to find them, as this is only 1% of the ocean.

In her TED acceptance speech, she stated:

I wish you would use all means at your disposal – films! expeditions! the web! more! — to ignite public support for a global network of marine protected areas, hope spots large enough to save and restore the ocean, the blue heart of the planet.

Earle’s speech accepting the TED* award may be seen here.

Click the next page number to see a trailer about Sylvia Earle’s documentary on “Hope Spots” in the ocean, entitled “Mission Blue.”

*TED, which acronym stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, is a nonprofit organization which aims to spark global change by leveraging community resources and funding, and by awarding funding to an individual with a powerful idea.