The National Park Marino Ballenaone is one of the four marine protected areas in the peninsula (Photo: Carlos Mallo)
Thanks to the support of Rolex, ocean conservation organisation Mission Blue is able to unveil its latest Hope Spot in Costa Rica, which will allow humpback whales and other ocean giants to breed peacefully in the warm seas off the Osa Peninsula.
Mission Blue, a long-time partner of the venerable watchmaker, has established more than 130 of these Hope Spots, giving international visibility to local communities campaigning for legal protection of ecologically important areas of the oceans — those considered vital to the preservation of species or places where people rely on a healthy marine environment to survive.
The Biological Marine Corridor of Osa has been described by National Geographic as “the most biologically intense place on Earth”. The new Hope Spot has a diverse cluster of ecosystems that are essential for the survival of marine life, including the coral reefs of Caño Island, several important breeding spots for marine species, mangroves and one of the largest wetlands of the Pacific coast of Central America.
“These areas host breeding and feeding areas for a number of species of whales and thousands of other organisms like sharks, tunas, and the little creatures upon which all the rest are based. By supporting the full protection of this corridor of life along the Osa Peninsula, life itself will be enhanced,” Mission Blue founder Sylvia Earle says.
Through its global network of Hope Spots, Mission Blue’s aim is to contribute to the international goal of 30% marine protection for the oceans by 2030. Through its Perpetual Planet initiative, Rolex supports Mission Blue’s inspirational endeavour to explore, restore and safeguard the world’s oceans.
This article first appeared on Jan 10, 2022 in The Edge Malaysia.
