The SeaWorld Conservation Fund has announced it has reached a milestone of more than $19 million in grants to organisations focused on the conservation of animals and their ecosystems. This includes 10 new grants made in 2021 for marine-specific programs spanning animal conservation and crisis, marine fish sustainability, marine aquatic debris clean-up, preservation of freshwater habitats, and a project to end lethal fishing gear entanglements by advancing rope less fishing.
Various marine animal species directly benefitting from these 2021 grants include penguins, dolphins, porpoises, and whales. Since its creation in 2003, more than 541 different marine-specific conservation projects across all seven continents have received funding and scientific support through fund grants.
‘We are honoured to support these wonderful programs and the committed people behind them that make a real difference in the preservation of species and their habitats,” said Dr. Chris Dold, President of the SeaWorld Conservation Fund and Chief Zoological Officer of SeaWorld.
“What makes us different is that we offer more than financial support. Our recipients have access to the large and diverse populations of animals in our care presenting opportunities to study, learn and apply findings to populations in the wild. Our experienced team, from animal care specialists to veterinarians and nutritionists, to researchers and scientists, are also available anytime to recipient organisations to consult and collaborate.”
The 2021 grants awarded to marine-related animal and ecosystems projects include:
Rescue and Rehabilitation of Southern African Penguins
Marine animal rescue and conservation is fundamental to the SeaWorld mission. It has rescued more than 39,000 marine animals, making SeaWorld one of the largest marine animal rescue organisations in the world. Fund grants further this mission by supporting other organisations that share the same cause.
In 2021, a grant was made to the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) to support their African Penguin Chick Bolstering Program and Cape Cormorant disaster response efforts.
Protecting Marine Habitats
The Fund supports projects that protect marine habitats as land and marine animal populations continue to face threats from both natural and man-made destruction. The 2021 grant recipients addressing these crises include:
- Audubon Florida for marsh and prairie restoration at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
- Tampa Bay Watch for the community action and partnership to reduce marine debris in Tampa Bay
- Rising Tide Conservation – Saving the Ocean One Fry at a Time two grants were made, one for the development of culture methods for marine ornamental fishes and the other for developing larviculture protocols for sustainable production of coral reef fishes
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for the ending of lethal fishing gear entanglements by advancing rope less fishing
- Advancing Research of Marine Animals
The Fund supports organisations whose species research leads to healthier and more biodiverse populations in the future. One such 2021 grant recipient is the Amazon River Dolphin Conservation Program to help further their work in population surveys and photo identification of dolphins in the Lower Rio Negro Region of Brazil.
Suzanne Smith, Executive Director of the Amazon River Dolphin Conservation Program stated “Our mission is to conserve the endangered Amazon River dolphin and its environment through research, education and collaboration and the support provided through the SeaWorld Conservation Fund is vital to helping us continue our important work.”
For more information, please visit https://swbg-conservationfund.org/about-us/
