Fisheries and Aquaculture
September 12, 2014

Supporting Youth Engagement in Marine Stewardship

Team Sedna Arctic Aquarium Receives Provincial Government Support

Team Sedna, a group of divers and scientists, began their three-year mission exploring Arctic waters aboard the MV Cape Race this summer and delivering educational outreach about marine life. Provincial Government support helped outfit the team’s vessel with an “Arctic aquarium” to house collected marine specimens, which were shown to Inuit youth visiting the vessel, and will also be broadcast through Team Sedna’s global social network and media channels.

“The Provincial Government was very pleased to provide $5,000 to help Team Sedna develop unique learning opportunities regarding climate change and its impact on marine life in arctic environments. Advancing education and awareness initiatives involving ocean environments is a priority for this government, and this project presented a tremendous opportunity to give young people a valuable and memorable learning experience.”
- The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture

The team is named for Sedna, the Inuit goddess of the sea. Team Sedna’s three-year mission is to educate and engage the public about the wonders of the Arctic and the impact of changing environmental conditions. The team will conduct research and gather samples while snorkeling over 3,000 kilometres across the Northwest Passage – the first attempt of its kind by anyone. During the three-year expedition the team will visit communities in Labrador, Nunavut, and Western Greenland. The initial trip this past July was the first trial run for the group. Ruby Banwait, a member of Team Sedna, has a special connection to Newfoundland and Labrador, as she helped establish the Petty Harbour Mini Aquarium in the community of Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove.

“I greatly appreciate the funding the Provincial Government provided to Team Sedna, and I applaud the Provincial Government for its many efforts to promote environmental awareness and marine engagement among youth, including its support for the mini aquarium. Creating first-hand learning opportunities like these leaves a lasting impression on young people, and promotes a lifelong appreciation of the need to protect the habitats that surround us.”
- Ruby Banwait, Team Sedna Expedition Biologist

Team Sedna was funded through the Provincial Government’s Coastal and Oceans Strategy and Policy Framework, which provides a long-term vision for planning and management, and conservation and sustainable use of the province’s coastal and ocean areas and resources.

QUICK FACTS

• The Provincial Government provided $5,000 to support a marine expedition aimed at providing unique learning opportunities to youth interested in marine environments.
• The funding was used to assist Team Sedna with establishing an aquarium on board the MV Cape Race to display species collected during a 15-day trial run that took place in July 2014.
• Over the course of three years, the 116-foot MV Cape Race will travel along the Labrador coast to Baffin Island, and then across the Davis Strait to Western Greenland.
• Team Sedna also intends to educate youth through Internet-based engagements that will be developed over the course of the three-year expedition.

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Media contacts: Jason Card Director of Communications Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture 709-729-3733, 699-0470 jasoncard@gov.nl.ca

Ruby Banwait Expedition Biologist Team Sedna Expedition rubybanwait@shaw.ca

2014 09 12         3:55 p.m.