MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands: Ocean Watch ‘Around the Americas’ scientists moor in Stanley

AROUND the Americas yacht Ocean Watch moored in Stanley on Monday as part of its 24,000 nautical mile journey aimed at collecting data sets in a bid to raise global awareness of the oceans.

The 64’ steel cutter research platform carries a team of ten scientists whose project topics range from polar science and weather to jellyfish populations and the reflection solar energy.

Carol Peck of Falklands Conservation explained, “The Around the Americas voyage is a unique opportunity for scientists to collect new types of data and to test new methods and equipment and presents a unique chance for us in Stanley to learn more about their findings.”

Ms Peck said, “The crew intend to record and catalogue their voyage and findings in a film and have been interviewing local people, scientists and fishing crew on their journey including from the Falklands.

The Around the America's voyage was launched on the premise that the continents of North America and South America are, in essence, large islands surrounded by a complex, fragile ocean environment at risk on countless fronts. A major objective of the 13-month, journey is to demonstrate the inter-connectedness of the seemingly independent continent-islands.

Ocean Watch set forth from Seattle on May 31 and their route can be discovered and their journey followed at www.aroundtheamericas.org

By Lisa Watson – SeAled PR - Stanley