Sean Hastings – Protecting Blue Whales and Blues Skies
In Making Waves Conversations by Mark Sylvester
/
08/25/2021
Protecting Blue Whales and Blues Skies
Every year, container ships and auto carriers make thousands of transits in the shipping lanes in the Santa Barbara Channel region and along the California coast. These vessels are a significant source of air pollution and ship strikes on endangered blue, humpback, and fin whales. The Vessel Speed Reduction incentive program is a voluntary program that requests vessel operators to slow down to 10 knots or less, which reduces air pollution, fatal strikes on endangered whales, and ocean noise.
The program is a partnership between Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties Air Pollution Control Districts, NOAA’s Channel Islands, Cordell Bank, Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuaries, California Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and other partners. The voluntary incentive program starts on May 15. It ends on November 15 to overlap the seasonal migration of the great whales to California waters and when ground-level ozone (smog) concentrations are typically high. Incentives include modest financial awards and an extensive positive public recognition campaign. In its 7th year, the program continues to expand, with 18 global shipping companies enrolled. New directions include engaging Corporate America to support sustainable shipping.
Sean Hastings
Policy, Management and Information Officer, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
Sean joined Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary in 1997 and serves as the site's resource protection coordinator. He is responsible for developing policies and programs to address industrial, military, commercial, and recreational uses and impacts in and around the sanctuary. He also handles emergency response, enforcement, permits, community relations and is a liaison to the media. In addition, Sean helped create the marine protected area network to restore local fish and invertebrate populations and habitats in the sanctuary and helped the state of California to do the same in state waters on the mainland.
Daily he strives to raise the sanctuary's profile locally, nationally, and internationally through astute communication, media, and negotiation skills. He has forged trusted partnerships with academia, government agencies, non-government organizations, and sanctuary user groups. Sean has a Master of Marine Affairs degree from the School of Marine Affairs, University of Washington, and a Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies from the University of California at Santa Cruz. In 1998 he was nominated as a presidential management fellow. Sean is an avid outdoorsman who surfs, boats, paddles, scuba and free dives, fishes, hunts, skis, and snowboards throughout California's wildlands. With a multi-agency coalition and community support, he has helped move commercial shipping lanes to protect endangered whales.
More Resources
Upcoming Salon Conversations
Sarah E. McDonald – Cancer: How we show up for others in crisis
Mar 29, 2023 04:00 PM in Pacific TimeAt 44, Sarah McDonald was newly married, newly promoted, and planning pregnancy. It felt like a time of new beginnings when suddenly she was diagnosed with a rare, incurable cancer. Two months later, she was diagnosed with another unrelated cancer. In this conversation, we’ll explore how we show up, especially with many challenges in the past few years.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk
Jennifer Karapetian – Imprisoned in a web of trauma
Apr 19, 2023 04:00 PM in Pacific TimeIntergenerational trauma can lead to a perpetual cycle of substance abuse, addiction, mental health disorders, child abuse, interpersonal violence, and other criminal behavior. We can break the cycle of intergenerational trauma through greater access to mental health and substance abuse treatment, education, and community awareness.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk
Dr. Philippa Hardman – The AI Education Revolution is Coming – or is it?
May 3, 2023 12:00 PM in Pacific TimeDespite the promise of so-called disruptive education technologies like the MOOC, education technology has failed to deliver on its promise to transform both the reach and quality of education.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk
Matthew Chang – A Teen Climate Activist’s Perspective on the Cumulative Power of Action
May 17, 2023 04:00 PM in Pacific TimeAt first glance, an innocuous cold email may not seem like a powerful seed of change. But for Matthew, it has led to a climate movement and years of public service.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk
Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, MD – The Long Road to Awareness: Breaking down barriers in long covid research
May 31, 2023 04:00 PM in Pacific TimeThere is irrefutable data on the underpinnings of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (aka Long COVID). However, despite the burgeoning research on the topic, it has taken some time for the medical community and the general public to recognize the existence and severity of Long Covid.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk
William Skinner – California doesn’t have a water problem – it has a storage and distribution deficiency.
Jun 14, 2023 04:00 PM in Pacific TimeIn recent years, California has faced severe droughts that have further highlighted the inadequacy of its water infrastructure. As a result, many experts argue that California doesn’t have a water problem per se but rather a storage and distribution deficiency.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk
Ceah Justice – From Ally to Co-conspirator, becoming active in the fight for social change.
July 12, 2023 04:00 PM in Pacific TimeIn a world of growing complex social problems— the ongoing pandemic, war, climate change, economic inequality, and rising populism—driving lasting positive social change in communities is on the minds of social innovators and racial justice leaders everywhere.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk
