Personally, I have been an admirer of Dr Earle and a supporter of her important and exceptional work for several years. After recently viewing Mission Blue, I was extremely touched by her utter devotion, deep love, and her clear vision for our oceans. She has been devoted to its protection from a very young age. Clearly, we – the audience – make the journey with her as her career defines who she is.
Dr Earle has become a leading American oceanographer, marine biologist, explorer, author and lecturer, and has been an advocate for our oceans for over 50 years. As we see in the movie, she is among the first underwater explorers to make use of modern self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) gear, and identifies many new species of marine life.
In addition, her work as a devout advocate of public education regarding the importance of the oceans as a crucial environmental habitat continues to receive accolades and is indeed needed more than ever.
The assault on the ocean has led Earle to advocate for its preservation in the form of "hope spots"—areas that should be protected from fishing, dumping and other harmful practices. Her goal is to get at least 20 percent of the ocean protected by 2020 (currently less than 3 percent is protected).
The life and work of oceanographer, marine biologist, and environmentalist Sylvia Earle.
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