Jhaylin Cruz spoke at a conference as an Ocean Protection Ambassador. Photo: Jhaylin Cruz
This year, CLF collaborated with Jhaylin Cruz on a campaign to protect Cashes Ledge. Cruz is a college student and ocean protection ambassador fellow with EarthEcho, a nonprofit that helps train and uplift youth leaders in ocean conservation. Cashes Ledge is a vibrant, diverse region within the Gulf of Maine that’s currently nominated for sanctuary status, which would offer much-needed protections.
Recently, we asked Jhaylin about his journey and work as an advocate. The lightly edited conversation is below.
What drew you to advocate for the ocean?
Initially, what drew me to be an advocate for the ocean was the community I grew up in: the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Growing up in the Mariana Islands, the ocean was essentially a part of my everyday life. I would spend countless hours in the water swimming in its lagoons or paddling on a Tahitian outrigger canoe for the sport called Va’a or outrigger.
Spending this large amount of time in the ocean, coupled with living within an island community and being surrounded by so many other ocean stewards, has instilled this deep-seated passion for the waters surrounding my home. This has led to me wanting to advocate not just for the waters within the Mariana Islands, but for the rest of our world’s ocean.
What makes you passionate about protecting Cashes Ledge?
My passion for Cashes Ledge is tied to my connection between the Atlantic Ocean and the waters of the Pacific. While these oceans may not directly connect with one another, they are part of a diverse, global marine ecosystem that our planet thrives on.
Additionally, I find it extremely alarming how Cashes Ledge is warming 97 to 99% faster than the rest of the world’s ocean and is one of the last biodiverse havens within the Gulf of Maine. To me, while Cashes Ledge is an ecosystem that I will probably never bear witness to and is situated in a community I never grew up in, its cultural, economic, and environmental impact greatly aligns with that of the Marianas and with every other coastal community. This parallel is what drives my passion for both advocacy and Cashes Ledge as I see the underwater mountain range as part of a greater community that needs to be protected.
What have you learned from your time working to protect Cashes Ledge as an EarthEcho fellow?
As an ocean protection ambassador with EarthEcho International, I learned that advocacy is more than just fostering awareness or educating others. It is also touching the hearts of the communities we work with. My time as an ambassador has been filled with many obstacles, yet it has been one of the most rewarding experiences that I have had. While I initially believed that the constant back-and-forth emails, logistical work, and last-minute revisions for advertisements are all elements that define my campaign on Cashes Ledge, it was actually the foundation for the impact I was creating.
Consequently, having advocated for Cashes Ledge, I learned to appreciate advocating within a community that isn’t my own and for an ecosystem that I’ve never seen before. That ultimately strengthened my passion for advocacy and the environment while simultaneously giving me the opportunity to connect with other ocean advocates who are just as passionate about our oceans as I am.
What do you think the environmental movement has to learn from young people?
Aside from the fresh perspectives and ideas that young people have to offer, I think that it is crucial to have young people at the forefront of these initiatives and to have them as the face of these campaigns. Personally, I believe that there aren’t necessarily a lot of young people who are making the decisions that greatly impact our ocean ecosystems and environments.
There are so many young people who are fighting to protect these communities. We, as the next generation of scientists and ocean advocates, are already working to repair a damaged, broken world that was bestowed on us by previous generations. And I think that is something that not just the environmental movement has to learn, but it is something that the rest of the world has to realize.
What’s your advice for future EarthEcho fellows?
I strongly recommend planning accordingly, booking your events ahead of time, and reaching out to people early in the process. While this advice may seem like a cliché, the main component of event programming/advocacy is centered on planning ahead. For my campaign, I quite literally executed everything last minute as I was juggling my campaign for Cashes Ledge with both school and other extracurriculars. However, everything miraculously fell exactly into place, and I wouldn’t change any element of the campaign.
Bonus question: Do you have a favorite Cashes critter?
My favorite Cashes Ledge critter would have to be the Atlantic wolffish. I’ll admit, while they do look a little grotesque, in a way they sort of remind me of a creature out of a Tim Burton movie. And they also grow up to about six feet long, which I think is pretty cool.
