Beyond the Lens: The Unseen Efforts Driving Change

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Ocean conservation is now often linked to striking visuals: majestic sharks, vibrant coral reefs, and crystal-clear waters teeming with life. The digital era has amplified this connection, with social media platforms, global travel, and content creators showcasing the ocean’s beauty and its challenges to audiences worldwide. However, the essence of conservation mostly lies in the unseen, behind-the-scenes work: rigorous research, countless lab and data analysis hours, strategic meetings, and collaborative lobbying efforts.

The Power of Imagery in Ocean Conservation

Caribbean reef shark. CC: Dr. Rachel Graham

There’s no denying the impact of visuals. Stunning photos and videos of marine life, the work being done in the field or the stark consequences of ecosystem damage can bridge the gap between awareness and action. These images evoke powerful emotions and serve as reminders of what is at stake.

Visuals play a pivotal role in conservation campaigns, helping to:

  • Raise global awareness.
  • Generate an emotional response.
  • Mobilize financial support.
  • Build public and political momentum.
 

But they are just the first step in a much longer process. Conservation begins where the hard work of decision-making takes place, driven by scientists and researchers analyzing critical data, local teams working tirelessly on the front lines, and collaborative efforts among diverse stakeholders to implement meaningful solutions.

Why Decision-Making is the Backbone of Conservation

Ocean conservation is a complex endeavor requiring robust strategies, multifaceted collaboration, and often, difficult compromises. It extends beyond inspiring visuals to what works on the ground – or, in our case, under the waves. Decision-making happens in spaces far removed from the ocean’s aesthetic allure: meeting rooms, conference calls, regional events, and community forums.

The revitalization of the National Shark Committee, co-founded by MarAlliance and the Honduran Government. CC: MarAlliance

In these spaces, diverse stakeholders come together to tackle critical challenges, such as:

  • Balancing marine protection with economic needs: Finding ways to safeguard marine biodiversity while supporting livelihoods dependent on fishing and tourism.
  • Navigating legal frameworks: Establishing marine protected areas (MPAs) often involves complex negotiations and regulatory hurdles.
  • Resolving stakeholder conflicts: Mediating between competing interests to develop sustainable solutions that work for all parties.
 

These discussions form the backbone of effective conservation. Every marine policy enacted, protected area established, and endangered species saved begins with these behind-the-scenes conversations.

The Aesthetic Gap in Conservation

The local team of fishermen attending to a fish spawning aggregation workshop in Belize. CC: MarAlliance

A key challenge in conservation communication is the aesthetic gap between captivating visuals and the less appealing reality of decision-making and data analysis. While beautiful imagery draws attention, it does not quite reflect the painstaking efforts required to achieve lasting progress.

Conservation also involves:

  • Hours of dialogue and negotiation.
  • Careful analysis of scientific data.
  • Planning solutions that are both practical and sustainable.
  • Building relationships and finding common ground among diverse stakeholders.
 

This invisible labor is crucial to turning awareness into meaningful action.

Our Science Coordinator, Dr. Ivy Baremore, presenting her research on deepwater fisheries at the American Fisheries Society Annual meeting in 2024.

Celebrating the Unseen Heroes of Conservation

The fishermen team in Belize is being interviewed while doing wildlife monitoring. CC: MarAlliance

“To truly advance ocean conservation, it’s essential to appreciate both the ocean’s beauty and the tireless efforts that go into protecting it – often invisible – which are the engine driving conservation forward.” 

Mireia Peris – MarAlliance’s Communications and Marketing Coordinator. 

By highlighting the behind-the-scenes aspects of conservation, we can:

  • Inspire deeper engagement: Encourage individuals and communities to support not just campaigns but also the organizations driving real change.
  • Foster understanding of conservation complexities: Help audiences grasp the intricate processes required to protect marine ecosystems by showcasing the “behind the scenes”. 
  • Recognize the unsung heroes: Celebrate scientists, local leaders, advocates, and policymakers who dedicate their lives to this cause.

The Path Forward

Effective ocean conservation demands a dual approach: leveraging compelling visuals to engage global audiences and shining a light on the critical, often invisible, work of strategic decision-making.

While images remind us why we care, the decisions made in meeting rooms determine whether the ocean’s beauty will endure for generations to come. By valuing both the inspirational and the operational sides of conservation, we can build a more sustainable future for our oceans and the communities that depend on them.

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Asistente de comunicación (Internship)

MarAlliance es una organización internacional sin ánimo de lucro registrada en EE.UU., Belice, Panamá y Cabo Verde, cuyo objetivo es explorar, facilitar e inspirar cambios positivos para la fauna marina amenazada, especialmente tiburones y rayas, sus hábitats críticos y las comunidades humanas dependientes. Nuestra misión es amplia y ambiciosa, y trabajamos en tres idiomas y en siete países de tres regiones. Ante el declive de muchas poblaciones de megafauna marina, estas especies necesitan una voz fuerte, eficaz y con base científica que las represente para ayudar a los socios dependientes a dar forma a las estrategias y acciones de gestión y conservación para invertir el declive.

Resumen del puesto:

Buscamos a un becario (6 meses) proactivo, con conocimientos digitales y excelente capacidad de redacción y edición de textos, que apoye la creación de contenidos escritos de alta calidad y recursos multicanal para difundir el trabajo que MarAlliance realiza a través de sus plataformas en línea (sitio web, redes sociales, boletín, entre otras) y fuera de línea, y que interactúe con nuestro público externo para contribuir a nuestros objetivos generales de comunicación y marketing. El Asistente de Comunicación dependerá directamente del Coordinador de Comunicación y Marketing, y trabajará en estrecha colaboración con el resto del equipo para apoyarles en los elementos de comunicación de su trabajo.

Las funciones y responsabilidades incluirán, entre otras, las siguientes:

  1. Proporcionar apoyo creativo, editorial y operativo a los proyectos. 
  2. Apoyo en la organización, etiquetado y etiquetado del archivo fotográfico y gestión del archivo de vídeo.
  3. Gestión de la comunidad: Gestionar activamente los canales de medios sociales, así como identificar nuevas tendencias y oportunidades de colaboración. Generar reels y visuales.
  4. Apoyo en la redacción de artículos de blog (SEO) y contenido de boletines. 
  5. Ayudar a construir y desarrollar materiales, herramientas y acciones para campañas (online y offline).
  6. Ayudar en diferentes tareas relacionadas con la comunicación trabajando mano a mano con contratistas externos (desarrollador web, diseñador gráfico…) para mejorar el compromiso de las audiencias externas.
  7. Apoyo en la elaboración de informes de campañas y comunicaciones (Google Analytics, métricas de redes sociales, informes de marketing por correo electrónico).
  8. Como parte del Equipo de Comunicación de MarAlliance, apoyar al Coordinador de Comunicación y Marketing en cualquier otro proyecto de comunicación, coherente con las habilidades y experiencia del titular del puesto, en circunstancias no rutinarias.

Experiencia, conocimientos y aptitudes requeridos:

  1. Licenciatura en comunicación, periodismo, marketing o cualquier disciplina relacionada.
  2. Experiencia en comunicación digital o marketing.
  3. Pasión e interés por la naturaleza, la vida marina y la conservación.
  4. Capacidad demostrada para redactar y presentar comunicaciones creativas.
  5. Presencia y conocimientos de medios sociales y digitales.
  6. Capacidad para realizar múltiples tareas y detectar buenas historias.
  7. Capacidad para trabajar a distancia y cumplir los plazos establecidos.
  8. Conocimientos de diseño gráfico deseables, pero no necesarios.
  9. Conocimientos de edición de vídeo deseables pero no necesarios. 

Salario y prestaciones:

Estipendio durante 6 meses.

Idiomas:

Español, con fluidez en inglés

Localización:

Nacionales o residentes de Panamá, Belice, México, Honduras, Guatemala.

Este contrato será a distancia dentro de las zonas horarias de América, flexible, a tiempo completo y desde casa con hasta un 10% de viajes ocasionales locales e internacionales.

Cómo presentar la candidatura:

Por favor, envíe su currículum, portfolio si lo tiene, y carta de presentación a info@maralliance.org con “MAR-CA_Apellido” en el asunto antes del 21 de marzo, 2024. No se admiten llamadas.

Communications Assistant (Internship)

MarAlliance is an international non-profit registered in the US, Belize, Panama and Cabo Verde that aims to explore, enable and inspire positive changes for threatened marine wildlife – notably sharks and rays – their critical habitats and dependent human communities. Our remit is broad and ambitious, and we work in three languages and across seven countries encompassed by three regions. In the face of declines in many populations of marine megafauna, these species need a strong, effective, and science-based voice to represent them to help dependent partners shape management and conservation strategies and action to reverse declines.

Position summary:

We are seeking for a proactive, digitally savvy Paid Intern (6 month) Communications Assistant with excellent writing and copy editing skills, who will support the creation of high-quality written content and multichannel assets to broadcast the work MarAlliance does through its online (website, social media, newsletter, among others) and offline platforms, and engage with our external audiences to contribute to our overall communications and marketing goals. The Communications Assistant will directly report consistently to the Communications and Marketing Coordinator, and work closely with the rest of the team to support them on the communications elements of their work.

Duties and responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

  1. Provide creative, editorial, and operational project support. 
  2. Support organizing, labeling and tagging the photo archive and video archive management.
  3. Community Management: Actively manage social media channels, as well as identify new trends and collaboration opportunities. Generate reels and visuals.
  4. Support with writing blog articles (SEO) and newsletter content. 
  5. Help build and develop materials, toolkits, and actions for (online and offline) campaigns.
  6. Assist in different communications-related tasks working hand in hand with external contractors (web developer, graphic designer…) to improve the engagement of external audiences.
  7. Support in campaign and communications reporting (Google Analytics, social media metrics, email marketing reports)
  8. As part of the MarAlliance Communications Team, support the Communications and Marketing Coordinator with any other communications projects, consistent with the skills and expertise of the post holder, in non-routine circumstances.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills Required:

  1. Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing or any related discipline.
  2. Experience working in digital communications and or marketing.
  3. Passion and interest for nature, marine life and conservation.
  4. Proven ability to write and deliver creative communications.
  5. Social Media and digital presence and knowledge.
  6. Ability to multitask and spot good stories.
  7. Capable of working remotely and meeting established deadlines.
  8. Graphic design skills are desirable but not required.
  9. Video editing skills are desirable but not required.

Salary and benefits:

Stipend for 6 month.

Language:

English, Spanish are mandatory.

Location:

Panama, Belize, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala nationals or residents. 

This contract will be remote within the Americas time zones, flexible, full-time and home-based with up to 10% occasional local and international travel.

How to apply:

Please send your resume, portfolio if you have one, and cover letter to info@maralliance.org with “MAR-CA_Last name” in the subject line by 21st of March, 2024. No calls please.