Rolex Mission Blue Galápagos Expedition: A Dedication to Safeguard Our Oceans
- Fay Wong
- Feb 20, 2023
- 5 min read
Supported by Rolex, Mission Blue undertook a two-week research journey throughout the Galápagos Islands to collect essential data for conservation initiatives.
The Galápagos Islands and their surrounding waters rank among the most biodiverse areas globally. The ecosystem hosts a notably high number of endemic species owing to its isolated position in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 900 km from the western coast of continental Ecuador. The distinctive attributes of the Galápagos have become it a crucial focal point for ocean conservation initiatives.
Significant progress has been achieved. The Ecuadorian government established the Galápagos Marine Reserve in 1998 to safeguard the islands’ waters and subsequently enlarged its area by nearly 50 percent in 2021, resulting in a total size of 133,000 km². The ocean conservation non-profit Mission Blue, established by renowned marine biologist and Rolex Testimonee Sylvia Earle, identified the Galápagos waters as one of its initial Hope Spots in 2010.
Ocean conservation is not a singular event but rather a continuous endeavor. Consequently, Earle directed a collaborative team of scientists on a two-week research excursion throughout the Galápagos Islands Hope Spot in 2022. The Mission Blue Galápagos mission, supported by Rolex, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of current protections and to identify obstacles and potential for future conservation initiatives.
Impact Assessment
Earle, a Rolex Testimonee since 1982, is a seasoned marine biologist and oceanographer with more than sixty years of expertise in these disciplines. Her inaugural journey to the Galápagos occurred in 1966, during which she observed its seas abundant with life and said that they were “the sharkiest, fishiest place” she had ever encountered. Since that time, awareness of the volcanic archipelago has increased significantly. This has unfortunately led to increased stresses on the fragile ecosystems of the Galápagos, due to pollution, invasive species, and resource demands. Consequently, safeguarding the region is now more imperative than ever.
A significant portion of the voyage focused on uncovering the concealed and overlooked variety beneath the waves to establish a baseline metric of ecosystem health for future assessments. The expedition utilized advanced technologies, including underwater camera systems, to gather population statistics on lesser-known species, such as indigenous slipper lobsters.
Additionally, environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis was employed. The method entails isolating and sequencing environmental DNA, specifically obtained from seawater samples in this instance. The primary benefit is that information on organisms that evade visual examination can still be collected. As anticipated, eDNA analysis yielded intriguing results. Diana Pazmiño, a researcher at the Galápagos Science Center, stated, “The majority of our sequences do not correspond with any public database.” “[This] means that not many things have been sequenced from the Galápagos, or there are things that are new to science that we have not identified yet.”
This discovery coincided with a prior voyage conducted by Earle and Salome Buglass of the Charles Darwin Foundation, which occurred the preceding year. A novel species of kelp was identified at significant depths beneath the water's surface during that study. The two scientists continued their investigation from the 2022 voyage by exploring the depths of the Galápagos in the DeepSee submersible, where they discovered verdant concealed forests of kelp. Current preliminary theories suggest that these kelp forests are essential for sustaining the region's biodiversity. “Kelp forests globally play a vital role in sustaining biodiversity,” stated Buglass, “and we may have identified a crucial element that elucidates the remarkable richness of biodiversity and biomass in the Galápagos.”
Numerous comprehensive research were conducted during the 2022 mission, including the mapping of penguin colony foraging grounds and the assessment of microplastic concentrations. The expedition team persisted in their extensive investigation on the transoceanic migrations of marine species by, for instance, acquiring location tags from sharks that originated as far as the Gulf of Mexico. This is crucial, as it reinforces the perspective that international collaboration is essential for ocean conservation efforts, along with the necessity to enhance marine protections. In 2021, Ecuador, Panama, Colombia, and Costa Rica together declared the establishment of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor, which enhanced and interconnected the protected waters of the four nations to form a fishing-free "swimway" for migratory sharks, turtles, rays, and whales. The expedition's findings have underscored the necessity for additional swimways worldwide to safeguard marine animals and the imperative to consider broader, transnational perspectives.
A Paradigm to Emulate
The Galápagos Islands Hope Spot serves as an indicator for overall ocean conservation efforts. The attention and assistance afforded to the islands suggest that the region possesses a significant likelihood of success in this domain. Earle has concisely inquired, “If the Galápagos Islands cannot be protected, which part of the planet can be safeguarded?”
The efforts in the region may potentially serve as a model for conservancy projects in other locations. Alex Hearn, an ecologist from the Galápagos Science Center who assembled the team of scientists for the voyage, asserts that “if we can achieve success here [in the Galápagos], it will serve as a model for global implementation.” The Galápagos Islands Hope Spot is pioneering best practices in monitoring ecosystem health and employing interdisciplinary strategies to mitigate human environmental impacts, with insights from its management disseminating to other Hope Spots and beyond.
The Broader Perspective
Mission Blue will continue to designate Hope Spots globally to save maritime areas of considerable importance. Since its establishment in 2009 by Earle, the organization has developed a network of 150 Hope Spots encompassing almost 58 million km² of oceanic territory. The objective is to expand this protection to 30 percent of the oceans by 2030.
Rolex’s support for Mission Blue is part of its wider commitment to saving the earth. This extends its efforts in promoting exploration, aimed at both discovery and the advancement of human capability. In 2019, the brand consolidated its initiatives in this domain under the Perpetual Planet Initiative and currently recognizes Mission Blue and the National Geographic Society as its primary partners. Rolex, as part of its expanding partnership portfolio, supports various initiatives, including Steve Boyes's Great Spine of Africa expeditions, which investigate the continent's principal river basins, and Coral Gardeners' efforts to transplant resilient corals for reef restoration.
Rolex's dedication to assisting individuals and organizations employing research to comprehend and address our environmental difficulties is enduring. This mirrors the manufacturer's approach to watchmaking, which emphasizes a long-term perspective and a commitment to continuous enhancement in all aspects. With adequate time, appropriate resources, and a modicum of fortune, the obstacles confronting our planet may yet be surmounted.
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