The sun is shyly rising between dark gray clouds behind the island of Baltra, and the sea is as calm as it gets. This is the Galapagos, the place where Charles Darwin conducted key observations that later shaped his theory of natural selection. The Galapagos changed our understanding of the world. But now we are changing the Galapagos - by illegal fishing, human population growth, and invasive species - as we are changing the rest of the ocean. We are taking too much out of it - seafood - and throwing in what we don’t want - our sewage and garbage.

I am here with an extraordinary group of individuals - scientists, artists, conservationists, business people - to discuss some of these issues and foster ideas to help save our ocean. We are based on the National Geographic Endeavour, a Lindblad Expeditions ship, and we are hosted by TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design - a series of conferences based in Long Beach to spread good ideas). This ocean conference - Mission Blue - is part of National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Sylvia Earle’s “TED Wish,” an award she received in 2009. Her wish is to see the creation of global network of marine protected areas. Her wish is our wish; this is why we all are here.

We start today with a series of stimulating talks and a dive in the warm waters of the Galapagos. I can’t wait to tell you what I see, and what I hear.