Partners for conservation

Blue Ventures fosters working partnerships with communities, NGOs, governments and private sector organisations to promote marine conservation. Meet some of our strategic partners.

“...a model for everyone working to conserve the natural life-support systems of our troubled planet."

Sir David Attenborough

				Velondriake The remote fishing village of Andavadoaka, population 1,200, is located along the southwest coast of Madagascar. For the past four years, Andavadoaka has worked with Blue Ventures and others to develop effective community conservation strategies aimed at protecting local natural resources. In 2007, Andavadoaka won the prestigious UN Equator Prize for its work to protect marine resources and develop sustainable livelihoods. Andavadoaka is now part of Velondriake, the Velondriake locally managed marine area (LMMA), which is governed by representatives from 25 villages and is the largest community-managed marine protected area in the Indian Ocean.

				AQUALUNG Aqua Lung is the name that first introduced the world to Scuba diving more than 60 years ago when Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Emille Gagnan developed the first “Aqua-Lung.” Today, Aqua Lung is the leading supplier of equipment for recreational, technical and military applications in more than 30 countries. Aqua Lung is the exclusive supplier of diving equipment for Blue Ventures conservation expeditions.

				ARKive Blue Ventures marine scientists have contributed a number of images of coral reef species to the ARKive project, a digital library of the world's biodiversity, accessible to all.

				Ashoka Ashoka is the global association of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs—men and women with system changing solutions for the world’s most urgent social problems. Ashoka has been a supporter of Blue Ventures' work since 2008.

				British High Commission Mauritius The British High Commission in Mauritius is currently also responsible for relations with Madagascar and the Comoros, working closely with government on issues of mutual interest such as good governance and human rights. The British High Commission in Mauritius supports our shark and turtle research and conservation program.

				Centre de Surveillance de Pêche Blue Ventures collaborates with the Centre de Surveillance de Pêche, Madagascar to improve monitoring and control of marine fisheries around the world.

				Copefrito Blue Ventures is working with Copefrito, a fish collection company, to develop alternative livelihoods in Madagascar and to gather data on the numbers and types of marine species harvested along the southwest coast of Madagascar.

				CORDIO East Africa CORDIO East Africa is a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee, under the laws of Kenya. It’s mission is to promote monitoring and research, offer networking and training opportunities, raise environmental awareness and develop education products related to coral reefs and other marine ecosystems in East Africa. CORDIO EA supports Blue Ventures' socio-economic monitoring research.

				Darwin Initiative The Darwin Initiative, run the the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, assists countries that are rich in biodiversity but poor in financial resources to meet their objectives under one or more of the three major biodiversity Conventions: the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES); and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), through the funding of collaborative projects which draw on UK biodiversity expertise. The Darwin Initiative supports Blue Ventures' work to develop sustainable financing mechanisms to conserve mangrove biodiversity and alleviate poverty in Madagascar.

				DigitalGlobe DigitalGlobe is a leading provider of high quality earth imagery and geospatial information products. They have generously provided satellite imagery for use in Blue Ventures' GIS outputs.

				Diveandtraveltheworld Karin has been a champion of Blue Ventures' work in Madagascar for the past decade. We wish Karin all the best with her world record SCUBA diving attempt, raising awareness of some of the world's remotest marine destinations.

				ESRI ESRI, the world's leading developer and designer of geographic information system (GIS) technology, provides support for Blue Ventures conservation activities.
				Fonds Français pour l'Environnement Mondial (FFEM) FFEM, are the French fund for the environment, supporting Blue Ventures with marine biodiversity conservation through the establishment of a marine extension to the Kirindy Mite National Park

				GeoEye Foundation The GeoEye Foundation is a not-for-profit philanthropic organization headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, focused on fostering the growth of the next generation of geospatial technology professionals. GeoEye support Blue Ventures' work with monitoring fisheries in SW Madagascar via satellite imagery.

				Indian Ocean Commission Blue Ventures has worked closely with the Indian Ocean Commission, supported by the European Union, on a number of fisheries and aquaculture projects in the western Indian Ocean region

				Institut Halieuteque et des Sciences Marines (IHSM) The IHSM is Madagascar's principle marine research institute. Blue Ventures partners with the IHSM to collect data on marine resources, develop conservation strategies and implement management plans.

				IUCN Blue Ventures' is a member of the IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network, and helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN is a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organisations, and some 10,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries.

				Kew: Millennium Seed Bank Project The Millennium Seed Bank Project is the largest ex situ conservation project ever conceived. Blue Ventures is providing images to Kew of plant species for a guide to botanical conservation work in Madagascar.

				Hogan Lovells Lovells is one of the largest international business legal practices, with over three thousand people operating from 26 offices in Europe, Asia and the United States. Lovells has partnered with Blue Ventures to provide legal advice and support.

				The MacArthur Foundation The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is a private, independent grantmaking institution working in 60 countries around the world to help groups and individuals foster lasting improvement in the human condition. The MacArthur Foundation is helping fund the creation of the Velondriake community-run protected area in Madagascar.

				Madagascar National Parks Madagascar National Parks (MNP) manage Madagascar’s protected areas system to enable local communities to benefit directly from conservation. Blue Ventures and MNP work closely together to develop conservation strategies that benefit both people and nature.

				Marie Stopes International Marie Stopes International is a not-for-profit sexual and reproductive health (SRH) organisation that uses modern business methods to achieve the social goal of preventing unintended pregnancies and unplanned births in 38 countries worldwide. Marie Stopes Madagascar is working with Blue Ventures to support reproductive health and family planning projects in villages where we work.

				Marine Conservation Action Fund The Marine Conservation Action Fund's (MCAF) objective is to protect and promote ocean biodiversity through small-scale time-sensitive community-based programs. MCAF provides support and collaboration to projects around the world that link local communities, help protect highly vulnerable species and habitats and promote the sustainable use of oceans. MCAF are supporting Blue Ventures by providing funding so that the Velondriake LMMA boundaries can be demarcated.

				The Network for Social Change The Network for Social Change is a collective committed to funding sustainability and social justice. The Network works to help fund projects that promote progressive social and ecological change, with most grants directed at external charities and organisations. The Network has also initiated a number of major projects concerning issues such as climate change, debt relief and localism.

				Oceans 2012 Ocean2012 is a coalition dedicated to ensuring that the 2012 reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy stops overfishing, ends destructive fishing practices, and delivers a fair and equitable use of healthy fish stocks. Blue Venture is a member of Oceans2012.

				Phillip Island Nature Parks Phillip Island Nature Parks is a non-for-profit organisation which is dedicated to nature conservation and ecotourism. The Nature Park in Victoria, Australia, is home to unique wildlife and coastal scenery. This includes the largest Little Penguin colony in the world and one of Australia’s most popular natural wildlife attractions – the Penguin Parade. Al Harris, Blue Ventures' Founder and Research Director, is the Penguin Foundation's latest Ambassador and is working with Phillip Island to help raise funds and awareness to support the Foundation’s mission to protect the Little Penguin Colony.

				Population and Sustainability Network The Population and Sustainability Network was established to communicate the importance for sustainability of both population and consumption factors. It aims to bring together development, environment and reproductive health NGOs, government departments, academics and others, to increase leverage on population issues. The Network support Blue Ventures family planning project in Andavadoaka, South West Madagascar

				Project AWARE Foundation Project AWARE is the dive industry’s leading non-profit environmental group working to protect aquatic resources in 175 countries. Blue Ventures and Project AWARE are partnering to help coordinate activities in the UK during the 2008 International Year of the Reef. Project Aware also supports Blue Ventures’ Shark Monitoring Programme.

				RARE Conservation Rare is the global leader in social marketing for biodiversity conservation, training and supporting leaders from the world's top environmental organisations in over 50 countries in social marketing, a method for changing attitudes and behaviours. Blue Ventures staff member, Gildas Andriamalala, will be running RARE's first campaign in Madagascar beginning in Spring 2009, with the aim of building public support for the sustainable management of threatened coral reefs ad marine resources in southwest Madagascar.

				Regional Programme for the Sustainable Management of the Coastal Zones of the Indian Ocean Countries (ReCoMaP) Supporting development of Blue Ventures' community-based aquaculture programmes in Madagascar.

				Reef Doctor ReefDoctor is a UK not-for-profit organisation working in the small fishing village of Ifaty, 27km north of Toliara, SW Madagascar. Blue Ventures is collaborating with Reef Doctor on community environmental education programmes in SW Madagascar.

				The Rufford Small Grants Foundation The Rufford Small Grants Foundation is a private grant-making trust based in the UK. They are providing support to our marine turtle research in southwest Madagascar.

				Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD) The Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development is a community-based organization dedicated to improving quality of life of the key communities of Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (CBWS) through conservation, effective protected areas management, promotion of sustainable use of natural resources and the promotion of alternative livelihoods. The Alliance provides a mechanism for local individuals, associations and organizations in Sarteneja to communicate and collaborate, bringing together representatives from the fishing, tourism, education and conservation sectors of the community.

				Seaworld and Busch Garden Conservation Fund Focusing on species research, animal rescue and rehabilitation, habitat protection and conservation education, the Fund supports solution-oriented projects that benefit both wildlife and people around the world. The Fund is a supporter of Blue Ventures’ Shark Monitoring Programme.

				Shark Alliance The Shark Alliance is a global, not-for-profit coalition of non-governmental organizations dedicated to restoring and conserving shark populations by improving shark conservation policies.

				SmartFish The SmartFish Programme aims at contributing to an increased level of social, economic and environmental development and deeper regional integration in the ESA-IO region through improved capacities for the sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources. Blue Ventures and Smartfish are working together on several projects including a market analysis of the shark fishery and strategies for marine fisheries governance in Madagascar.

				Synchronicity Earth Synchronicity Earth supports conservation solutions that are innovative, effective, and sustainable, and has partnered with Blue Ventures since 2013 to support our strategic growth and development.

				Toyota Environmental Activities Grant Program A corporate philanthropic activity by Toyota Motor Corporation to support environmental revitalisation and conservation activities both in Japan and overseas for the purpose of sustainable development. The program provides support to the Velondriake community run Marine Protected Area.

				UNICEF Our partnership with UNICEF is allowing us to dramatically increase our environmental education activities, both in and out of the classroom, and to incorporate the use of innovative audiovisual techniques and technologies. Among the highlights of this partnership, a select group of Velondriake youth is being trained to record their experiences as new young conservationists, and to produce radio programs and films designed to engage and educate their peers on local environmental issues.

				United Nations Population Fund, Madagascar Blue Ventures' integrated population, health and environment (PHE) programme in Madagascar is supported by the United Nations Population Fund

				Université de Toliara Université de Toliara, Madagascar is the parent university of the Institut Halieuteque et des Sciences Marines (IHSM), Madagascar's principle marine research institute. Blue Ventures partners with the IHSM to collect data on marine resources, develop conservation strategies and implement management plans.

				UnLtd UnLtd, a charity which supports social entrepreneurs, has been supporting Blue Ventures' work since 2008.

				Velondriake Velondriake (to live with the sea) is a network of villages in south west Madagascar that have joined together to sustainably manage their natural resources through a series of marine protected areas. Local communities work with Blue Ventures to identify key habitats and to protect the unique marine environment of the region. Communities are being trained in conservation science and planning, and have established a management board that will oversee the implementation, management and monitoring of protected areas.

				Wildlife Conservation Society WCS, an international non-profit that works to protect wildlife and wildlands, partners with Blue Ventures to conserve threatened marine habitats in Madagascar.

				WIOMSA Blue Ventures is an institutional member of WIOMSA; the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association, a regional professional, non-governmental, non-profit, membership organization, registered in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The organization is dedicated to promoting the educational, scientific and technological development of all aspects of marine sciences throughout the region of the Western Indian Ocean with a view toward sustaining the use and conservation of its marine resources.

				WWF Central America WWF's mission is the conservation of nature. Using the best available scientific knowledge and advancing that knowledge where we can, we work to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth and the health of ecological systems by: 1.) protecting natural areas and wild populations of plants and animals, including endangered species; 2.) promoting sustainable approaches to the use of renewable natural resources; and 3.) promoting more efficient use of resources and energy and the maximum reduction of pollution. WWF has been protecting the future of nature for more than 45 years and is working in more than 100 countries.

				Year Out Group Blue Ventures is a member of the Year Out Group, a not-for-profit association that promotes well-structured year out programmes and helps young people and their advisers select suitable and worthwhile projects.

Partners for conservation

Blog »

Velondriake »

livewiththesea.org/handbooks »

wiomweb.org »