Funding and Logistics

African Marine MegaTransect Expedition

Funding is the single most important factor between succeeding on the expedition and not getting going at all. Unfortunately marine scientific equipment and working from vessels for months on end is not cheap and requires a significant fiscal sponsorship. The expedition has been broken down into 5-phases, each important in respect of reaching our overarching aims and goals. Each of the 5-phases is outlined below. 

What does the African Marine MegaTransect Cost?

Each of the 5-phases has a specific budget allocation, however the amounts are flexible depending on the currency exchange rates, markets, suppliers (for specific equipment), sponsorship and capacity. The estimated budget breakdown and percent budget allocations are as follows:

The details of the budget are not presented on this page, however if you are interested in funding the expedition, sponsoring specific equipment or expedition phases, please contact us for a detailed budget and we will be very grateful in sending you a copy. 

Are there tax implications for donating funds?

The simple answer is yes there are. Moving Sushi has the following tax exemption to offer:

Moving Sushi has been selected as a "Friend of the Fund" recipient of The Ocean Foundation. This means that for any funders, organizations or philanthropists who are interested in funding an African based expedition, they have access to the 501(c)3 tax deductible status. Moving Sushi and The Ocean Foundation will begin the "Friends of the Fund" officially on June 01st 2017. 

A second option is available for German citizens and businesses who can obtain tax deductible status through the Kaiser Foundation. If this is an option the founder of the Foundation will provide the details on how to engage with the Foundation for tax deductible donations. 

Lastly, Moving sushi has applied for tax deductible status in South Africa. This however is a slow process and after 6 months of waiting we are still pushing for a final resolution. We will keep you informed as the process continues. 

Why fund a project in East Africa

Challenges to obtaining funding for scientific research:

• East Africa is known as a donor aid darling, much of the aid spent in the countries does not amount to a commensurate increase in marine management effectiveness nor an increase is sustainable use of marine resources. 
  
• East African governments and fisheries ministries are not fully aware of the overall role coral reefs provide to society. Management is mainly a result of aid funded projects, which are not long term oriented. 
• There is insufficient monitoring control and surveillance of illegal fisheries in particular in the Marine Protected Areas. 
• Aid from wealth African individuals or companies is not forthcoming as malaria, aids and poverty alleviation are deemed more necessary. 
• Poor governance and corruption can't be ignored. 
• Scientists are bound by institutional constraints with respect to budget, capacity, equipment and support. This means that fantastic scientists in the region struggle daily to conduct critical research on the scales needed (ecosystem scales). This means that scientific capacity remains low and the knowledge needed not available.
• Local marine scientific capacity is pathetic, however there is great potential, I really mean that. 
• Again, aid has left a bad taste in peoples mouths, so to speak, resulting in poor trust between communities and projects. 
• NGO's who conduct most of the projects are not well respected by locals, some more so than others. 

Pespective

I heard a radio interview that said certain football players could pay off a $200 000 car in 11 seconds or work time. If this is the case, we need between 42 and 48 seconds of their time to make the African Marine Transect Expedition a reality... Crazy thought!

Funding is our key challenge, we have the team, we have the skills, we have committed the time, we have sacrificed jobs because we believe in the potential of the African Marine MegaTransect and what it can do for scientific capacity and marine resource management in East Africa.