SNAPSHOTS OF PROGRESSAnd we won’t meet that challenge by just telling people to do something....
Transcript of SNAPSHOTS OF PROGRESSAnd we won’t meet that challenge by just telling people to do something....
OCEAN RESEARCH & CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
DRAFT
ANNUAL REPORT 2008
SNA
PSH
OT
S O
F PR
OG
RES
S
ORCA’s mission is to protect and restore marine ecosystems and the species they sustain through the development of innovative technologies and science-based conservation action.
A MESSAGE FROM KEITH & EDIE
Dear Friends,
At long last, the ORCA Kilroy has arrived in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon! To date,
we have deployed 14 prototype units which are collecting 24-hour data on the health of
this magnificent ecosystem. Despite technological setbacks, ORCA’s engineering team
has persevered and while there is still much development to accomplish we are delight-
ed with our progress thus far.
ORCA is also developing an
exciting new conservation
tool, FAST (Fast Assessment
of Sediment Toxicity), a low
cost protocol for quickly
detecting toxins in marine
sediments, so toxic hotspots
can be identified. In addition
to moving into a new para-
digm of water conservation, ORCA physically expanded as well! With support from St.
Lucie County, ORCA has opened a second facility, our Conservation Technology Center
in Fort Pierce, steps away from the Indian River Lagoon.
Financially, ORCA had an excellent year in 2008, raising funds from three diverse cat-
egories- individuals, government and foundations. As with many non-profits, we have
seen competition increase for dwindling resources, but we have invested in top notch
staff to produce excellent communications materials and an exciting strategic fundrais-
ing plan for 2009.
In recognition of her expertise in ocean related technology, Edie was asked to join the
Advisory Board for Google Earth 5.0- affectionately called Google Ocean- and that
relationship has resulted in an exciting ongoing discussion about Google’s potential
involvement in ORCA’s programs, EITS and Kilroy.
Lastly we want to thank our donors for their support.
Without your generous funding, we would not have the
resources necessary to sustain and propel our growth,
communicate to a diverse audience, and cultivate those
contacts so vital to a young non-profit’s success.
THE JOURNEY CONTINUES...
JOHN HANKEDirector Google Earth & Google Maps
ORCA HARNESSES THE POwER OF A NETwORKED COMMUNITY
we are excited about the ORCA Kilroy
because its data is available to everyone, so
groups that have disparate interests can
harness the power of the social network to
enact real change like never before. Everyone
from federal agencies to elementary science
classes can become invested in their local
aquatic resources and act together to restore
and protect them.
we also wish to thank ORCA’s Dr. Edie
widder. with her assistance, Google Earth 5.0
aka “Google Ocean” has become a textbook
example of the interface between science and
the burgeoning social networking community.
Edie’s in-the-water experience in producing
technological instruments that answer scientific
questions is just what the water conservation
community needs to enact effective change.
we at Google Earth are delighted to work
with her to bring information on the ocean
to everybody and giving them the pow-
er to make a difference in their local
community.
“The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps— we must step up the stairs.” -Vance Havner
Rarely do individuals—especially scientists of Edie’s significant caliber—have the gumption to step outside
the ivory tower and take the initiative she has in reaching the public at large. with her willingness to embrace
new technologies as with the Kilroy, with her courage in starting a venture such as ORCA, there just aren’t
too many individuals who have the backbone and the vision that Edie has. She has all the right ingredients,
but courage is the foundation for it all. Edie and I have been splashing around in various parts of the ocean at
the same point in history, and that’s partly what gives me the particular perspective that I have concerning
the mark she’s making on the world—at just the time the world needs it most.
SYLVIA EARLE World-renowned American Oceanographer
One of our planet’s most pressing environmental concerns is the
declining health of our marine ecosystems. Founded in response
to this global crisis, ORCA envisions a totally new approach to
ocean conservation— one that works “in-the-water” to directly
protect these fragile habitats from the myriad of unseen water
pollutants, toxic algae blooms and destructive invasive species.
A key priority is the ORCA FAST (Fast Assessment of Sediment
Toxicity) Program™, a new and low cost method for rapidly
identifying toxic hotspots devastating critically important
coastal habitats. ORCA will then deploy its revolutionary ORCA
Kilroy technology to track the pollution’s origin to its source.
Next, the ORCA Land-to-Sea Program will use its FAST and
Kilroy data to offer tangible solutions to coastal
residents, governments, and industries to dramatically reduce
the impact they are all having on nearby water habitats.
The concept of protecting water as “habitat” requires innovative
strategies instead of trying to apply what has worked for land con-
servation. Simply buying parcels of land and posting no trespass-
ing signs can significantly protect terrestrial habitat. This is often
not possible in the water, so tools like Kilroy and FAST must be
implemented so entire communities can understand the damage
their collective actions can have on coastal environments. On the
flip side, Kilroy and FAST allow these same communities to mea-
sure the impacts of their positive behavior-changing efforts- from
youth groups campaigning to reduce the use of phosphate soap to
home owners and farmers agreeing to reduce pesticide, herbicide,
and fertilizer use or community-wide activities to reduce polluted
runoff- Kilroy and FAST will give feedback on the significance of
their actions towards habitat improvement.
ORCA’s conservation tools can do more than track pollution. Kilroy
can detect bioluminescent organisms that are often harbingers of
toxic red tides. It can be used to monitor the density, distribution,
and movement of economically valuable ocean resources, includ-
ing shellfish, gamefish, and endangered species. Future generations
of Kilroys will have acoustic tags to identify captured and released
sea turtles, marine mammals, and stock enhancement programs.
These same tags could be used to identify vessels as they approach
Marine Protected Areas, alerting the stewards of these important
resources about visitors. Leading conservation organizations are
extremely excited by ORCA’s potential to revolutionize conserva-
tion efforts in bodies of water throughout the nation.
PRESERVE & PROTECTPROTECTING THOSE wHO CAN’T PROTECT THEMSELVES
ALExANDRA COUSTEAUOcean Conservationist
ORCA’S LEADERSHIP wILL CHANGE THE NATURE OF MARINE CONSERVATION I believe water will be the defining crisis of our
century — from droughts, storms, and floods
to degrading water quality. we inhabit a water
planet, and unless we protect, manage, and
restore that resource, the future will be a very
different place from the one we imagine today.
And we won’t meet that challenge by just telling
people to do something. Today’s environmen-
tal movement works primarily with low-tech,
low-impact tools. we haven’t reached out to
the public in an inspiring, engaging way. I am
working with ORCA to implement cutting-edge
communications tools that are truly relevant to
people’s lives. I believe Keith’s business experi-
ence combined with Edie’s technological in-
novation provides the perfect mix for coupling
conservation and impactful communication.
what has impressed me most is that they have
a clear understanding of the challenges they
need to tackle now, as well as a well thought
out plan for applying the technology of Kilroy
into meaningful conservation efforts.
TAKE ACTIONENCOURAGING BETTER LAND PRACTICES
LAND-TO-SEA INITIATIVETAKING THE NExT STEP FROM INFORMATION TO ACTION
ORCA’s Land to Sea InitiativeTM is the next step in achieving ORCA’s mission to
protect and restore marine ecosystems. Too frequently, we have witnessed scientific
presentations on water quality given to concerned citizens filled with dire predic-
tions of toxic algal blooms, loss of species diversity, and a decreased quality of life
for coastal communities. Unfailingly, the response is, “What can we do to be a part of
the solution?” The response is typically a lukewarm referral to a website that is both
unhelpful and uninspired. ORCA’s response instead is ACTION.
In response to these citizen requests, the Land to Sea Initiative will deploy an
environmental auditor to identify areas of improvement that a resident can make in
their own home. These include changes in behavior, as well as landscaping and energy
efficiency improvements. Furthermore, these recommendations will be followed by
referrals to licensed professionals and assistance identifying and receiving economic
incentives. ORCA will publicize the efforts of these proactive citizens by coordinating
press releases and hosting award ceremonies, which serves both to recognize worthy
individuals for their environmental stewardship and promotes the Land to Sea
initiative throughout the community.
ORCA recognizes that Kilroy has a potential beyond being a powerful informational
tool. The publicity and education surrounding its deployment has already caught the
interest of the citizens who see a problem with our current exploitation of our coastal
resources and want to be a part of the solution. The Land to Sea Initiative provides
those citizens with the guidance and support they need to make measurable
environmental improvements to their lifestyle and promote others to do the same.
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference” -Robert Frost
MONITOR & RESTOREREAL TIME MONITORING TECHNOLOGY AT wORK
KILROY & FAST PROGRAMS ORCA is the nation’s first nonprofit marine conservation organization dedicated to developing
“in-the-water” technologies that will provide the data resolution required for science-based
conservation to succeed. No other marine conservation organization is working to improve
marine habitat by focusing on developing technologies and conservation strategies to identify
and eliminate problems in the water.
Sediment toxins remain a significant and unmeasured component of the health of the
ecosystem. In response, ORCA has developed the Fast Assessment of Sediment ToxicityTM
(FAST) program. FAST is a “canary in a coal mine” method to assess relative toxicity of
sediment samples using broad-spectrum toxicity tests. In essence, FAST quickly identifies
pollution sinks in aquatic environments. On its own this information will identify regions of
high toxicity, but will not indicate the source of the pollution. To meet that challenge, ORCA
has developed a low-cost marine ecosystem monitoring network called the ORCA KilroyTM,
which uses state-of-the-art sensors to continuously measure an array of water quality
parameters- speed, direction, temperature, salinity, depth, turbidity and prevalence of key
micro-organisms- streaming that data via cellular signals and web-based interfaces twenty-
four hours per day. Kilroy uses 21st century technology to provide instantaneous data,
enabling conservation and enforcement managers with the critical information they need to
achieve their mission of healthy coastal environments.
Combined, FAST identifies sinks and Kilroy identifies sources. ORCA’s goal with FAST and
Kilroy is to create a web-based pollution gradient map that uses data provided by FAST to
provide a color illustration of toxic sediments along the coastal and freshwater habitats
(similar to satellite images of sea surface temperature) and overlay that information with
Kilroy data to indicate pollution sources. We believe this level of information, displayed on an
easy-to-understand web-based map will empower local stakeholders to resolve the pollution
issues in their backyard. Similar to an Adopt-A-Highway program, ORCA’s FAST sampling
sites and Kilroy networks can be set up along an entire watershed to collect data on every input
source and, for the first time, provide the information needed for each community to enforce
the Clean Water Act, provide a real-time measure of pollution, and measure the effectiveness
of pollution mitigation.
Initial development of the FAST program was funded through a grant from the Springbank
Foundation. With these funds ORCA was able to hire Dr. Beth Falls to direct the FAST
Program. Springbank’s vision and support has attracted additional program sponsors.
St. Lucie County Mosquito Control District funded a proof of concept grant, the Community
Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties awarded ORCA a two year grant to develop
a pollution gradient map of the Indian River Lagoon, and Strategic Diagnostics, the maker of
one of the toxicity assays used in the FAST program, provided an in-kind donation of supplies
to complete standardization and collection protocols.
DID YOU KNOW?LESS THAN 1% OF THE wORLD’S FRESH wATER
(OR ABOUT 0.007% OF ALL wATER ON EARTH) IS
READILY ACCESSIBLE FOR DIRECT HUMAN USE.
ADMIRAL JAMES D. wATKINS(Retired)Co-Chair Joint Commission On Ocean Policy Coastal waters are one of the nation’s greatest
assets, yet they are being bombarded with pol-
lutants from a variety of sources. Our failure
to properly manage the human activities that
affect the nation’s oceans, coasts, and Great
Lakes is compromising their ecological integ-
rity, diminishing our ability to fully realize their
potential, costing us jobs and revenue, threat-
ening human health, and putting our future at
risk. ORCA’s Kilroy is the sentinel we need to
identify and respond to pollution in the water.
The ecosystem based approach to ORCA’s
programs are the solutions needed to address
water quality issues at the local, regional and
national scale.
LESLIE LILLY PRESIDENT/CEO Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties
The innovative Kilroy system will for the first time create data that will allow greater accountability for clean water protec-
tion regulations, having a transformative effect on water protection and conservation in South Florida and beyond. Kilroy
data improves mitigation efficiency by allowing resource managers to effectively target problem areas and prioritize.
Furthermore, it provides an immediate measure of success so politicians that support Kilroy-based projects can demon-
strate responsible use of government funds for mitigation projects that result in positive change for our natural environment.
ORCA has grown remarkably fast since its inception in 2005.
The Claneil Foundation Proactive grant has enabled the organization
to grow holistically, allowing the concurrent development of a
strong communications, marketing, and fundraising team while
ORCA’s conservation and technological programs mature to the
point of deployment. ORCA’s fundraising and initial policy efforts
have been managed exclusively by fulltime volunteer Christin
Paglen, a former Nature Conservancy executive and attorney,
devoted to conservation. As ORCA’s relationships grew, ORCA’s
Social Investment department’s resources also needed to grow;
however, the priorities of sustaining the organization’s engineering
and technology innovations did not allow for that growth—until
the organization received a Claneil Proactive grant.
Support from the Claneil Foundation allowed ORCA to hire Giancar-
lo Cetrulo, a former non-profit director of the largest conservation
corps in the nation, the Los Angeles Conservation Corps. During his
nine years with the Corps, Giancarlo utilized his masters degree in
marine biology to run a marine aquarium and coastal habitat resto-
ration program through the employment of at-risk youth. Giancarlo
is ORCA’s first Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations. In
addition to writing grants, Giancarlo is creating a strategic plan for
grant solicitation to identify funding sources at federal and state
agencies as well as family and community foundations. His goal is
to prioritize ORCA’s funding needs, identify sources of income with
strong potential, research grant requirements, and coordinate with
the ORCA team to produce successful proposals. ORCA is grateful to
have someone of Giancarlo’s capabilities on board, but without sup-
port from the Claneil Foundation ORCA couldn’t sustain his efforts.
The Claneil Proactive grant also enabled us to hire Chris Hayden to
oversee ORCA’s communications efforts and to develop ORCA’s
website and social-networking capabilities. Professional communi-
cation of ORCA’s mission, programs, and needs is vital to our
success on multiple levels, from local community recognition- such
as Dr. Widder’s selection as “Environmentalist of the Year” by the
Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County, to in-depth discussions
with the chair of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, Admiral
James Watkins. After meeting with Keith and Christin Paglen,
Admiral Watkins noted, “ORCA’s presentation materials indicate
not only a great deal of professionalism, but a clear understanding
of the salient issues important to water conservation.”
Another important hire is Lauren Guerrero. Lauren is a former
marketing professional who has been hired locally to help ORCA
manage its growing relationships with major donors. One of her
primary responsibilities will be to help Christin grow ORCA’s
Kilroy Society, a network of devoted donors pledged to contribut-
ing $1,000 a year to ORCA’s mission. Led by Doug Warns (a retired
non profit executive, Audubon board member and ORCA volunteer),
ORCA’s goal is to obtain $1 million in unrestricted giving through
this giving club.
These latest members of the team will ensure that ORCA grows
sustainably and strategically. While technological challenges have
delayed the march of ORCA Kilroys across the nation, the delay has
allowed for a greater attention to be paid to sustainable fundrais-
ing, high quality communications, and the cultivation of important
contacts in those areas targeted for future Kilroy deployment.
CAPACITY BUILDINGINCREASING ExPOSURE TO INCREASE REVENUE
CONSERVATIONIN ACTION
FROM THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON TO THE NATION
The potential of the ORCA Kilroy system to revolutionize water quality monitoring and
mitigation has not escaped the attention of Florida stakeholders and they have been more
than eager to be on ORCA’s team. ORCA’s strategic plan is to use the government and com-
munity-based partnerships we are currently developing as templates for applying Kilroy to
more complex systems in the Chesapeake Bay, Mississippi River, Great Lakes, etc. That is
not to say Florida’s Indian River Lagoon (IRL) is not complex. Ecologically, it is one of the
most diverse and productive estuaries in the United States. The number of IRL stakehold-
ers are numerous, but it does not approach the complexity and abundance of water systems
that traverse multiple states and flow near cities with massive populations.
Given the challenges associated with deploying new technology and simultaneously developing
a new paradigm for communicating water quality information to interested stakeholders, the
IRL is an excellent place to get Kilroy’s feet wet. To that end, ORCA has developed strong rela-
tionships with government agencies, including St. Lucie, Palm Beach, and Martin Counties, and
Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection. These agencies have provided funding and
permits to install Kilroy monitoring systems in the IRL. Furthermore, the non-profit commu-
nity organization Indian Riverkeeper, has identified supporting ORCA’s effort to install a Kilroy
network array in the IRL as its primary objective for this year. George Jones, the Indian River-
keeper says, “As a marine conservationist for over 30 years, I have never been more excited about
the potential for a technology to help resource mangers do their jobs than ORCA’s Kilroy system…
I can think of no higher priority than putting a Kilroy network to work in the Indian River Lagoon,
and have it become a model for other Waterkeepers with the International Waterkeeper Alliance
to use in the protection and defense of their water bodies. We all need to demand clean water, and
Kilroy will help us transform the Federal Clean Water Act from a hard-to-enforce document to
the standard that all water-related actions must meet.”
The Chesapeake Bay remains our target for the next level of expansion and while ORCA is
creating the templates for Kilroy deployment and its resulting conservation programs in
Florida, its leadership, supporters and volunteers are actively pursuing relationships necessary
for transitioning into the Chesapeake Bay. These include major landowners and community
philanthropists such as Peter Stifel, as well as Tom and Anne Wyman. These well-connected
individuals have introduced ORCA to retired Admiral James D. Watkins, chair of the U.S.
Commission on Ocean Policy, Laird Wise, an engineer based in Maryland, and Ali Tyler, a
global industrialist in wastewater treatment. Independently, ORCA has developed ties to a
variety of research institutions interested in bringing Kilroy technology to the Chesapeake Bay,
including Dr. Denise Breitberg with the Smithsonian field station in Annapolis, as well as Dr.
Lou Codispotti at the University of Maryland’s Horn Point Lab who are ready to assist in the
installation of a Kilroy network once we overcome our engineering challenges.
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I –I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference” -Robert Frost
ORCA’s Duerr Laboratory for Marine Conservation
The Internet has brought
many unique benefits to
marketing, one of which
being lower costs for the
distribution of information
and media to a wider global
audience. The interactive
nature of Internet marketing,
both in terms of providing
instant response and elicit-
ing responses, is a unique
quality of the medium.
Both informative and inter-
active, ORCA’s new website
(currently under develop-
ment for launch in Summer
2009) will not only help
drive donations but also get
the public involved in saving the ocean. Our e-mail campaigns will drive those both
familiar and unfamiliar with ORCA to our website. Features on the current site,
like our Eye-in-the-Sea, enable visitors to see live deep sea activity. The world’s
first unobtrusive deep-sea observatory, is now installed 3,000 feet deep in the
Monterey Canyon 22 miles off the California coast and is sending video back to
shore and then over the internet. Also under development, and set to launch with
our new website, is the ORCA marketplace. Potential contibutors can, for example,
download our Seawatch Card, which guides consumers when making seafood pur-
chases, simply by making a small donation. Also available will be ORCA branded
items such as organic cotton T-Shirts, metal canteens, coloring books, etc. Our goal
in increasing our exposure on the web is not only to make the public aware of our
critical mission, but to increase donations and revenues in support of that mission.
Critical to ORCA’s growth are donations from individuals whose gifts, both large and
small, are also vital to our efforts to save the ocean for future generations. Key is the
recruitment of contributors to our family of ORCA benefactors who have made a lasting
commitment to our ocean by making generous donations or by naming ORCA a beneficiary
in their estate plans. Membership in our Kilroy Society and Legacy Gifting groups is a way
for us to recognize this profound
contribution to our future and a way
to thank our supporters worldwide
for their thoughtful, selfless and
generous show of support for ocean
conservation.
These special members are kept
informed about our strategies,
achievements and challenges in
protecting our ecologically important
waters. Plus, benefits such as a
personalized certificate of member-
ship, ORCA’s annual report, email
updates, exclusive event invitations
keep our members involved.
NETwORKINGwEBSITE DEVELOPMENT & EMAIL CAMPAIGNS
GEORGE JONESIndian Riverkeeper
KILROY DEPLOYMENT IS A HUGE STEP FORwARD Deployment of ORCA’s Kilroys in the Indian
River Lagoon will be a huge step forward for
improvement and restoration efforts as well
as the quality of life for area residents.
The independent nature of the Kilroy data is
essential as is its availability to everyone. Too
many environmental issues become politicized
through lack of shared information. I can think
of no higher priority than putting a Kilroy
network to work in the Indian River Lagoon,
and have it become a model for other water-
keepers with the International waterkeeper
Alliance to use in the protection and defense of
their water bodies. we all need to demand clean
water, and Kilroy will help us transform the
Federal Clean water Act from a hard-to-enforce
document to the standard that all water-related
actions must meet.
DID YOU KNOW?THE OCEAN COVERS 71% OF THE
EARTH’S SURFACE AND CONTAINS
97% OF THE EARTH’S wATER. LESS
THAN 1% IS FRESH wATER, AND
2-3% IS CONTAINED IN GLACIERS
AND ICE CAPS.
ORCA COMMUNICATIONSINCREASING VISIBILITY THROUGH PRINT & wEBThe Claneil Proactive grant has enabled us to expand and improve upon ORCA’s communica-
tions efforts and to develop ORCA’s website and social-networking capabilities. Professional
communication of ORCA’s mission, programs, and needs is vital to our success on multiple
levels, from public awareness of our ocean’s plight, local community participation,
and ultimately exposure on a national level.
KILROY SOCIETY &LEGACY GIFTING
INCREASING OUR NETwORK OF DEVOTED DONORS
DRIVING INTERNET ExPOSURE
World Ocean Day E-mail Campaign
Kilroy Society Brochure (top left) & Legacy Gifting Brochure (above)
Expenses FY 2008
86%
10%4%
ProgrammaticAdministrativeFundraising
Revenue FY 2008
41%
10%
47%
2%
IndividualsFoundationsGovernmentEducational Sales
Revenue FY 2008*Individuals
Educational Sales
GovernmentFoundations
FINANCIAL SUMMARY 2008GROwING TO FACE THE CHALLENGEIn 2008, ORCA generated revenue from a balanced array of sources—government, private
foundations and individuals. Strong financial support in 2008 allowed us to complete our
fiscal year 2008 with an operating surplus of $560,595. Our programmatic efficiency was
extremely high (especially for a new, technology driven non-profit) with 85 cents of every
dollar spent on programmatic activities. Most importantly, despite our fundraising success,
fundraising costs represented only 4% of total expenses.
Programmatic
Sources of IncomeCharitable Contributions Individuals ....................................... $661,576 Foundations .................................... $155,991Government ......................................... $758,611Educational Revenue ........................... $36,034 Total Income ......................................... $1,612,212
ExpensesProgram Activities ............................... $897,438 Research & Development ........... $772,842 Conservation Programs .............. $124,596General & Administrative .................. $107,454Fundraising ............................................ $46,725 Total Expenses ...................................... $1,051,617
* Revenue is reported on a cash basis.
CONTRIBUTING FOUNDATIONSBay Branch Foundation
Claneil Foundation
Margaret Ewell Dickins Foundation
Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund
The Educational Foundation of America
Karl G. Estes Foundation
The Florida Wildlife Research Institute
Mellam Family Foundation
Alex G. Nason Foundation, Inc.
The National Science Foundation
The Prentice Foundation
Sand Dollar Fund
Springbank Foundation
William & Karen Tell Foundation
Vieques Conservation & Historical Trust
85%
Expenses FY 2008FundraisingAdministrative
5%
PAUL MILLARWater Resource Manager, Martin County, Florida
UNPRECEDENTED POTENTIAL FOR wATER QUALITY DATA – ENABLING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO MAKE BETTER ON-THE-GROUND DECISIONSORCA is the first agency to come along with
the capability to provide real-time information
on, not only in-the-water pollutants, but toxic
sediments as well. Kilroy allows you to catch
pollution events as they occur, documenting
not only the magnitude of the impact, but its
source and downstream direction. Further-
more, Kilroy doesn’t take weekends off, call in
sick, or cancel due to inclement weather. Run-
off from storms is probably one of the larger
impacts on water quality, but it is dangerous to
collect data from a boat during these events;
not so for Kilroy. Like mail carriers, Kilroy
delivers rain or shine!
DID YOU KNOW?MARINE BIODIVERSITY EQUALS
THAT ON LAND. YET LESS THAN
ONE PERCENT OF THE OCEAN’S
HABITAT HAS BEEN PROTECTED.
INNOVATIONNEw TOOLS, NEw DISCOVERIES
ORCA’S EYE-IN-THE-SEAWe have explored less than 5% of the deep ocean. There are great discoveries to be
made and great resources to be tapped: new species, new pharmaceuticals and new
industrial compounds. In order to develop effective strategies to preserve and protect
these valuable resources we need to greatly expand our understanding. How many
animals are there living in the vast depths of the ocean that remain unknown? How
many have we never glimpsed because they outrun our nets and avoid our bright and
noisy submersibles? What are their critical breeding zones and behaviors that might
be inadvertently disrupted by human activities?
We are poised on a new frontier – one that replaces expeditionary science and snap-
shot sample collection with a permanent observing presence that can monitor and
protect our planet’s vital ecosystems. It is a grand vision of a “wired ocean” and the
ORCA Eye-in-the-Sea is at the leading edge of that vision. This novel technology,
the world’s first unobtrusive deep-sea observatory, is now installed 3,000 feet deep
in the Monterey Canyon 22 miles off the California coast and is sending video back
to shore and then over the internet. The ORCA Eye-in-the-Sea will be able to collect
data continuously for months at a time and stream the video to shore,
observing the animal life in the dark depths with as little distur-
bance as possible. There has never been a deep-sea web cam
– until now – and this major technological achievement is
exciting both scientific and public interest.
“We need to act now to reverse distressing declines if this and future generations are to continue enjoying the many benefits we derive from our oceans and coasts.” -Admiral James D. watkins
OCEAN RESEARCH & CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
LAND TO SEA INITIATIVE
FAST
ENFORCEMENT
RESEARCH
PHILANTHROPY
TECHNOLOGY
CONSERVATION
CLEAN WATER ACT
FAST ASSESSMENT OF SEDIMENT TOXICITY
EYE-IN-THE-SEA
ACTION
INNOVATION
CHALLENGE
KILROY
Duerr Laboratory for Marine Conservation • 1420 Seaway Drive, 2nd Floor • Fort Pierce, FL 34949 • phone 772-467-1600 • fax 772-467-1602
www.teamorca.orgORCA is a trademark of the Ocean Research & Conservation Association, Inc. ©2009 Ocean Research & Conservation Association. All rights reserved.