Remarkable People

Mission Blue's purpose is to explore and care for the ocean. We are committed to inspiring a sea change in public awareness, access and support for marine protected areas worldwide, ranging from the deepest ocean to sunlit reefs, and from the seamounts of the high seas to coastal seagrass meadows.

We draw inspiration from the vision evoked by our founder, Dr. Sylvia Earle: to ignite public support for a global network of marine protected areas--hope spots large enough to save and restore the ocean, the blue heart of the planet.

Under Dr. Earle's leadership, the Mission Blue team has embarked on a series of expeditions to further this vision and shed light on these ocean Hope Spots. We also bring the discoveries and stories of a network of ocean experts to the public through documentaries, social and traditional media, and innovative tools like Google Earth's "Explore the Ocean" layer. Additionally, we support the work of many conservation NGO’s with whom we share the basic mission of ocean protection and public awareness, most notably our global partner IUCN (the International Union for the Conservation of Nature). 

HRI'S Vision: A Gulf of Mexico that is ecologically and economically sustainable

Our Mission: To lead the way to a healthy and productive Gulf of Mexico

How will HRI accomplish its mission?

The Harte Research Institute, an endowed research component of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, is dedicated to advancing the long-term sustainable use and conservation of the Gulf of Mexico. To make this vision reality, HRI will:

sustain an environment to conduct meaningful and successful programs in research and education with highly qualified faculty, staff, and students;

promote excellence and innovation in interdisciplinary scientific research, public policy initiatives, and education of the public concerning the Gulf of Mexico;

encourage a tri-national responsibility and approach to understanding the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem, involving the United States, Mexico, and Cuba;

partner with other organizations that are dedicated to addressing issues related to the Gulf of Mexico, in order to achieve common goals; and,

freely disseminate research results to the scientific community, management agencies, the general public, and policy makers, in order to foster wise and appropriate use of the Gulf of Mexico.

HRI’s Goals and Objectives:

It is the goal of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies to be a research center of excellence providing international leadership in generating and disseminating knowledge about the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem and its critical role in the economies of the North American region. It is our further goal, to actively engage in efforts to both realize our vision and further our mission.  Our objectives include:

1. sustaining a commitment to high-quality, innovative research on the Gulf of Mexico;
2. leading efforts in synthesizing, integrating, and communicating Gulf of Mexico research;
3. developing and using the Harte Model as a means of applying the best available science in the development of policies to further our vision of the Gulf of Mexico;
4. committing to undertake Gulf Summits on a periodic basis and assess the health of the Gulf of Mexico and to uncover gaps in existing knowledge and to create initiatives to fill those gaps;
5. cooperating with state and federal resource management agencies by providing scientifically-based knowledge for sound policy and management of the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding region;
6. establishing partnerships and alliances with educational, governmental, nongovernmental, and private sector organizations interested in long-term sustainable use and conservation of the Gulf of Mexico;
7. developing a role in supporting  public policy programs, using diverse approaches including:
   • 
     A Gulf of Mexico website of research institutes, research personnel, research projects, and other information about the Gulf of Mexico.
   • Conferences on Gulf of Mexico scientific and policy issues.
8. developing a Gulf-wide Geographic Information System; fostering tri-national cooperation and collaboration in science and management of the Gulf of Mexico;
9. fostering tri-national cooperation and collaboration in science and management of the Gulf of Mexico;
10. developing and supporting outreach and education activities that promote the development of critical thinking skills;
11. advancing conservation biology and biodiversity of the Gulf of Mexico; and,
12. promoting the concept of the Gulf of Mexico as a large marine ecosystem, influenced by the Caribbean Sea and surrounding watersheds, requiring monitoring, modelling, and management.