Marine Research & Exploration partners for intelligent ocean management.
Our mission is to explore and document the world’s oceans to support their conservation and stewardship. With assets of innovative technology, proprietary data collection and analysis, MARE informs and collaborates with government, academic, science and community-based organizations to affect change. We specialize in long term ocean monitoring projects that track change and progress of management plans and environmental factors; our focus is the biodiverse continental shelf to depths of 1,000 meters.
O U R I M P A C T
3,910
KILOMETERS EXPLORED
2,495,000
ORGANISMS IDENTIFIED
437
SITES VISITED
287,135
PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN
1,678
DIVES COMPLETED
3,910
KILOMETERS EXPLORED
2,495,000
ORGANISMS IDENTIFIED
437
SITES VISITED
287,135
PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN
1,678
DIVES COMPLETED
Letter from the Executive Director
Explore. Discover. Protect.
Explore. Discover. Protect.
It's time to take the gloves off when it comes to climate change. Oceans take the brunt of climate impact. Our seas absorb 90% of excess heat, and sequester 30% of the carbon emitted from burning fossil fuels, all while delivering the oxygen in every other breath you take. California offers a glimmer of hope, pioneering a new type of ocean management for over 15 years with promising results. We currently benefit from 124 marine reserves covering ~16% of state waters. MARE has been a vital partner to marine resource managers from the beginning, and has provided evidence of successes and failures in these reserves. MARE continues to do more of what we do best: explore, discover, and protect our ocean. Looking ahead, we will export our assets and know-how to support Hawai’i’s bold “30 by 30” marine management initiative and work with strategic partners to ensure a resilient, biodiverse ocean for future generations.
Since our founding, generous and committed donors like you have enabled new blue technologies, survey of thousands of kilometers of deep sea floor, discovery of new coral species, and protection of large coral gardens. We work hard to demonstrate what a strong tool intelligent ocean management is for our ocean’s health. Annual reports are one way to showcase strides made with your support, and we have highlighted a few exciting achievements in this one. I hope you make the ocean one of your top three priorities. The oceans are the lungs, heart and thermostat of the planet and we have the ability to make real change. We are at a crossroads of knowledge and technology, the time to intelligently manage our oceans is now. Best wishes,
Since our founding, generous and committed donors like you have enabled new blue technologies, survey of thousands of kilometers of deep sea floor, discovery of new coral species, and protection of large coral gardens. We work hard to demonstrate what a strong tool intelligent ocean management is for our ocean’s health. Annual reports are one way to showcase strides made with your support, and we have highlighted a few exciting achievements in this one. I hope you make the ocean one of your top three priorities. The oceans are the lungs, heart and thermostat of the planet and we have the ability to make real change. We are at a crossroads of knowledge and technology, the time to intelligently manage our oceans is now. Best wishes,
Dirk Rosen, Founder & Executive Director
2019 HIGHLIGHTS
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Blue Parks
California has an invaluable string of pearls along its coast – a network of blue parks that serve to protect and restore our ocean’s health. This is the second largest network of marine reserves in the world, stretching over 1,000 square kilometers, and aims to sustain biodiversity in nearshore marine ecosystems. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a promising model of conservation creating a more resilient ecosystem. MARE is leading the exploration and documentation of California’s deep water areas. Now that we have baseline data for the entire coast, California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife has engaged MARE in a new phase of long-term monitoring along the coast to track progress and impact of the MPA network. We will continue data collection into 2020; analyzed data will be integrated in a comprehensive statewide management review of the MPAs. This rare snapshot of the entire coast of California will help ocean managers make informed decisions to maintain a healthy, sustainable ocean. |
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Deep Sea Coral Discovery
Deep sea corals, the old growth forests of the ocean, support rich and abundant communities of marine life. The waters off the US West Coast still contain large colonies of corals and sponges, along with the rich biomass that depend upon them. MARE and our partners aim to find these communities before they’re destroyed. These critical habitats are vulnerable to bottom trawling, which can destroy an ecosystem that has been in place for millennia. This year, the most extensive ban on bottom trawling became law, swayed by compelling MARE video, and testimony by Heirs to our Oceans, NOAA and Oceana. Fishing groups and environmentalists agreed to protect more than 140,000 square miles of seafloor habitat along the West Coast, including gardens of lush coral around the Farallon Islands. Last year, MARE worked with the California Academy of Sciences and NOAA’s Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary on an expedition that resulted in the discovery of a new species of deep sea coral. This yellow octocoral has been named Chromoplexaura cordellbankensis in honor of Cordell Bank. We have since documented it in various locations on the West Coast. This discovery serves to remind us how much more we can learn about our poorly understood deep sea and how critical exploration continues to be. |
DISCOVERY DAY
Each year, MARE offers an opportunity for our generous supporters to don their citizen scientist hats and join us for a day at sea: Discovery Day. This day is filled to the gills with hands-on exploration and discovery, and an opportunity for guests to see their investment in action. We typically plan this day around expeditions out of Santa Barbara in the Channel Islands so that guests can actively participate in our work.
“I was amazed at the colorful corals we saw at depth, along with all the rockfish and lingcod. It was a real privilege to drive the ROV around the bottom. MARE’s work is a remarkable example of how blue tech is being used to help protect California’s precious marine resources and reserves.” - Michael Sutton, Executive Director Goldman Environmental Foundation.
“I was amazed at the colorful corals we saw at depth, along with all the rockfish and lingcod. It was a real privilege to drive the ROV around the bottom. MARE’s work is a remarkable example of how blue tech is being used to help protect California’s precious marine resources and reserves.” - Michael Sutton, Executive Director Goldman Environmental Foundation.
ON THE HORIZON
Aloha Challenge
Hawaii’s coral reefs and nearshore waters are a critical element of both the state’s economy and culture. To preserve this resource, the state enacted the Sustainable Hawaii Initiative to effectively manage 30% of local ocean waters by 2030. Though much attention is given to Hawaii’s famous shallow coral reefs, deep water corals are as much of a priority to understand and protect. Found below SCUBA depth, mesophotic corals provide an equally important marine habitat that supports a variety of life, including commercially important fish species. Deep water marine regions in the ‘Au’au channel have been shown to be some of the most extensive and densely populated coral reefs in Hawaii.
In 2020 MARE will be crossing the Pacific to Hawaii bringing our technology and expertise to this “30 by 30” initiative. MARE will augment existing datasets with deeper water surveys, locating hotspots of biodiversity and abundance that divers cannot access. Our project helps ensure that Hawaii’s long term marine management plan is based on accurate and credible information and aligns with priorities of the Sustainable Hawaii Initiative.
Mahalo to the following supporters :The Dorrance Family Foundation . Harold K L Castle Foundation .
Atherton Family Foundation . Peter J Davis Family Foundation
In 2020 MARE will be crossing the Pacific to Hawaii bringing our technology and expertise to this “30 by 30” initiative. MARE will augment existing datasets with deeper water surveys, locating hotspots of biodiversity and abundance that divers cannot access. Our project helps ensure that Hawaii’s long term marine management plan is based on accurate and credible information and aligns with priorities of the Sustainable Hawaii Initiative.
Mahalo to the following supporters :The Dorrance Family Foundation . Harold K L Castle Foundation .
Atherton Family Foundation . Peter J Davis Family Foundation
Letter from the Chair, Board of Directors
Intelligent Ocean Management
Intelligent Ocean Management
We are facing an existential crisis: our global ecosystem is severely impacted by human activity. That is certainly my belief and likely yours too if you are reading this report. That said, a study conducted by ScienceDaily May 2019 showed that 47% of the world’s population perceive climate change as a threat. So, not everyone is on board with efforts to save our little blue world. I joined Marine Research & Exploration (MARE) because I felt their focus (developing the science and technology needed to explore and create objective marine ecosystem baseline information) was the necessary critical first step toward sustainability. We don’t know what we don’t know in terms of marine health; most of our oceans and seas remain unexplored and undocumented. While there are terrific efforts underway to stop and reverse damage to our environment, how can one intelligently manage anything without objective information on which to base decisions, actions, and related investments? MARE has defined its next chapter in marine conservation. Our new vision, Intelligent Ocean Management, says it all: it’s time for MARE to expand its services from the US west coast and scale globally. To do so we will rely on advances in science and technology, the continued commitment of our partners and supporters, as well as build new relationships with those who can resource this vision. We hope you continue to join us on our quest to save our oceans, one intelligently managed deep sea kilometer at a time.
J. Allan McCarthy, Chair, Board of Directors
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES | JULY 1, 2018 - JUNE 30, 2019
OCEAN CHAMPIONS | Reflects donations received July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019
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$100,000+
The Dean and Ann Witter Fund for Charitable Giving $50,000+ Anonymous Danish Explorers Fund The Dorrance Family Foundation Paul M. Angell Family Foundation $25,000 – $49,999 Harold K. L. Castle Foundation HRH Foundation Margolis Family Foundation $10,000 – $24,999 Atherton Family Foundation Peter J Davis Family Foundation Larry L Hillblom Foundation Norman Rich Schmidt Marine Technology Partners Elizabeth Ulmer & Jon Graham $5,000 – $9,999 The Baum Foundation Bay Area Beverage Company Kerry Davidson & Dan Fitzgerald Guilianna & Jonathan Glassman Jamie Miller Point Richmond Gateway Foundation Ann Rosenberg & Lorenzo Kampel $2,500 – $4,999 Paul Devine & Rob Hering Ilana De Bare & Sam Schuchat Allison & Seth Ferguson Laura Marlin Laura & Allan McCarthy Karen & Pete Weber |
$1,000 – $2,499
Anonymous Jeannie Blaustein & Peter Bokor Ron Clausen Sandra Gross & Eric Whitaker Mary Daniel Hobson Lindsey & Ken Meyersieck Heidi & Brian Miller Laura Moss & Ted Daverman Nancy & Robert Praetzel Pam Rich & Dirk Rosen Martin & Joan Rosen Blanca Senor & Chris Hausser Jay Tustin $500 – $999 Anna Beck & Michael Shearn Tory Cowan Heather Furmidge Michael Gallagher Tanis & Seth Hammond Susan & Huey Johnson Bruce Keene Mia & Jeff Ludlow Bradley Mart Susan McComb & John Durst Janis & Martin McNair Angela Rule Victoria Ryan Jill Spangenberg & Jerry Barakos Shauna Stark Marjorie & Ralph Winkler UP TO $499 Lisa & Gregg Bemis Natasha Benjamin Alicia Bihler & Owen Bissell Paul Bonapart Maria Brown Paul Caturegli Sara Cohen Pat Conroy Sandra Curtis Margaret Cellucci Kia Conn Mark Cullen Fiona Davis Don Duncan |
UP TO $499
Jane & Douglas Ferguson Patricia & Kevin Heard Aviva Garrett & David Doshay Kristopher Geda Al Guinto David Helvarg Wil Hobbs Linda Horne Patricia Jackson Rachel Jackson Barbara & Michael Johnson Robert Lane Gary Lucks Karin Ludwig Pam Lewis Daniel Kahn Tammy Carlson & Elliot Kallen Steven Katz Keegan & Coppin Company, Inc. Sam Krueger Rosemary Macedo-Shafer Lenny Mankin Denise & Tony Melas Tom Maloney Erin O’Toole & Nathan P Hickey Joanna Pearlstein Eric & Susan Poncelet Steve Peletz Star Pierce Ciji Rich David Rosen Daniel Richards Thomas Ray Shirley Rosseau Josh Seidenfeld Linda & George Sensabaugh Frederick Smith Ellen Sueda Katherine Teplitz Janet Tompkins Ricardo Vazquez Randall Von Wedel Dirk Van Waart Justin Waples Pamela Wayne Even Weissman Shelly Willard Surjani Winoto |
