Low Carbon Marine Conservation
Sailing to Save Our Home Planet
Our mission
We empower locally-led marine conservation efforts in the Americas
Onboard, we bring together conservation scientists, storytellers, artists, and local communities to reimagine the ways that we relate to our ocean. Driven by a desire to decarbonize marine research, we lead expeditions that minimize carbon emissions and gather data to improve marine resource management plans. Our boat serves as a metaphor for the world that we wish to actualize in which humans act in awareness of our inter-being with all life across time and place.
Our current work centers on the co-creation of a new marine protected area in the southwestern Gulf of California.
OUR CREW
Meet the Crew
JP SPAVENTA
Captain and Engineer
JP serves as our captain, expedition leader, engineer, dive safety officer, and photographer/videographer. He studied engineering and physics at Stanford, and worked as an engineer on SEA’s sailing research vessel. His family is bicultural (the United States and Argentina), and he is passionate about bridging conservation solutions across the Americas. He has extensive experience driving small boats, sailing (USCG 100 ton master), flying drones, repairing diesel engines, landing fish, scuba diving (AAUS certified) and free diving. He grew up wanting to be an astronaut, and has come to realize that exploring the world’s oceans are a lot like space. When he’s not doing all those things, you can find him surfing the nearest righthand point break.
Audrey Bennett
Scientist and Director
Audrey serves as our director, scientist, writer, and cook. She studied ecology and evolution at Stanford and worked as a sailor, marine technician, and teacher on SEA’s sailing research vessel. She grew up in the Monterey Bay and trained at Hopkins Marine Station and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. She has extensive experience sailing (USCG 100 ton master), scuba diving (AAUS certified), writing, cooking vegetarian food, and studying the natural world. She is particularly curious about inspiring cultural change. When she’s not doing these things, you can find her under a redwood tree.
Testimonials
Isabelle McNabb
Biology student, Stanford University; Stanford@SEA alum 2024JP and Audrey bring an aura of curiosity and joy everywhere they go, and to Lokahi Ocean Science, a dedication to preserve and engage with our marine ecosystems. Beyond this, they create a welcoming and collaborative environment, making marine science more accessible every day. I’m looking forward to sailing with Lokahi again soon!
Esteban Salazar
PhD student at Dalhousie UniversityThe Lōkahi [is] the vessel of dreams for a scientist. It was the perfect work environment to grow and learn. For Lōkahi to come to Mexico and give students such as myself this opportunity really is one of the things I am most grateful for.
Dr. James Ketchum
Director of Pelagios KakunjaLōkahi gives me the opportunity to align my work with my beliefs. I really think that everybody should do something about climate change and many people are not doing anything. This is a great opportunity to do research and at the same time you’re not contributing to climate change. It’s unique, I’ve never seen something like that… hopefully other boats will start doing the same thing.