Words and Photos by Earth Endeavours Story Ambassador, Amanda Cotton.
Write to inspire and BE inspired, while supporting incredible women and men around the globe working hard to protect threatened wildlife. My friends @earthendeavours are inviting you to share your unique perspective on conservation by highlighting your favorite wildlife charity, endangered species, or nature project. It is open to all ages and you can enter here!
In case you don’t know where to start, I have rounded up a few of my favorite female driven conservation projects. These women are tenacious in their fight to make a difference, addressing issues from shark education and overfishing to whale communication. Drawing attention to their projects helps aid in their pursuit to bring about a change for the endangered species they are working so hard to conserve. Like many around me in conservation, I am in awe of these ladies, and many others, who chose to push back against the unique obstacles we face. It is inspiring to see such shining examples of empowered women fulfilling their life’s calling to enrich and preserve the nature world.
Blue Ring Inc. (@blueringinc) founded by Erica Rose (@noblue.nogreen) is a Benefit Corporation that will allow people to #merytheocean for a membership fee of $25 annually in return for a blue ring. The sole reason for the existence of Blue Ring is to support, via many small-scale commitments, the funding of globally significant ocean exploration and conservation projects that will positively shape the future.
This next one is not female led, but all the current PHD students are women. The Dominica Sperm Whale Project is an innovative and integrative study of the world’s largest toothed whale. Through thousands of hours of observation of sperm whale families, the population of whales in the Caribbean has given the researchers a unique opportunity to come to know them as individuals within families. Their program is the first to have tracked sperm whale families across years, following many calves from birth through weaning, and we now know that some families have been using the region for decades. No sperm whale population has been this well characterized, and the detailed behavioural histories of these individuals are rare among mammals, particularly in the ocean.
Sharks for Kids founded by Jillian Morris Drake (@biminisharkgirl) is creating the next generation of shark advocates through education, outreach, and adventure. Their team of marine biologists, videographers, photographers and conservationists have spent thousands of hours tagging, researching, diving with and filming sharks around the globe. Combining this knowledge and experience to create educational materials and tools for teachers, educators, and students. Sharks are in trouble and we need to take action now. Whether you live near the ocean, we all need to do our part, and creating the next generation of shark advocates is an absolute necessity.
Shark Angels (@sharkangels) began when Julie Andersen (@juliesharkangel), Alison Kock (@alison_kock) and Kim McCoy got into the water with over a dozen tiger sharks and countless lemon sharks, on a project of passion to show the world a new perspective on sharks. Realizing that Shark Angels (as the three became known) was exciting conservationists and enthusiasts alike, Julie officially started the organization as a non-profit to unite people for the preservation of sharks through grassroots outreach, creative media, and education campaigns. The Angels strated Shark Cherubs to incorporate kids into the movement as a way to get future generations involved. While Shark Angels was started by a woman, it has expanded to include anyone who is passionate about sharks, the oceans, animals or simply conservation, and wants to translate that passion into action.
Project Hiu (@projecthiu), ‘Hiu’ being the Indonesian word for Shark founded by Madison Stewart (@sharkgirlmadison) aims to provide alternative income to fishermen in one of the largest shark fisheries in Indonesia, and the world. When generations of fisherman have depended on the shark trade for survival, changing attitudes and practices seems a near-impossible task. However, there is one trade which can rival the multi-million-dollar shark trade and which thrives on something that won’t go extinct, tourism. Accompanying their eco-tourism model, Project Hiu aims to address the intangible root cause of this underlining crisis, by educating the end consumer on two main issues, the toxicity of shark meat and the profound strain and detriment being inflicted to livelihoods above and below the surface because of existing demand. By supporting Project Hiu you will help equip a team of filmmakers and scientists to expose and monitor threatened marine species, unethical operations, and over fished ecosystems.
Nakawe Project (@nakaweproject) founded by Regina Domingo (@regisunday) after a volunteer experience in Cocos Islands, where she witnessed uncontrolled pillage of wildlife and indiscriminate fishing of sharks. They lead conservation initiatives through direct intervention in affected areas, educational programs, specific research and studies, and develop media communication campaigns to drive up public awareness. For the last seven years Domingo, alongside team members and volunteers, has travelled the world to film a documentary originally entitled “Game Over Fishing”. Together, they interviewed, filmed, researched and visited different locations around the globe to expose the massive issue of overfishing from a fresh, honest perspective. This story questions everything: from national government actions to the international institutions entrusted with monitoring the state of the oceans and marine protected areas. The film will reveal significant issues within both the fishing industry and its governance not previously presented to the public.
People of the Water (@peopleofthewater) founded by Cristina Zenato (@cristinazenato) after 25 years of living and working in the Bahamas, contributing to major projects to protect oceans, sharks and caves. The non-profit organization is dedicated to changing people’s relationship with our aquatic world through exploration, education and conservation.
Amanda Cotton (@amandacotton) is a professional Nikon Photographer specializing in underwater imagery and the founder of Water Women Inc, a nonprofit organization focused on empowering girls ages eight to eighteen to become leaders and advocates in water related industries through internships and mentorship programs. Each girl is paired with a female expert in the specialty of her choice, whether it’s underwater photography, marine science, marine biology or commercial diving. Water Women has mentors around the globe, from boat captains to NASA aquanauts.
She is also the creator of Children and Sharks an educational outreach program, seeking to educate children and teens about sharks through hands-on diving experiences, documentation, and lectures. Her goal is to help the public embrace the beauty below the waves, hoping with awareness comes concern.
An experienced Cave/Tech Diver, Amanda was the first female to photograph American Crocodiles underwater in Banco Chinchorro, Mexico for a feature on the Discovery Channel showcasing the UNESCO Marine Biosphere Reserve Project. She was also the lead underwater photographer on the USS Mohawk artificial wreck project for a 360 spherical mapping survey for Google Earth. Her accolades include being inducted in the Women Divers Hall of Fame, the Explorers Club, and the Ocean Artists Society.
While she enjoys owning and operating a conservation-minded design/media company, A COTTON PHOTO Creative Works LLC, she takes great pride in working with like-minded organizations that genuinely care about the planet and its inhabitants, both above and below the waves. Her imagery has featured in major publications and news sources worldwide, including National Geographic, BBC, Discovery Channel, and has helped organizations such as, Scholastic Books, The Conservation Fund, Consortium For Ocean Leadership, and Marine Life Protection Act, have a positive impact on the oceans through education and outreach programs.
