Fabienne, Lamya, Mathieu, and Patrice, enthusiasts who devote a significant part of their lives to defending the marine environment. Their motivation? To better understand this fragile universe and act to stop its destruction. Discover their commitments and the challenges they face. Words of the pros, collected by Alexie Valois.
Patrice Bureau: From Diving to President of Longitude 181
For Patrice Bureau, a diver with a passion for the sea, the turning point came while watching « Sharkwater Extinction » by Rob Stewart. « We must stop talking. Now, we must act! » Founder of a diving club in Isère, he first got involved with Sea Shepherd.
In 2011, during a screening of the film « Ocean », he met biologist François Sarano. The latter offered him to lead his association, Longitude 181. Patrice accepted without hesitation: « I seized the opportunity to fully dedicate myself to ocean preservation. »
For ten years, Patrice Bureau has chaired Longitude 181, an association that works to « Reconcile humans with wildlife ». The association has been raising awareness among divers, diving centers, tour operators, young people, and boaters for two decades.
Leading a militant association requires significant commitment. Patrice devotes several hours a day to it. « I work for myself, so I organize my days. In the evening and on weekends, I’m behind the PC for Longitude 181. I organize conferences, respond to partner diving centers, and ensure the association’s presence at shows. » Longitude 181 has about a hundred active members worldwide, involving substantial human management.
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