There are many problems facing the Ocean today: Overfishing, plastic pollution, climate change are just a few of the major ones. However, there are solutions that are currently being implemented and working in particular parts of the world. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are one of those solutions that have helped protect many places from overfishing if implemented properly. 

A successful MPA requires the proper funding to assemble stakeholders, plan the MPA, implement the MPA, and enforce and manage the MPA. Simon Cripps, the Executive Director for the Global Marine Program at the Wildlife Conservation Society, penned an article in Mongabay News to discuss the importance of finding sustainable funding to support MPAs beyond the deadlines for specific targets (30% of Oceans under protection). 

Simon is concerned that developing countries may not be able to rely on funds from other countries, foundations and/or non-governmental organizations (NGOs). He is worried that countries are at the behest of the political party in power and foundations don't always have the only available to provide support. 

Where will they be able to find sustainable funding? Ii would love to hear your ideas.

Link to article: https://news.mongabay.com/2020/12/sustainable-financing-is-pivotal-for-marine-conservation-beyond-2030-pledges-commentary/

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 The current model for marine conservation funding is flawed because scientists and conservationists cannot fund for their infrastructure anymore. They can only fund based on projects and results. As usual, some organizations took advantage of the old funding model and results were not received by the foundations so everyone now suffers.

Project based funding coupled with more organizations seeking funding impedes everyone from sharing money and only certain organizations, government departments and academics get funded well. 

Individuals and organizations are searching for ways by which they can raise funds to follow their passions and protect the ocean the best way they know how. These ways many not fit with missions for many organizations, so they tend not to get funded by foundations and other grantees. 

The individuals and organizations are turning to the web to raise funds through crowdfunding. I cover a few examples of crowdsource funding initiatives by some individuals to help get their campaigns out there (and hopefully their work will get you to contribute) and raise awareness that crowdsourcing is a great funding opportunity for many people and organizations within the Marine Conservation Field.

I discuss the following campaigns:

Andrew David Thaler - https://www.patreon.com/andrew-thaler

Wallace J. Nichols - https://www.patreon.com/wallacejnichols

David Shiffman - https://experiment.com/projects/what-are-the-feeding-habits-of-threatened-sharks

Craig McClain - https://experiment.com/projects/wood-is-it-what-s-for-dinner 

Susan R. Eaton - https://www.gofundme.com/susanreaton

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