Whale Being: On a mission to raise awareness about our oceans
Photo by Romain Charrier
Meet the Luxembourger setting sail as part of a mission to raise awareness about the impact of human activities on our oceans
Interview by Jenny Biver
Photography courtesy of Romain Charrier and Arvik Ocean
Laetitia Michell, member of the Arvik Ocean expedition Whale Being
In landlocked Luxembourg, a young marine biologist, dedicated to the protection of the ocean and its inhabitants, is preparing herself for a sailing mission in the waters of northern Europe. Organised by citizen initiative Arvik Ocean, the sailing mission Whale Being departs on May 1st with the goal of researching humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins in order to raise awareness about the impact of human activities on marine life.
We caught up with Laetitia Mitchell to learn more about her commitment, the Whale Being mission, and why it matters to a country with no coastal access.
Can you tell us a little bit about the project you are embarking on?
Upon returning from their first expedition on the trail of humpback whales in Iceland, Guénola and Charly gathered together a small group of friends passionate about the protection of the oceans and Arvik Ocean was born.
During our 2023 mission aboard our sailboat, Migaloo, a 10-meter long gladiator built in 1977, my teammates and I will sail from Brest in Brittany, France to England and Scotland, and then on to Iceland. During the expedition, we will meet with people who work to protect aquatic mammals and in particular explore the impacts of fishing on marine life in this region of the world. We will also be in touch with local NGOs and scientists and aim to support them in their work. Our goal is to raise public awareness and contribute to scientific research.
Photo by Romain Charrier
Our boat will allow us to observe bottlenose dolphins in England and humpback whales in Iceland, at times in very remote locations. Such observations include photographic or sound identifications of whales and dolphins that will be used for different research programmes. We will also carry out beach clean-ups.
Throughout this adventure, we’ll be documenting our encounters and what we learn in order to share what has touched us most. All this is possible thanks to my teammates who all share the same passion and commitment to the oceans.
What kind of preparation is necessary for such a journey and what are your expectations?
Photo by Arvik Ocean
Preparation is a major part of the adventure. Once our team was formed, we quickly came up with our mission and what we wanted to produce in order to raise awareness. We also started preparations for a documentary film, educational workshops, an exhibition, and a book.
At the same time, we got in touch with potential partners in the field. Thanks to the different profiles within our team, the preparations have progressed rapidly. We are now actively looking for financing and are looking for organisations that want to support our cause and provide assistance in the form of a sponsorship or partnership.
I think that we all expect to learn from this adventure but also to take action. We are looking forward to discovering and highlighting the work of local NGOs and scientists who work for the preservation of species threatened by human activities. We also want to offer concrete support to their work. Our vision is also to share as much as we can about our experience.
What does the ocean mean to you and what inspires you about the ocean?
The magic of the vastness of the oceans has always aroused my curiosity. I wanted to understand how marine ecosystems function and are connected to life on land. As soon as I understood that everything was linked, I also understood that we have a mission: to preserve marine life in order to preserve life on Earth.
The humpback whale is a fascinating species to me. Individual whales can travel thousands of kilometres per year. On top of that, they have developed an extremely complex communication system composed of songs and clicks that seem to be infinitely diverse.
Photo by Arvik Ocean
What are you looking forward to the most?
I'm really looking forward to getting back to the sea and the intensity of sailing, but even more than that, I'm looking forward to watching bottlenose dolphins in the south of England, and talking to our partners on-site about the challenges of their work, such as Sussex Dolphin, an NGO involved in research for the preservation of marine mammals in the English Channel.
What are you least looking forward to?
The sailing conditions. Hopefully, the sea and sky will be with us when the team needs them most!
How is this trip relevant for Luxembourgers who do not have access to the coast?
Photo by Arvik Ocean
I think it is even more essential to show the wonders of the oceans to people who live far from the sea. In Luxembourg, we have beautiful nature, but we don’t have daily reminders of the magic of a healthy sea. Moreover, Luxembourg is one of the largest consumers of fish in the world. That is why it is essential to create awareness about the damage that certain fishing practices can cause. Luxembourgers also have an impact on the health of the oceans and can get involved in their conservation.
What is the message you would like to convey to people regarding the protection of the oceans?
It is urgent that we understand the links between our human activities and the health of the oceans. Despite the distance between our daily lives and the coast, our terrestrial ecosystems are all interconnected. Our daily choices have repercussions for the oceans and therefore affect the services they provide us. I believe that everyone can choose to become informed and make better choices, around food for example. The weakening of the oceans is weakening our earth system as a whole.
Where can we follow your journey?
Beginning May 1st you’ll be able to follow the expedition on our Facebook and Instagram as well as on our website. You can already check our social accounts to see the preparations!