Hope Spots

Hope Spots are ecologically unique areas of the ocean designated for protection under a global conservation campaign[1] overseen by Mission Blue, a non-profit organization founded by Sylvia Earle with her 2009 TED prize wish.

Hope Spot status is intended to alleviate the pressures human resource extraction places on the ocean by making the site higher priority to become an MPA, where resource extraction, like fishing and drilling, may be forbidden under law.

– to create a campaign to ignite public support for a global network of marine protected areas, Hope Spots large enough to save and restore the blue heart of the planet.

[6] Mission Blue has partnered with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and receives support from National Geographic, Rolex, and Google.

To increase access and promote the campaign, Google has added Hope Spots to its platform enabling users to explore the sites.

Plaque with writing on it overlooking the sea.
A plaque commemorating the designation of the Cape Whale Coast Hope Spot in Hermanus, South Africa on December 6th, 2014 by marine biologist Sylvia Earle . The Hope Spot represents a commitment to protecting and caring for the culturally important and biodiverse region.