MARE, the launch of a new Audiovisual Competition for the Conservation of the Balearic Sea
MARE encourages citizens to take part by entering unpublished images of the Balearic Sea together with a message about conservation of the Balearic Sea.
MARE is a photography and video competition that invites the public to capture the beauty of the Balearic Sea and get involved in its conservation. It is a collaborative initiative promoted by organisations and institutions committed to marine conservation and nature photography and video.
On 9thJuly, MARE was launched at the Mhares Club. From 7:00am a group of underwater photographers jumped into the waters of the Palma Marine Reserve to take the first images for MARE.
Professional and amateur photographers can participate, by taking pictures from the shore or below the surface of the sea. The registration form and the rules and guidelines are available on the website www.marebalear.org. Photographs, videos and photo reports can be sent from 9 July to 31 October 2020. The website has an updated agenda with scheduled activities such as talks and workshops planned over the next months in all Balearic islands. MARE also has an Instagram and Facebook channel.
At the end of 2020 MARE plans to organize several events and exhibitions with the best images and videos of the Balearic Sea. There will be exhibitions on all the islands and an award ceremony. MARE is an initiative with a long-term horizon and the ambition to establish itself as an annual marine photography event of reference at Balearic, national and Mediterranean level.
A collaborative initiative open to all
MARE is a collaborative initiative open to the participation of other entities and sponsors who want to shine light on the beauty of the Balearic Sea and work for its conservation. MARE has been hatched and launched by the Marilles Foundation, together with the Menorca Biosphere Reserve, Ibiza and Formentera Preservation Foundation, Mallorca Preservation Foundation, Menorca Preservation Fund, Iniciatives Mediterrànies and Foro Marino de Ibiza y Formentera.
To date, many organizations have joined MARE and contributed their knowledge and experience in the marine photo and video world, such as AFONIB (Association of Nature Photographers of the Balearic Islands), Montphoto (International Nature and Mountain Photography Competition), FotoRuano, FBDAS (Balearic Federation of Underwater Activities), IRCC (International RAW Compliance Committee). MARE also benefit from the collaboration of diving centres, photography professionals and other organisations committed to the Balearic Sea such as ACBIB (Association of Diving Centres of the Balearic Islands), Save the Med, Scuba Diving Ibiza, Vellmarí Association, Mar Balear Port Adriano, Albatros Diving, Tramuntana Diving and SKUALO Diving Centres.
Sara Garcia, coordinator of MARE, says: "Life under the sea is an ongoing show that not everyone is lucky enough to enjoy. Through the power of images MARE wants to bring the sea closer to people and create a connection that will help accelerate action for its conservation. MARE wants to show the sea as it has never been seen before, with all its splendour and beauty, but also to raise awareness about many of the challenges it faces. Let the show begin!
She adds: "The birth of MARE has been possible thanks to the help of many organizations and underwater photography professionals. We are at the beginning of a long road and we will need loads of support to secure high levels of participation and to ensure the beauty of the Balearic Sea reaches a wide audience in the Balearics and beyond".
Aniol Esteban, director of the Marilles Foundation: "The Balearic Islands have one of the best preserved seas and coasts of the Mediterranean, but they are also under huge pressure. The prosperity of the Balearic Islands and the well-being of its citizens is conditional on having a sea in an excellent state ofconservation. At a time of crisis like the one we are experiencing, an initiative like MARE is more necessary than ever. MARE puts the focus on the natural wealth that lies beneath the waters of the Balearic Islands and inspires society's action to protect it. The conservation of the sea and the coast of the islands is and must be a key pillar of the economic recovery of the Balearics".
Joe Holes, Iniciatives Mediterrànies: "The sea is like the blood that runs through the veins of the Balearic inhabitant. It is thanks to the sea that our economy prospered as pioneers of trade and it is thanks to the sea that our islands have become a world reference in the tourism industry, which has brought prosperity and wealth, even with all the risks and imbalances that it entails. Today, in the 21st century, the health and preservation of the sea that defines us is more in danger than ever. At Iniciatives Mediterrànies we believe that it is time to support initiatives such as MARE that help unite forces from many actors to protect the Balearic Sea".
Hans Lenz, Director of Mallorca Preservation: "Mallorca Preservation Foundation is committed to the conservation of the Balearic Sea and is happy to support the MARE project. Knowledge and dissemination about our fragile sea is vital for its conservation. Thanks to the enormous effort of Marilles and other organizations dedicated to the protection of the sea, we are more capable than ever of generating a real change in our relationship with the sea. We owe it to them, there is much man-made damage that we must repair.
2020, open call
The 2020 call is now open. Until the 31st of October, participants can submit digital photographs taken in the Balearic Sea that capture its richness and beauty, as well as the human relationship with the sea, whether they are about human pressures or success stories. There is also an option to submit videos and photographic reports. These formats are not eligible for prizes, but they will be acknowledged and will be included in the public exhibitions.
In all cases, entries must be taken in the Balearic Sea area; delimited by the 1,000 m depth line around the Balearic archipelago. MARE has established two categories: Young (< 18 years) and Adult (> 18 years). Registration is free for members of AFONIB, FBDAS and associated dive centres. Entries for photographs with the IRCC certificate will pay a fee of 7 euros, with a general fee of 10 euros for the rest.
Agenda
The first activities programmed around the event are free talks related to audiovisual arts and marine conservation.
21st July, in Ibiza: "A tour of conservation photography", by Manu San Félix.
30th July, in Menorca: "The art of underwater photography", by Enric Gener.
For further information
Sara Garcia - MARE Coordinator sara.garcia@marilles.org
