Page 7 - Q01-2021 Fins Magazine

by Graceanne Taylor
Editor

Mermaid
to Mermaids for
Environmental

Education

helping our human friends learn more. So how
can you get in this stream of mers using their fins
My meet up with members of the Arizona Merpod.
Local mermaid pods are a great resource in your for good?
mermaid journey!
Join our facebook group for starters! As our first
group initiative, we are working to help bring
awareness to the North Atlantic Right Whale
Raise a fin if you love the ocean! (NARW). There are less than 400 individuals left
in the wild and their species is in crucial danger
No surprise, most of us become merfolk because of extinction. In our first group session, we
we want to swim with the fish, dive deep in the discussed ways in which we could use our fishy
ocean, and share our love of the deep sea with superpowers to bring education about our whale
our human friends. friends to our land neighbors!

That is why I have started the group Mermaids for In upcoming months, we will be bringing you
Environmental Education on Facebook! A place random facts to tie into your performances, more
for merfolk to gather to learn more about the knowledgeable speakers to scratch your itch for
creatures beneath the waves. ocean facts, and more group initiatives to help
keep our water clean!
During our appearances, children often ask us
questions. In addition, we are inspired by the It might feel intimidating at first to share
beauty the ocean beholds, so we want to share knowledge about the ocean if it isn’t something
with others what we know and how to protect it. you think about on the daily. That is totally OK!
Our goal is to share what we know and build a
Of course, we are the perfect ambassadors as community of fish that can speak for our ocean.
we are fish that can speak to humans! Let’s not After all, there are a ton of things affecting
So many tails, so little time! forget our merfolk that live near freshwater, too. our seas from plastic pollution, to oil drilling,
They similarly have a love and passion for the less overfishing, habitat loss and so much more. So
Swimming as a mermaid was TOTAL MAGIC! To find your magical combination of monofin salty creatures. what are you waiting for?
and tail is expensive. Total cost of the gear on my
I LOVED swimming with mers from the Arizona two swims? Over $3,000. Given the high cost of As performers, we have a unique opportunity to Swim on over to Facebook and let’s get started!
Merpod. Not only were they super encouraging, but monofins and tails, I highly encourage new mers to capture the attention of our audience for more
I got to try a lot of fins. I started with the Mahina, find a merpod to meet up with. than just a picture or a hug. We have the chance FB Group: Mermaids for Environmental Education
then tried 4 Mertailor fins and finally two Lindens. to share things we love or feel are important
When I did venture to adding the tail, I was able to Full of useful tips and sometimes willing to let you about the water.
once again ‘sample’ from my merfriends - a tail from sample different fins and tails, it can help you to get GRACEANNE TAYLOR | BARNEGATBAYMERMAID.COM
Shello Mermaid and two from Mertailor. what works for you cheaper and faster. Often merfolk performers use their platforms @barnegatbaymermaid
to do just this. Speaking out for issues they FB: Barnetgatbaymermaid
My abilities and comfort in the tails plus the design Creating a mersona is fun! For me it is a slow process feel are important, writing children’s books and Graceanne spends her time on land working full
of fins and tails resulted in different swimming as I am enjoying every step. I am just beginning and reading them during performances, or installing time as an environmental educator at a grassroots
non-profit. She spends much of her time underwater
experiences. looking forward to taking time to figure it out. knowledge of our ocean in their programs and while serving as the science liaison and divemaster at
training modules for up and coming performers. a local public safety dive team. Graceanne is Mermaid
Brizo, owner of Barnegat Bay mermaid and founder
Patricia Pastrano | Fins Magazine Editor In Chief: Pat is a photographer, editor and former corporate financial of Mermaids for Environmental Education facebook
analyst. Originally from New Mexico, Pat lives in Arizona with her son, boyfriend and three dogs. Starting Fins Magazine in group. Mermaid Brizo performs regularly at the local
2019 with Memories Imagined, her photography business, she is becoming a mermaid and sharing her journey along the way. However the method, these ideas and more aquarium and other venues along the Jersey Shore.
are great ways to show love for our ocean while
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