Michael R. Bloomberg and Ray Dalio’s OceanX Announce Over $185 Million for New Partnership to Increase Ocean Exploration and Protection
Their first joint project showcases findings from expedition into first-ever U.S. national marine monument in the Atlantic Ocean and highlights the importance of marine monument protection
Today, in a video message at the 5th Annual Our Ocean Conference in Indonesia, UN Special Envoy for Climate Action Michael R. Bloomberg and OceanX, founded by Dalio Philanthropies President Ray Dalio, announced a new partnership between Bloomberg Philanthropies and OceanX to align and increase their support for the oceans.
The announcement is marked by Bloomberg and OceanX’s first joint project: an expedition to the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument on OceanX’s marine research and exploration vessel, the Alucia, to explore the region, demonstrate the importance of the marine national monument and illustrate the need for marine conservation across the globe at a time when the oceans require our critical attention.
As two of the largest supporters of ocean protection and exploration in the world, Bloomberg and Dalio’s OceanX’s combined efforts create a critical platform that increases the world’s collective understanding of our oceans and the vital need for conservation and drives towards the shared goal of protecting the oceans. Working complementarily, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ partners will capitalize on OceanX’s powerful imagery and storytelling capabilities to better advocate for marine protection and conservation. The Bloomberg-OceanX initiative will coordinate aligned strategies to maximize their collective impact, investing both independently and together on projects across ocean exploration and scientific discovery, awareness and education, issue advocacy, policy development, and conservation. The effort will be seeded by a combined four-year commitment of over $185 million.
“More than three billion people depend on the oceans for food and their livelihoods. That means threats to marine ecosystems – like climate change and overfishing – also threaten lives around the world,” said Michael Bloomberg. “We’re teaming up with OceanX to ensure that ocean conservation receives the attention it deserves.”
“The health of our oceans is intertwined with our continued health and wellbeing on land, and increased threats to the ocean require that we focus our attention on addressing these issues,” said Ray Dalio. “We need to drive toward a global understanding of and passion for the oceans, which we believe will ultimately lead to their protection. We see the pairing of our exploration expertise and resources with Michael’s conservation and advocacy work as part of the necessary collective efforts to address the issues facing our oceans.”
For Bloomberg, this investment marks an important expansion of Bloomberg’s Vibrant Oceans Initiative. Since 2011, Bloomberg Philanthropies has invested $69 million in ocean protection efforts. Launched in 2014 at Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Vibrant Oceans Initiative has supported key partners, Oceana and Rare, in reforming both local and industrial fishing practices and protecting critical marine areas in top fishing nations – Brazil, Chile, and the Philippines – where partners have seen 390% growth in coastal fish populations at Phase I sites and where more than 1 million square miles have been protected.
As climate change, overfishing, and coastal pollution continue to threaten the health and food security of the more than 1 billion people who depend on fish for protein, the expansion of Bloomberg’s Vibrant Oceans Initiative is taking a science-based approach to ensure survival of marine habitat, specifically coral reefs, combat declining fish populations, and reduce sources of pollution. Focusing on key coral geographies and top fishing nations, over the next 4 years Bloomberg will support data-driven strategies in fisheries management, coral conservation and pollution reduction in 10 priority countries including Australia, the Bahamas, Chile, Fiji, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Peru, the Philippines, Tanzania, the United States. The Initiative will also promote global action with government leaders, the private sector, and key NGO partners. To learn more about this expansion click here.
Bloomberg’s Vibrant Oceans Initiative’s goal is to ensure that critical ocean ecosystems – and the billions of people who depend on them – survive and thrive in the face of advancing climate change. The initial Vibrant Oceans partners for the next phase include Rare, Oceana, Global Fishing Watch, Wildlife Conservation Society, Oceans 5, and the Commonwealth Secretariat. Other partners will be announced over the coming months.
Founded by Ray Dalio and Mark Dalio, OceanX is an initiative of Dalio Philanthropies focusing on exploration as a means to foster awareness of and passion for the oceans. OceanX utilizes the technology and capabilities of its unparalleled marine research and exploration vessel, the Alucia, and the compelling storytelling and state-of-the-art production of its media arm, OceanX Media, to explore and research the oceans and broadcast unparalleled ocean content to audiences worldwide. The initiative aims to cultivate a deep and personal human connection with the ocean and create a global community that is engaged with understanding, enjoying and protecting our oceans.
OceanX has helped capture the first-ever footage of the Giant Squid in Japan; taken Sir David Attenborough on unprecedented deep-sea submersible dives on the Great Barrier Reef; and traveled with BBC to depths below the Antarctic Ocean never before reached by humans.
The Bloomberg-OceanX partnership is part of OceanX’s continued efforts to create one big wave of support for the ocean, uniting the aligned efforts of leading scientists, media entities, global leaders and philanthropy partners to drive towards a shared goal of protecting our planet’s most critical natural resource. Other OceanX partners include the American Museum of Natural History; BBC Studios; James Cameron, Maria Wilhelm and the Avatar Alliance Foundation; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation; National Geographic Society; and Sylvia Earle.
Through their combined efforts, Bloomberg and Dalio’s OceanX are working to raise awareness and understanding of our oceans, a critical first step in illustrating the urgent need to protect our oceans in order to ensure ocean health for decades to come.
About OceanX
OceanX is a mission to support scientists to explore the ocean and to bring it back to the world through captivating media. Uniting leading media, science, media and philanthropy partners, OceanX utilizes next-gen technology, fearless science, compelling storytelling, and immersive experiences to educate, inspire, and connect the world with the ocean and build a global community deeply engaged with understanding, enjoying, and protecting our oceans. OceanX is an initiative of Dalio Philanthropies, which furthers the diverse philanthropic interests of Dalio family members. For more information, visit www.oceanx.org and follow OceanX on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Media contact: rida@thetascgroup.com
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies works in 480 cities in more than 120 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s charitable activities, including his foundation and his personal giving. In 2017, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $702 million. For more information, please visit www.bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter.
Media contact: lee@bloomberg.org