Have you embraced your 'blue mind'?

Friday 07 June 2019

Islanders are being urged to embrace their 'blue minds' to enhance their wellbeing and the wider environment, as Jersey continues its bid to make waves on the global clean sea scene.

They'll be able to do so tomorrow on World Ocean Day, which will see activities including surfing, rock climbing, coastal walks, beach yoga, meditation, touch tanks, beach cleans, photography workshops and kayak adventures made available to all.

Protect Blue - an ocean-focused creative agency – has teamed up Jersey National Park, Eco Active, Visit Jersey, Jersey Sport and Plastic Free Jersey to roll out the day of events and activities to show Jersey’s potential as “a leader in the ocean advocacy space.”

World Ocean Day has been organised and promoted by The Ocean Project since 2002 and is the perfect day for celebrating all things ocean, but Protect Blue wanted to go one step further than celebration.

“Is it enough to celebrate the ocean and raise awareness of the problems it faces? Or is there a way to have a greater impact and affect real change?” are just some of the questions that inspire the team behind Protect Blue.

Pictured: ‘Blue Mind’ is “the science that shows how being near, in, on, or under water can make you happier, healthier, more connected, and better at what you do.”

“Real change requires knowledge and experience - an understanding of the issues we’re facing and a connection to the cause that goes beyond an intellectual one. It also requires engagement from across all sectors - community, education and business,” they said.

Over the weekend, they will be engaging with the community by giving as many islanders and visitors access to 'Blue Mind’ as possible.

Wallace J Nichols defined ‘Blue Mind’ as “the science that shows how being near, in, on, or under water can make you happier, healthier, more connected, and better at what you do.” According to Protect Blue, Jersey offers “endless Blue Mind opportunities and enables islanders to make their livelihoods from the sea.” 

Pictured: For World Ocean Day, Protect Blue wants to give as many people as possible access to the water.

On World Ocean Day, there will be a wide range of activities - some free, some discounted - and special events for islanders to get involved with, from surf lessons to rock climbing, coastal walks to guided meditation classes, marine conservation education sessions, beach cleans, photography workshops and kayak adventures.

Many of the activities will take place in and around the Jersey National Park, in St. Ouen’s Bay. Mike Stentiford MBE said the main aims of the National Park are “to protect, conserve and enhance the natural beauty, cultural heritage and diverse wildlife contained within its coastal boundaries."

"By so doing, its dramatic land and seascape can be enjoyed by everyone who visits - now and for the future," he said.

The activities will kick off on the eve of World Ocean Day with a “deep dive” into Ocean Advocacy. Leader in risk management Alan Laubsch will be holding a talk on the Albert Pier pontoon near the RNLI Lifeboat Station, focusing on developing an 'earth-positive economy' and how business can be used as a force for good.

Protect Blue will also be working to raise awareness of ocean advocacy beyond Saturday. With the help of UK-based Wild labs, they are working on a free educational resource for all coastal service providers so that, alongside safety briefings, they can deliver a basic introduction to ocean literacy and help those using their services better understand the mutually beneficial relationship they can have with the sea.

This Autumn, in partnership with Eco Active, they will present a week-long environmental education curriculum across six primary schools.