Boris Herrmann: “I am passionate about conserving the Ocean”

Climate change and its disastrous consequences for our planet rank high on the political and public agenda – and rightly so. However, many people do not realise how closely the issue of climate change is also linked to the health of the Ocean. Can you explain how they are connected?

The vast majority of people know that trees and forests play a key role as “the lungs of our planet” in combating climate change. However, the fundamental importance of the world’s Ocean in mitigating the effects of climate change is less well known. In simple terms, our Ocean acts as a type of “air conditioning system” for the planet by functioning as a massive heat and carbon sink. Let’s not forget that 72% of the earth’s surface is covered by the Ocean; that gives you an indication of the capacity of these vast, deep bodies of water to absorb heat energy and to capture carbon emissions.

Unfortunately, our Ocean is also bearing the brunt of these man-made effects. First, in the process of capturing CO₂ from the air, our Ocean is becoming more acidified – with a devastating impact on marine life. Further, the temperature of the Ocean is rising as the earth heats up – and when that happens, these bodies of water are no longer able to absorb the same amount of heat and carbon at the same rate – meaning their ability to mitigate climate change is diminished, creating a vicious cycle. This shows just how closely our Ocean and the phenomenon of climate change are interconnected – and why ocean conservation is vital.

What exactly is meant by the term “ocean conservation”?

“Ocean conservation” is the term used to describe the protection and preservation of our Ocean and seas and the marine ecosystems within them. Conservation efforts – in the form of policies and direct action – are urgently needed to restore the health of our Ocean, which is being harmed as a result of human activities such as the over-exploitation of fish stocks and other marine resources, as well as pollution and ultimately climate change. The fact that “ocean conservation” is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined by the United Nations in 2015 to combat major global challenges shows the importance assigned to this topic.

How do you and Team Malizia contribute to ocean conservation?

As a team, we contribute to ocean conservation in three ways. The first is by raising public awareness of the urgent need to take climate action and to find solutions to protect our Ocean. That is why we launched our “A Race We Must Win – Climate Action Now” campaign. Part of our mission involves working with schools around the globe through our “My Ocean Challenge” programme to educate children about sailing, ocean science and the environmental factors currently affecting our seas. To date, we have reached over 55,000 children and young people, who are very powerful advocates for this cause.

Second, together with the Mama Earth Foundation, we have created the Malizia Mangrove Park in the Philippines / Mati, Davao Oriental. Our aim is to plant an additional one million mangroves in the park, funded through donations. The park has a key role to play in helping to restore the ecosystem, as mangroves capture high amounts of CO₂, which is so harmful to our climate.

The third way we contribute to ocean conservation is by helping to increase scientific knowledge about the ocean carbon cycle and ocean acidification. We use innovative data collection methods that combine sailing and science to gather valuable information about the Ocean. We also want to highlight innovative solutions and technologies that can help combat the climate crisis: Our new boat Malizia - Seaexplorer, which is a high-tech yacht equipped with solar panels and foils and built from recycled materials, is a prime example.

As you just said, the new Malizia - Seaexplorer is much more than a yacht; it is a technically sophisticated research vessel that collects data for science. How did this come about and what do you do with all this data?

That’s correct. Malizia – Seaexplorer has a mini-laboratory onboard so that we can collect ocean data from remote parts of the world, such as the Southern Ocean. While competing in transatlantic and around-the-world races over a period of four years, we will cover around 70,000 nautical racing miles – a vast area, much of which is under-sampled. We use modern sensor technologies that provide continuous readings of pCO₂ levels in the ocean. The data samples we collect will enable experts at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, GEOMAR and Future Ocean to estimate the CO₂ exchange between the Ocean and the atmosphere and find out more about the processes involved. The resulting insights will support measures to limit ocean acidification and the broader effort to combat climate change.

What motivates you to take on all these additional projects? In other words: What is your purpose?

At Team Malizia, we are competing in “A Race We Must Win” for two reasons. The first is our desire to sail competitively to win; our entire crew has its sights set on victory in our next big race – The Ocean Race – which is the ultimate ocean marathon. The second reason for taking on these additional projects is our commitment to ocean conservation and to helping protect the climate. I think this mission gives new meaning to what we do as a team out on the water. We want to make our voices heard and mobilise people and win their support for this important cause. All this gives our sailing purpose.

What are your next goals in "A Race We Must Win"? Are there aspects of this campaign that you need to accelerate?

We are also engaged in a race against time and we want to secure as much support as possible to protect our Ocean and the climate. It is all about taking action now – moving even faster to bring people onboard and raise awareness about the urgent need to tackle these challenge head on. We also want to contribute to the political discussion about this key topic and we are proud to announce that we are applying to be the first sailing team to participate in political expert groups such as the European Sustainable Shipping Forum or the EU4Ocean Project.

Despite all the effort you and Team Malizia are investing in your projects around ocean health and protection in order to win this important "race", targeted action is also needed from governments, organisations and of course the private sector. What role can the economy or private sector play in this context?

The private sector can provide much needed financial support for initiatives such as ours. We want Team Malizia to not only become one of the world’s most exciting and successful sailing crews, but to also be a true champion for sustainability and climate action. We work with several partners that share our values and understand our aspirations, including EFG International, which was one of the first companies to join forces with Team Malizia back in 2016. Alongside the financial dimension of their support, these companies play a valuable role by leveraging their networks and capabilities to help draw attention to our mission among a diverse group of stakeholders around the globe. I am hugely excited by the prospect of what we can all achieve together.

Where does your love for the ocean come from and what does the sea mean to you personally?

I have a very strong affinity with the Ocean. I grew up in Northern Germany, close to the sea. My parents were avid sailors and we spent our weekends and vacations out on the water. At a young age, sailing became second nature to me. I was fortunate enough to turn my passion into a profession and that has given me the opportunity to spend a lot of time out on the Ocean. It is my workplace, my playground and sometimes my home. Some years, I spend more than 100 days out at sea. This partly explains why I am also so passionate about conserving this marine environment, which is of such fundamental importance to all life on our planet.