Sustaining a Resilient Coastline: Joining Forces with The International SeaKeepers Society

MIAMI, FL – South Florida’s beloved waterways face ongoing challenges including beach erosion, rising sea levels, and degradation of coral reefs. Critical to addressing these issues is data, and Ballyhoo Media, in partnership with The International SeaKeepers Society, is stepping up to be a part of the solution through the Seabed 2030 program. 

As part of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, this groundbreaking partnership will leverage Ballyhoo Media’s fleet of digital billboard boats to collect critical data that will help drive scientific research and lead to long-term solutions for Florida’s pressing environmental concerns. 

By studying seabeds, scientists will have better insight into the impact of climate change on our waterways and identify marine life habitats that are in danger. Yet, as of May 2023, only 25% of the ocean’s floor has been mapped. By 2030, the Seabed 2030 project aims to map 100% of the ocean’s floor to improve our understanding of the world’s oceans and support the sustainable use of marine resources. This invaluable data will enable a better grasp of the intricate web of ocean circulation patterns, which impact climate, weather, tides, and wave actions. 

“Addressing the ocean’s ecological challenges without accurate data is like trying to sail through a storm without a compass,” said Nate Shapiro, Vice President of Ballyhoo Media. “The presence of our fleet of digital billboard boats is strong in South Florida, which puts us in a unique position to make a substantial contribution to this critical data collection effort.” 

Launched by the UN Ocean Conference in 2017, the Seabed 2030 program is equipping Ballyhoo Boats with data logging technology attached to the boats’ navigation system. Every two months, The International SeaKeepers Society will collect the data from the boats and add it to the Seabed 2030 database. The information collected will produce a more accurate and detailed picture of the seafloor in Southeast Florida than ever before, helping scientists and researchers to better understand the complex ecosystems that exist beneath the waves.  

“The International SeaKeepers Society is thrilled to partner with Ballyhoo Media in the Seabed 2030 project,” said Katie Sheahan, The International SeaKeepers Society’s Citizen Science Manager. “SeaKeepers is proud to celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2023 and continue our mission of protecting and advocating for our oceans. With Ballyhoo’s involvement in the Seabed 2030 project, we will be better equipped to map Florida coastlines and contribute valuable data to this initiative.”

Earlier this year, Ballyhoo launched the Blue Beacon program, a specialized division within the company dedicated to promoting environmental technologies and initiatives. This comprehensive program encompasses a wide range of activities, including environmental technology implementation, carbon offsetting efforts, water testing initiatives, clean-up campaigns, and much more.

“Since 2016, Ballyhoo Media has been utilizing our digital screens for environmental messaging and education,” said Adam Shapiro, President of Ballyhoo Media. “Now, we are taking our efforts to the next level with the Seabed 2030 program. This initiative, a part of our Blue Beacon Program, enables us to collect crucial data to make a real impact on ocean sustainability,” Shapiro continued. “This marks the beginning of something remarkable, and we take pride in being one of the few commercial boating companies actively working towards ocean sustainability every single day.”

Data collected through Seabed 2030 aims to fill scientific research gaps, benefiting navigational safety, detect unknown hazards, and aid mariners and ocean scientists. This data collection is made possible through support from the Nippon Foundation and General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO).