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Mission Blue names Chesapeake Bay a Hope Spot

By Sherry Hamilton on June 18, 2025
mathews mission blue hope spot
Work done by the Explorers Club undersea expedition team that came to Mathews last month has resulted in the Chesapeake Bay being named a Hope Spot by Dr. Sylvia Earle’s Mission Blue international organization. The 13-member team is shown here with additional divers who were at a public gathering held at Williams Wharf last month. They are gathered around the Aquascope designed and built by Gwynn’s Island explorer and boatbuilder Gilbert Klingel. They are, front row from left: Taylor Griffith, Natalia Benejam, Clarita Berger, Dr. Earle, expedition leader Helena Janulis, Monica Talbert, Justine Whitaker, Craig Cook, Constance Difede; second row, Ted Janulis, Nick Caloyianis, Shelly Van Cleve, Eugen Babau, Stephen Tomasetti; and back row (seated on truck), Mark Miller, Morgan Bennett-Smith and Christina Janulis.

Mission Blue, an organization established by legendary oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, has named the Chesapeake Bay a Hope Spot, making it number 166 in a worldwide network of marine areas Earle and her global coalition are working to protect.
The designation followed an Explorers Club Flag Expedition that came to Gwynn’s Island last month to revisit and update Gilbert Klingel’s 1954 National Geographic expedition titled “100 Hours Beneath the Chesapeake.”
Stan Grice of the Mathews Land Conservancy, which hosted a gathering for expedition members and the public, said that Gwynn’s Island and the tributaries contributing to its waterways will serve as a research site for the future, as well.
Announcement of the designation was made via a videotaped statement by Earle that was played during an Explorers Club gathering, also videotaped, on Monday, June 2, to kick off a five-day celebration of World Oceans Week.
Earle said in the video that the Chesapeake Bay is “not only crucial to biodive...

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