Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Stefan Harzen.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I began my career as one of the first Europeans studying wild dolphins way back in the early 1980’s and I have continued my involvement in dolphin conservation research in Portugal and the U.S.A. ever since. However, my interest has long expanded from marine mammals to include a variety of cross-disciplinary subjects. Over the last two decades, I helped advance a great number of diverse tourism, commercial and industrial projects in Portugal, the Americas and the Caribbean, with my responsibilities comprising sustainability, green technologies, solid waste and waste water management systems, waste-to-energy facilities performance metrics, master planning and development guidelines, hospitality, branding, marketing, GIS-based spatial and environmental analysis, and environmental impact assessments.
I guess one could call me a German-born scientist and entrepreneur. I spent a good portion of my life in Portugal before moving to the U.S. For the last twenty years, I have been serving as the Executive Director of Blue Dolphin Research and Consulting, Inc., a consulting company working on the forefront of sustainability, resilience and how to prepare for the future. I have also been serving as the Chairman of the Taras Oceanographic Foundation whose Palm Beach Dolphin Project focuses on studying local dolphin populations in Palm Beach County, seeking to determine the population and health status of those fascinating animals and how they impact our own well-being. This year I founded Palm Beach and Jupiter Dolphin Tours to provide people of all walks of life with the opportunity to experience wild dolphins through interpretative expeditions and create memorable experiences that last a lifetime.
So if it is of interest to you, here are a few more snippets about me:
Served as the co-leader of an Explorers Club Flag Expedition creating a new generation of coral reef maps in 2008.
Published numerous popular and scientific papers and two books; one on bottlenose dolphins in Portugal, the other a biography, entitled An Ocean of Inspiration – The John Olguin Story.
Between 2004 and 2015, I produced and hosted 373 live 90-minute radio shows about science, the environment, sustainability and conservation.
My photographs are part of private collections and focus on the marine environment and Portugal.
Taught as an Adjunct Professor at the Business School’s Environmental MBA program at Florida Atlantic University for several years.
Fellow of the world-renowned Explorers Club in New York. Was included in the pages of Adventurous Dreams, Adventurous Lives together with 120 other outstanding individuals, including Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin and balloonists Bertrand Piccard, representing a Who’s Who of international exploration.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No life is a smooth road, without turns, or hills to climb. Perhaps the main reason is that life itself is not a quiet river flowing down to the sea, but one full of drops, whitewater and waterfalls, combined with scenic portions that require nothing but stillness and enjoyment. So mine has been a winding road, too. For once, every time you decide to move to a new country you have to confront a new culture, a new language, new environment, make new friends.
The greatest struggle for me has been finding a balance between making money to pay for the bills and following my explorer’s heart towards new adventures (that are typically not well paid, or not paid at all). People don’t seem to recognize that the generation of knowledge requires financial investment and commitments and when it comes to studying dolphins and the marine environment at large, we are significantly underfunded.
So I guess, now that I am not that young anymore, I would love to spend more time as a consultant and advisor, and mentor young people to continue the work I have started.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Blue Dolphin Research and Consulting – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
BLUE DOLPHIN RESEARCH AND CONSULTING: delivers research and consulting services covering a wide spectrum or natural and other sciences. Our clientele ranges from small partnerships to Fortune 500 companies in the US, Brazil, The Bahamas and Portugal.
Sustainability and Resiliency on the global/strategic level: We assist leaders to prepare for the future. Navigate known challenges (e.g. climate change, sea level rise, limited resources, absorption capacity limits etc.) through a holistic integration of research, knowledge, technology and actions plans (including but not limited to identification, analysis and application of green technologies and the development, implementation and reporting of sustainable and resilient business practices). In addition, we work without clients to strengthen their ability to anticipate the next challenge and/or opportunities that are yet to emerge.
Performance Outcomes in Planning and Design: We have long recognized that with projects becoming increasingly more complex and multidisciplinary, the importance of research in setting new benchmarks and delivering better performance outcomes for all stakeholders is also intensifying. We are well positioned to work with our clients to convert research knowledge into designs without restraining the creative process whilst producing better, measurable design outcomes. The majority of projects in this category evolve around real estate and (eco) tourism development, community planning and design.
Maps that Change the World: We developed cutting-edge GIS and mapping methodology providing a level of detail and accuracy not seen before, and setting a new standard in assessing and visualizing how we see the world. Our approach enables us to delineate discernable habitats and community types as well as pinpoint the exact location of individual organisms, such as trees, orchids, certain corals, and other species of interest. As a result, we produce highly accurate and fully integrated maps that illustrate the temporal, spatial and contextual relationships of natural resources, environmental conditions and human activities, even in remote and inaccessible areas. These maps, which can be fully integrated into existing software applications used by designers, planners, builders, regulatory entities and so on, can then be used to identify opportunities and constraints, and access the feasibility of various product and design solutions that can successfully be implemented and/or built.
THE TARAS OCEANOGRAPHIC FOUNDATION: The Taras Oceanographic Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization based in Jupiter, Florida, is dedicated to advancing marine science and the long-term survival of both people and the oceans. Our Mission is to play a pivotal leadership role in studying and preserving the marine environment, especially whales and dolphins, and implementing the principles of sustainability.
Dolphin Conservation: The Palm Beach Dolphin Project is a flagship program of the Foundation, exploring the behavior, habitat use, social lives, and communication skills of wild dolphins. Prompted by rising concerns about the well-being of wild dolphins along our shores, we launched a long-term conservation study about 15 years ago, shedding light on dolphin behavior, habitat use, social lives, and how the health of these top predators, and the conditions of the natural resources they depend upon, may directly and indirectly impact our own health and well-being. More than valuable intellectual exercises, these studies teach us to care about the world. Generally, understanding begets caring.
Outreach and Edu-Tainment: Since 2004, we have been delivering two highly successful and popular programs: The Meet the Scientist Lecture and the Ocean of Notes Concert Series.
The Meet the Scientist Lecture Series promotes (1) the pursuit of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and (2) the communication and overall relationship between scientists and the people of the communities in which they live and work. The series also serves as a forum for all stakeholders and constituents to share their views and activities with a wider audience, while providing a wonderful resource of a wide range of information for students and adults alike. Over the past decade this program has also become an informational nexus with a sufficient sphere of influence to facilitate and otherwise contribute to widespread policy advances and personal changes in attitudes. With an average of 280 people in attendance, the Meet the Scientist Lecture Series has evolved into one of the most successful programs of its kind in South Florida.
The Ocean of Notes Concert Series seeks to promote musicians and their craft, and to provide people across all income levels with an opportunity to experience live performances while learning about our important research and conservation work. Science and music are actually closely related. It is the interaction of sounds, tempo, and pitch that creates music, just as facts and knowledge, combined with imagination and conjecture produces new scientific discoveries. And if you listen, you can hear dolphins, whales and a myriad of living things, together with currents and tides, performing a symphony that reverberates throughout the marine environment.
PALM BEACH AND JUPITER DOLPHIN TOURS: We created this company to help generate funding needed to deliver the Taras Oceanographic Foundation’s programs.
Our dolphin expeditions (tours) are wind-in-your-hair-style adventures following wild dolphins along our shores. Authentic, recreational, fun, engaging and informative, our personalized tours will help you create memorable and transformative experiences.
Our bona-fide dolphin scientists and certified dolphin naturalists interpret dolphin and wildlife sightings, while our licensed captain will maneuver the boat for prime viewing. Together, they will answer all questions and share some personal stories, too. Our vessel is equipped with a hydrophone so everyone can listen to the sounds beneath the waves.
We believe that experiencing conservation research through these adventurous wild dolphin encounters will have a positive impact on the lives of every participant and will lead to better stewardship of dolphins and the oceans. In fact, we consider it a lifestyle issue.
We conduct our dolphin expeditions aboard the 33-ft Osprey, with an open deck design that provides individual seats, and comfort to our guests. This custom-designed inflatable offers you a first class marine adventure that’s safe, educational and fun for the whole family. Modeled after fast-response Coast Guard rescue vessels, zodiacs combine speed with extraordinary stability while cruising at up 25-35 knots. They are fully equipped with padded jockey seating and cushioned backrest.
Our private charters offer the ultimate flexibility, privacy, comfort and individualized attention for your experience. We offer personalized dolphin expeditions(tours) for corporate gatherings, birthday celebrations, weddings or renewal of vows, school or educational groups, celebrations of life and memorials, small reunions, interest specific charters, such as photography, bird watching, luncheon dolphin watch and sightseeing, sunset wine and cheese cruises, local cultural heritage tours, or simply a lengthier tour.
The waters off the coast of Palm Beach County provide a fantastic place for dolphin watching. Our experts have identified more than 300 individual animals using natural markings on the trailing edge of their dorsal fins. An encounter with these beautiful, intelligent creatures is very common, and at times absolutely epic. Please note that even though we almost always encounter dolphins (we see them 9 out of 10 times), Mother Nature does not guarantee anything. However, should you not see a dolphin, you can come again for free until you do.
We are climate conscious, dedicated to the sustainability principles, and proud of delivering carbon neutral tours and programs.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
In the near-term our focus is on developing Palm Beach and Jupiter Dolphin Tours into a successful, socially-responsible and sustainable business, including acquiring additional investors and a second, larger boat to increase future profitability and allow more people to encounter wild dolphins while supporting conservation research.
Concurrently, we remain committed to provide the best possible expertise and insights to our clients (BDRC) and continue the existing programs at the Foundation.
Pricing:
- Regular Dolphin Tours: $85/adult; $65 (10-16 years of age) – morning, mid-day or sunset tours
- Corporate/Private Charters: Varies between $800 to @1,000 for half a day (up to 10 guests/participants)
- Corporate/Private Charters: Varies between $2,000 to $2,800 for an entire day (up to 10 guests/participants)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bluedolphinresearch.com; www.taras.org; www.palmbeachdolphintours.com
- Phone: BDRC & Taras: 561-762-6473; Palm Beach Dolphin Tours also has: 1-855-FINS-400
- Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palmbeachproject/; https://www.facebook.com/PalmBeachJupiterDolphinTours/
Image Credit:
Ed Spencer
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