Hope Spots
The Mission Blue x Kimoa collection is designed to offer the comfort that you need, utilizing the responsible concept of “ethic + aesthetic.
Hope spots are special places that are critical to the health of the ocean — Earth’s blue heart. Some Hope Spots are already formally protected, while others are still in need of defined protection. Under Dr. Earle’s leadership, the Mission Blue team has embarked on a series of expeditions to shed light on these vital ecosystems and ignite support to safeguard them as marine protected areas.
The benefits derived from the entire “Mission Blue x Kimoa” project will go to the Hope Spot of the Balearic Islands, which will be renamed “Hope spots”.
The Balearic Islands consist of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, located in the middle of the western Mediterranean. This archipelago has a high biodiversity, including the valuable “Posidonia oceanica” seagrass meadows between Ibiza and Formentera that were declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
The Balearic Islands are a known spawning area for bluefin tuna, the only nesting spot for the Balearic shearwater – one of the most threatened marine birds in the world – and Loggerhead sea turtles are also known to swim in these waters. Overfishing has been the most impactful stressor to the area, but scientists say that the overfishing problem isn't as damaging to this area as others in the Mediterranean, offering hope for a healthier future for the vulnerable species that inhabit it.
They can be large, they can be small, but they all provide hope due to:
- A special abundance or diversity of species, unusual or representative species, habitats, or ecosystems.
- Populations of rare, threatened, or endemic species.
- A site with potential to reverse damage from negative human impact.
- The presence of natural processes such as major migration corridors or spawning grounds.
- Significant historical, cultural, or spiritual values.
- An economic importance to the community.
Where can I nominate a “Hope Spot”? Here