Ocean Warrior
It’s not a role that you would automatically associate with Saudi Arabia’s Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation. But well before concern for safeguarding of our planet became mainstream, H.R.H Prince Khaled bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz was on the warpath to preserve and protect our oceanic ecosystem. What began as a childhood passion with the evolution of his country’s desert landscape became reality in 2000, when Prince Khaled established the Living Oceans Foundations in the US choosing an apt motto: ‘science without borders’. The importance of oceans and seas to our livelihood and survival are, to some extent, unfathomable to land-born creatures. But if you were to look at the Earth from space, you’ll find that close to three-quarters, or 75 per cent, is covered in blue.
The foundation’s aim is not merely to explore and research ways to restore vitality to the waters along Saudi Arabia’s borders – The Red Sea boasts some of the most stunning reefs, its beauty a closely-held secret by avid divers and oceanographers. The mission is to extend its work and projects globally. In close cooperation with scientists and researchers, Living Oceans has funded and organised expedition projects in the Mediterranean Sea, the Read Sea and the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans.
The data-intensive approach is multi-pronged and includes reef mapping using an aerial device called the Compact Airborne Spectographic Imager (CASI), Benthic surveys which include shallow marine surveys of organic living organisms on the seabed and data on the weight of living biological matter. Last but not least, divers record the preponderance of fish species within a given area. No small task by any measure. Active projects include research in the US Virgin Islands, studies into tools to vanquish coral disease and the development of a laboratory system to assess the effects of toxicants on corals.
With climate change slowly but surely taking a firm grip on our reality, as ice-caps melt and we continue to pollute and abuse our waters, the work of the Living Oceans Foundation has become more crucial than ever. And part-and-parcel of preservation is education. Fellowships and an educational outreach programme are two effective ways the foundation conquers hearts and minds.
It also shares its findings. In 2005, Prince Khaled had eights tonnes of coral reef – small crustaceans, sand and organisms – transferred from the Red Sea to the Oceanic Aquarium in Monaco. As the Prince puts it, “There is much more that must be accomplished to guarantee the integrity of our oceans. That is why I look forward to a partnership with peoples throughout the world, working to benefit the oceans – and our future.”
For donations contact Living Oceans Foundation on HYPERLINK "http://www.livingoceansfoundation.org" www.livingoceansfoundation.org or Tel + 1 877 484 3623.
