Our commitment to save the oceans
Tim Morley who heads MYBA’s Environmental Committee echoes the sentiment made by psychologist Abraham Maslow; in any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety
MYBA The Worldwide Yachting Association has long chosen the path of sustainable growth and it is continuously striving to ensure that the current needs of the superyacht sector are met, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
The Association’s mission is to inspire, support and empower people in the superyacht industry to be their best: by maintaining business at the highest level of ethical conduct, committing to equality and diversity, protecting the environment, sharing knowledge and combining strengths, building strong relationships, and continuously developing, both professionally and personally.
Promoting an approach to yachting that respects and protects the environment is one of MYBA’s primary concerns as it recognises the scale and urgency of the issues at hand. It has recently reinforced its commitment through the creation of an Environmental Committee. The Environmental Committee has the following charge: (1) to raise environmental awareness not only among MYBA Members but also across a broader global audience (2) to keep abreast of research and developments that pertain to the industry’s sustainability and (3) to recommend policies for adoption by the superyacht sector.
Heading the Committee is Tim Morley, one of MYBA’s newly elected Board Members, who said “The MYBA Environment Committee is an opportunity for MYBA to add more value to Members and the community, as the subjects of both Posidonia and CO2 emissions are now hot topics. We can’t ignore the plastic in the sea either. The answers to the environmental challenges are both simple and difficult at the same time. There are threats and opportunities. I invite anybody with positive ideas or solutions to contact me to spread the word rapidly through the MYBA network. You can expect to hear more from this new committee soon, and as with all committees – the more effort we put in, the more we will all benefit, so please do get involved.”
MYBA is already one of the proud signatories of Clear Ocean Pact (COP) which is an international, non-profit initiative dedicated to changing the culture and practices of the yachting industry for the good of our oceans. COP is calling on the superyacht industry to unite behind five common goals to reduce dependency on single-use plastics, to share information about viable alternatives to single-use plastic items, and to inspire other industries to take a similar approach.
However as Graeme Somerville-Ryan, the founder of “Eyesea”, rightly pointed out “solving the pollution problem is going to be impossible if we didn’t know accurately what is going on and where.” Eyesea is a not-for-profit initiative that MYBA supports and whose mission is to map maritime pollution and marine hazards with the support of seafarers, ship owners, managers and maritime professionals. The Eyesea reporting tool allows seafarers to collect and submit data on marine pollution by simply taking a photo and categorising the pollution type. Images are then automatically GPS-tagged, anonymised, and vetted before being incorporated into a database of pollution to enable Eyesea to create detailed oceanic maps and charts. These comprehensive maps will empower environmental leaders with the actionable, empirical evidence they need to support their efforts.
MYBA has also signed “A social and environmental commitment of professional yachting” which expresses the profession’s commitment to a fundamental societal and environmental approach. Among the issues promoted by signatories are the implementation of restrictions on anchorages in Posidonia areas for vessels over 24 metres. Plus, in cooperation with Yacht Carbon Offset, MYBA offsets both the MYBA Charter Show and most of the travel arrangements of MYBA Admin.
Join us in trying to save the oceans, we make sure that #MYBAgivesback.
