Category Archives: High Seas

4 min read08 June

Globally our oceans are at a tipping point. To reverse this we must establish fully protected, no catch zones to give our marine wildlife space to recover.

Stripped of vast swathes of its inhabitants and choking on emissions, for too many years we have denigrated one of our greatest economic assets: the ocean. The theme for World Ocean Day today is Life and Livelihoods, which could not be more prescient. By strengthening our network of protected areas, the UK government can lead the way in restoring our oceans and the services they provide, including replenishing fish stocks in coastal communities like my constituency of North Devon.

The ocean is the main source of protein for more than a billion people, produces half of the planets oxygen, regulates our climate, and has absorbed one third of our carbon emissions.

The UKs fishing industry alone is worth almost 1 billion to our economy. In North Devon, many local businesses and families rely on the maritime economy, and it is right that we do all we can to level it up as we Build Back Better.

Protected areas must go further and restrict environmentally harmful practices

The Dasgupta Review into the economics of biodiversity, commissioned by the UK Treasury, highlighted how the ecosystem services that underpin our economic prosperity and resilience are not currently priced in bymarkets or accounted for by governments.

We should recognise the economic value of natures services. For instance, the average whale sequesters 33 tonnes of carbon dioxide over its lifetime, which combined with its contribution to fishery enhancement and ecotourism, has led the IMF to value each one at more than $2 million, or over $1 trillion for all great whales in 2019.

However, globally our oceans are at a tipping point, with 90% of big fish populations depleted and over a third of marine mammals under threat of extinction.

The UKs seas have failed to meet government standards on good environmental health, and we have lost vast swathes of our carbon and species rich habitats, including 85% of our saltmarshes and 90% of our seagrass meadows - both of which can protect coastal communities from flooding and erosion.

To reverse this trend, we need to properly protect 30% of the worlds ocean by the end of this decade, an effort the UK is spearheading though its Global Ocean Alliance.

Our Blue Belt programme provides enhanced protection to an area larger than India around our Oversea Territories. The UK has also established a domestic network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) which cover more than a third of our waters, designated to protect specific seascapes or species.

But theseprotected areas must go furtherand restrict environmentally harmful practices.

Last year I welcomed Lord Benyons review into Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs), which recommended establishing fully protected, no catch zones to give our marine wildlife space to recover.

Evidence suggests that fully protected zones could enrich coastal communities like those in my constituency of North Devon, with larger and more diverse fish stocks spilling over into surrounding waters for local fishers.

A recent report found that extending this level of protection to 30% of our MPA network, and effectively managing the rest, could yield benefits worth 10.5 billion in tourism and recreation and support thousands of jobs in those sectors.

To ensure our protected areas are effectively managed, we should make use of our new post-Brexit freedoms to ban bottom trawling from our offshore MPAs. This would protect the vast swathes of carbon stored in our seabed - known as blue carbon.

A recent report found that emissions from trawling in UK waters could be on equal footing with emissions from agriculture. As a Blue Carbon Champion in Parliament for the Marine Conservation Society, this is something I feel strongly about, and will be speaking about in my debate on World Ocean Day 2021.

This heightened domestic ambition could support the UK's effort at the UN for effective international cooperation to protect international waters. The high seas account for two thirds of the worlds ocean, so securing their effective conservation through the establishment and management of protected areas is an important prerequisite for protecting 30% of the global ocean by 2030.

Thanks to successive Conservative governments, the UK is a global ocean champion. We should now strengthen our international leadership in marine protection with greater domestic ambitions, and allow nature to bounce back, safeguarding our economy and planet for future generations.

Originally posted here:

Britain can lead the way in restoring our oceans by strengthening our network of protected areas - PoliticsHome

Image courtesy USCG

PublishedMay 30, 2021 4:05 PM by The Maritime Executive

The crew of the Coast Guard cutter Active returned to Port Angeles, Washington after a successful 58-day counter-smuggling patrol in the Eastern Pacific. The 55-year-old cutter and crew patrolled international waters off Central America and Mexico as part of the long-running U.S. effort to suppress cocaine smuggling.

With the assistance of a helicopter-borne HITRON sharpshooter detachment, the Active intercepted two vessels over the course of her patrol, seizing about 5,650 pounds of cocaine with an estimated value of $107 million. One of the two smuggling vessels was a low-profile vessel - a purpose-built boat designed to ride low in the water to evade detection, typically painted blue to reduce their visual profile.

Images courtesy USCG

On May 19, Actives crew offloaded about 11,500 pounds of seized cocaine in San Diego, including drugs from her own interdictions and from two other cutters, the Steadfast and the Tahoma. The narcotics and the suspects were transferred to other federal law enforcement agencies for prosecution.

During the deployment, Actives crew also rescued four fishermen from a stranded vessel and towed it until another Coast Guard cutter could complete the search and rescue case. In a second rescue case, Active responded to a distress call for an injured jet skier in the water. The Actives crew provided first aid to the victim and stabilized them for further transfer.

Commissioned in 1966, Active is a 210-foot Reliance-class medium endurance cutter. Like the other 13 vessels in her class, she will one day be replaced by the future Offshore Patrol Cutter. Despite her age, Active routinely deploys on long-distance missions to counter smuggling, enforce fisheries regulations and carry out search and rescue operations.

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Photos: Cutter Active Seizes $107M in Cocaine on the High Seas - The Maritime Executive

Water covers around 71 per cent of our planet and the wealth of biodiversity found in our oceans is unparalleled. While many areas are now receiving much-needed attention from policymakers, theres one distinct marine environment that remains virtually unprotected.

The high seas cover two-thirds of the worlds oceans and are beyond the jurisdiction of any country. An astonishing variety of microscopic organisms produce almost half of the worlds oxygen supply.

But only 1 per cent of international waters are currently protected as we approach a dangerous tipping point for all life on Earth.

The high seas provide more than 95 per cent of the space for life on the planet. Most of those are deep ocean and they are critically underexplored, marine biologist Dr Diva Amon tells Euronews Green.

The analogy that I tend to use is that we have a giant supersize TV screen, and the information we have is just a handful of pixels. Basically, even with that, we have more knowledge than we have ever had.

Despite our lack of understanding, humanity is encroaching further and further into these underexplored marine environments. The high seas and deep oceans face threats from overfishing, marine pollution and a growing number of countries seeking resources beyond their own waters.

Without legal protections and investigations into how our actions are affecting them, we could stand to lose biodiversity before we have even discovered it.

However, a diverse group of scientists from around the world believe we still have an opportunity to tip the balance in favour of saving our oceans. Theyve signed a letter calling on world leaders to adopt an ambitious international treaty.

For most of the high seas, there's not a legal mechanism that governments can use to establish marine protected areas, which is really problematic, explains Nichola Clark, one of the letters core authors alongside Dr Amon.

Currently, governance of the high seas is covered by a complex puzzle of organisations and policies. Each takes care of a different aspect of human activity and coordination between groups is less than optimal.

Clark, an Officer on the Protecting Ocean Life on the High Seas team at Pew Charitable Trusts, specialises in the negotiation around a new global agreement currently being drafted by the United Nations. She says that this treaty, called the Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), offers a once in a lifetime opportunity.

We are about to finalise this treaty that would finally do what we meant to do, what we set out to do years ago, and fill those governance gaps enabling us to protect high seas biodiversity.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, such an ambitious treaty isnt without challenges when it comes to international cooperation, Clark explains. Further delays to dialogue between countries and differences in opinion about what ocean protection should look like could hamper its progress.

A global pandemic has meant that now there is going to be at least a two year gap between the last time negotiators came together in a room to work on this treaty and the next round of negotiations, she says.

There are still a number of substantive questions that are going to have to be addressed before we can actually get some final treaty texts.

Clark raises the example of marine protected areas. Some countries involved in the negotiation want these ecologically and biologically important regions to be identified before protections are introduced.

There are already processes in place to do this, however, and time is running out for our oceans; we've been talking about conserving biodiversity for two decades.

Despite the obstacles, Clark remains optimistic: I think it's going to be a challenge, but I don't think it's an insurmountable one.

With people more switched on to the importance of the ocean to our health and that of the planet, there has never been a better time. Along with the rest of the letters authors, Clark is calling for negotiations to end as soon as possible, finally putting legal preservation in place for the unprotected half of our planet.

What replaces the current mosaic of policies needs to be different from previous legal mechanisms to protect the high seas, though. The scientists behind the letter say the new UN treaty has to be comprehensive, backed by science - and reflect on the mistakes of the past.

We have an opportunity to create a system that conserves biodiversity, while also creating an equitable environment for all of humankind, says another of its core authors, University of North Carolina biologist, Dr Rebecca Helm.

In the past, weve put in place short-sighted ocean stewardship policies, even with the best intentions in mind, that have harmed these ecosystems. You dont need to look far to find instances where weve proceeded with ignorance.

A great example would actually be the critically endangered European eels, says Helm.

They're now critically endangered for a variety of reasons but one of the mysteries of the eel that persisted for hundreds of years was where do they come from. Now we know that the eels swim out into the middle of the Atlantic, into the Sargasso Sea, this sort of ecosystem at the ocean surface, outside of national jurisdiction.

Their story is a lesson in not treating ecosystems as separate but instead thinking about how the survival of one species could rely on protecting entire oceans. Conserving the European Eel is impossible without thinking about both national and international jurisdiction.

The BBNJ treaty, Helm explains, is a chance to lay the foundations for something better.

As with many issues related to places humans dont often visit, protection of the high seas isnt a subject that makes headlines.

It's hard to ask people to care about the high seas, about the deep ocean, considering that many of them may never have been there, don't know anything about it and may never go there or experience it in their entire lives, says Dr Amon.

But out of sight does not mean out of mind. Conserving biodiversity in these almost alien regions has an impact on the lives of millions. Everything from income for coastal communities, tourism and even the air we breathe.

Ultimately, the high seas is the largest space on the planet, and it is critically connected to the rest of the biosphere.

The voices backing the letter reflect just how important this legal protection is to communities all over the world. So far it has been signed by more than 20 scientists in countries including multiple EU states, Costa Rica, Palau and Kenya. Around 80 per cent of the signatories are female.

I think science is having a bit of a reckoning, she notes, we know that Indigenous people and local communities often are operating with solutions.

There is so much that we can learn from those critically underrepresented and marginalised parts of society so that we can ultimately benefit and allow the benefit to extend across humanity.

Dr Amon believes this wealth and diversity of views has the power to completely transform the way we manage and value our oceans. Women are disproportionately affected by climate change and communities in the Global South face some of the biggest impacts.

Ultimately, everyone needs a seat at the table because this is the common heritage of humankind.

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Ambitious treaty offers a once in a lifetime chance to protect the high seas - Euronews

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishingknown as IUU fishingis a global scourge. Carried out by malicious actors in the shadows of the worlds oceans, it can devastate ecosystems, degrade food stocks, and undermine fragile fishing economies. A broad network of international partners, including U.S. civilian and military agencies, should work to eradicate this threat to the worlds shared prosperity.

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Illegal fishingrefers to fishing activities in contravention of applicable laws and regulations. Unreported fishingrefers to fishing activities that are not reported or are misreported to relevant authorities. And unregulated fishingis done by vessels without nationality or that are not regulated by their flag state, the country in which a vessel is registered. It also occurs when vessels fish in areas or for stocks for which there are no applicable conservation or management measures.

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International Law

Oceans and Seas

Global Commons

United States

IUU fishing is a global problem, occurring in the South China Sea, off the west coast of Africa (where estimates put illegal catch at 40 percent), off both coasts of South America, in the easternIndian Ocean, throughout Oceania, and around Antarctica. According to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crimes IUU Fishing Index, which benchmarks countries vulnerability to, prevalence of, and response to IUU fishing, four of the top five worst-scoring countries are in Southeast Asia. China tops the list, and Russia is the sole nonSoutheast Asian country, at number four.

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In one particularly egregious example last year, a fleet of 350 Chinese vessels was observed conducting predatory high seas fishing around Ecuadors Galapagos Islands, a UNEducational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site. The fleet was targeting squid and scooping up other valuable and vulnerable marine life. Locals sounded the alarm, fearing the vessels were depleting fish populations, hurting the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen in the islands, and devastating the sensitive ecosystem. Ecuador called for help, and the U.S. Coast Guard deployed a national security cutter to help patrol the area.

IUU fishing threatens ocean ecosystems, including sustainable fisheries, which are critical to global food security, and it puts those that abide by the law in the United States and abroad at a disadvantage. In 2020, the U.S. Coast Guard said that IUU fishing has replaced piracy as the leading global maritime security threat. It is estimated that up to one in every five fish caught around the world is obtained through IUU fishing, representing about a $23 billion annual loss for the legal fishing industry. And, in large part, the poorest countries in the world, which depend on fisheries for food and livelihoods, are hit the hardest.

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Fish is an essential protein source for over 40 percent of the global population. IUU fishing can decimate fish stocks, undermining a countrys ability to feed its people. Further, IUU fishing can disrupt and destabilize fragile economies of coastal states. Small island nations are particularly vulnerable, in that many have vast ocean resources but very limited capacity to patrol their exclusive economic zones, or EEZs. Many of these small nations also struggle to apprehend and prosecute transgressors.

IUU fishing often happens along with other unlawful activities, including human trafficking and forced labor. Interpol reports that fishing vessels are often used to smuggle people, drugs, and weapons, as well as to carry out acts of piracy and terrorism. IUU fishing activities are highly mobile, increasingly sophisticated, and sometimes conducted with logistical and security support from fishers flag states.

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International Law

Oceans and Seas

Global Commons

United States

These acts undermine internationally recognized fishing regimes, the work of regional fisheries management organizations, and international bodies such as the UN Food and Agriculture Organizations Fisheries Division. Broadly speaking, it erodes collective global maritime governance.

Various U.S. government agencies work with foreign partners or participate in different multilateral forums to combat IUU fishing. For instance, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration works with the United Nations and regional fisheries management organizations. The U.S. military, particularly the coast guard and navy, provides maritime security assistance and training to coastal state partners in regions around the world. At the same time, the United States works to model responsible maritime behavior through a strict fisheries management program and ranks in the top five countries [PDF] in the world in responding to IUU fishing.

Roles and responsibilities for a government vary depending on its relationship to the vessel and the catch. A vessels flag state has exclusive authority over it on the high seas, including with regard to matters such as labor standards and ship safety. Therefore, flag states must ensure that regulations are in place and enforced to deter IUU fishing and associated crimes from occurring on their vessels. Ignoring the duties of being a flag state can, and often does, allow illegal activity to take place. In addition, there are particularly concerning cases where flag states willfully abet IUU perpetrators by encouraging or assisting vessels that encroach on sovereign waters and EEZs of other nations or intimidate local fishermen.

Port states also can play a significant role by blocking vessels engaged in IUU fishing from using their ports and landing their catches. Governments have a framework to do so pursuant to the Agreement on Port State Measures, a UN treaty that came into force in 2016 and was the first binding international agreement that specifically targets IUU fishing. Approximately one-third of the worlds countries are party to it, but UN members should collectively work to increase that number.

Meanwhile, coastal states have a responsibility to assist in curbing IUU fishing. They are responsible for conservation and management of the ocean resources to which they have sovereign rights (within their EEZs). Finally, market states, where the fish are sold, should work to ensure that their seafood is coming from legal, legitimate sources.

IUU fishing can only be combated by a whole-of-world approach, presenting an opportunity for state-to-state cooperation. Regional fisheries management organizations are working with the International Maritime Organization to boost accountability requirements aboard commercial fishing vessels across the globe. Other international bodies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are contributing to the fight as well. InterpolsProject Scale is succeeding in catching much illegal fishing. Technology initiatives such as the Pew Charitable Trusts Oversea Ocean Monitor and Global Fishing Watchs satellite-based platforms have been highly effective tools for spotting suspect activity across large spans of the ocean. And NGOs such as the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Greenpeace, which operate on contributions from private donors with vessels crewed by volunteers, also help build maritime domain awareness.

The world needs to collectively continue to fight the scourge of IUU fishing in order to protect sensitive marine environments and food sustainability, prevent irreparable damage to coastal economies, counter corruption and associated criminal activity, and uphold the sovereignty and security of the worlds maritime nations.

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Illegal Fishing Is a Global Threat. Here's How to Combat It. - Council on Foreign Relations

Green Pulse Ep 51: Fishy business on the high seas

17:05 mins

Synopsis: The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

Across the globe, millions of people rely on fishing for jobs and income, with many fishermen finding it increasingly tough to earn a living due to shrinking catches. They have to compete not only with the impacts of climate change and industrial fishing fleets but also illegal fishing operations often controlled by powerful figures far away. This multi-billion dollar illegal industry is also linked to human slavery, tax evasion and drugs and arms smuggling.

But recently, efforts by Interpol and governments are catching up with the illegal fishing kingpins. In this episode, we speak to Mr Peter Horn, Project Director, Ending Illegal Fishing, at Pew Trusts, which works closely with Interpol to clamp down on illegal unreported and unregulated fishing.

They discuss the following points:

How the illegal fishing trade works (3:41)

Other crimes associated with illegal fishing (6:05)

How can consumers make the sustainable choice? (8:57)

Working with Interpol to stop illegal fishing (10:17)

Can the illegal fishing trade be stopped? (14:55)

Listen to Ep 49 - Can aquaculture solve the seafood seaspiracy?:https://omny.fm/shows/green-pulse-1/can-aquaculture-solve-the-seafood-se...

Read Monterey Bay Aquarium's seafood watch website:https://www.seafoodwatch.org/

Produced by: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg), David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg) & Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam Azlee

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Green Pulse Podcast: Fishy business on the high seas - The Straits Times

EXCLUSIVE: 20th Century is looking to head back to the high seas as sources tell Deadline the studio is developing a new Master and Commanderpic withA Monster Calls scribe Patrick Ness adapting the script. Insiders add it is still early days and no director or talent are attached at this time.

The 2004 adaptationMaster and Commander: The Far Side of the World, directed by Peter Weir, was set during the Napoleonic Wars and follows Capt. Jack Aubrey, played by Russell Crowe, a brash British captain who pushes his ship and crew to their limits in pursuit of a formidable French war vessel around South America. Paul Bettany also starred in the film, which went on to make more then $200 million worldwide and received 10 Oscar nominations for including one for Best Picture.

Since the original was part of a big book series, the idea was always to adapt other books in to films, but another film never got into position to move forward. Sources say this film would be based on the first book in the series, which shows a young Aubrey when he is given his first command and also explores how his friendship with his naval surgeon, Stephen Maturin (played by Bettany in the original) begins. Since this would be set in the early days of Aubrey, its also likely they would have new talent playing Aubrey and Maturin as well.

Ness was best known for penning the bestselling book series Chaos Walking(which he also adapted into a film for Lionsgate) until he transitioned into screenwriting starting withA Monster Calls.Since then his screenwriting star power has been on the rise, having just finished an adaptation of Lord of the Fliesfor Warner Bros and Luca Guadagnino.

He is repped by CAA, literary agent Michelle Kass and attorney Behr Abramson Levy.

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20th Century Developing New Master And Commander Movie With Patrick Ness Penning the Script - Deadline

03 Jun 2021 - 13:04

File photo used for representation only. Photo credit: Abdul Basit/ The Peninsula

Doha: Qatar Meteorology Department (QMD) warned of strong wind and high seas from Friday until Saturday. Hot weather conditions are also expected with slight dust to blowing dust at some places during daytime.

The minimum and maximum temperature will range between 33 to 46 degrees Celsius.

As the country faces hot weather conditions, QMD shared a few tips during this period such as:

- Wearing comfortable, light-colored clothes to reflect the sun's light

- Drink enough fluids

- Children not to be left alone in the car

- Workers in exposed/outdoor places should take breaks in the shade

The wind, on both days, will mainly blow northwesterly at 10-20 KT gusting 28 KT at places during daytime.

Sea heights, on Friday and Saturday, will also vary between 1-3 ft rising to 5 ft at times inshore and 3-5/6 ft rising to 7-8 ft at times offshore.

Visibility will range between 4-9 m/ 3km or less at places during daytime inshore.

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03 Jun 2021 - 8:41

The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced that it provided services for 2,112 plot in citizens subdivisions, through integrated infrastructure for these plots within the road and infrastructure projects implemented by Ashghal in the Northern areas and North of Al Nasiriyah.

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Strong wind, high seas and hot weather during weekend: QMD - The Peninsula Qatar

But 2020 saw her locked down with her family in Midhurst.

She said: Im passionate about my work which is usually fast paced, involves travel and provokes an adrenalin rush. Suddenly I found myself stationary for a while; I was able to capture seasonal change and to transfer my artistic eye to all things equine, a subject area which I adore and yet hadnt had a lot of the time to study through a lens.

I also realised that I could, and should, bring the beauty of horses, sailing boats and the power of nature to houses and offices in the local area to invigorate and enlighten them through the power of photography.

Kos has created an exhibition in the centre of Midhurst as a launch pad for her website, which is a virtual experience to let people in West Sussex experience her images in their own home.

In the past she has photographed the Americas Cup, travelled the world with a Formula One team and sailed with Duran Durans Simon Le Bon.

She said: Simon Le Bon is a very talented man, best known for his musical career, but hes also an accomplished sailor. I was hired as his photographer to capture iconic images of him on his racing yacht, a very different environment to taking images of him on the stage.

He was about to embark on a round the world race, it was important for me to get him to go up the mast. His agents were very concerned about the dangers of taking this portrait and although it was very windy we got the iconic shot they wanted and he loved it, weve remained great friends.

Kos has been photographing boats and the sea since her teens.

She said: I have been working professionally since I was 16 years old, although I was passionate about photography from the age of six. My grandmother gave me a camera as a birthday present when I was ten and I set to work straight away. I was constantly taking unusual pictures; everyone else would admire the view on holiday whilst I captured images of the shadows of industrial pipes and linear patterns of Cyprus trees.

I was constantly experimenting and then I learned to climb with a camera that was the moment that made me my images from the top of a yachts mast suddenly set me apart from other photographers.

Her most recent exhibition is focussed on horses, something she has embraced during lockdown.

She said: I spent more time enjoying and understanding their company, studying their personalities and movement.

Patience is without a doubt most important when working with animals, when you invest time they give back, posing for amazing pictures.

I am never looking for a normal photo, comparable to my marine work, I studied them in all weathers and varying times of day as light conditions have a great impact on my work.

I will never stop striving to achieve new work and it has to be something that you love, something that you will enjoy on your wall year-round.

She has recently launched virtual reality software on her website so people can experience and sample her large prints in their own house using a mobile or tablet.

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Lockdown sees photographer go from high seas to horses - Midhurst and Petworth Observer

Chris Gray Faust, CruiseCritic.com Published 11:00 a.m. ET June 4, 2021 | Updated 12:47 p.m. ET June 4, 2021

We would have posted this sooner, but "we were on a break." USA TODAY

Could it BE any more fun?

If the recent reunion of everybody's favorite Friends isn't enough for you, a theme cruise that celebrates the iconic '90s TV show will take place May 15 to May 21, 2022, on Celebrity Equinox. The cruise ship will leave from Fort Lauderdale, with scheduled ports of Key West, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

Like many theme cruises, the sailing is being put together by an outside company, the travel agency Fan World Travel. It is a partial charter of the ship, with events dedicated solely for people who book through the agency's siteCruise With Friends.

The site promises Friends-themed costume contests, trivia games and more: "Get ready to eat like Joey, joke like Chandler, cook like Monica, shop like Rachel, yoga like Phoebe and dig like Ross."

Theme cruises:From '80s music to auto racing, there's a cruise for every fandom

This image provided by HBO Max shows Matt LeBlanc, from left, Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow in a scene from the "Friends" reunion special.(Photo: Terence Patrick, AP)

No actors from the show are scheduled to be on the cruise. But we speak from experience when we say that there's nothing like being on a cruise with 1,000 other people who love the same TV show that you do.

Review:The 'Friends' reunion is everything fans hoped it would be

Don't want to miss out on "The One With The Cruise"? Fares range from $1,648.66 per person for an inside stateroom up to $3,048.66 for a Sky Suite with a balcony. On Celebrity, Wi-Fi, a premium beverage package, $150 shore excursion credit per person, gratuities, taxes and fees are included in the fare.

Theme cruises often have different payment policies than regular cruises, and the Friends one is no exception. Deposits are $1,000 per person for inside, oceanview and balcony cabins and suites are $1,500 per person -- due at booking and nonrefundable. (The site encourages travel insurance).

So who will be there for you on the high seas? Grab your besties and find out.

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Didn't get enough of a 'Friends' fix from the reunion? How about a 'Friends'-themed cruise? - USA TODAY

Chief stew Hannah got around $24k every six weeks

A new series of Below Deck Med will be dropping on June 29th and frankly, it cant come soon enough. I still havent got over when photographer Johnny Eyelash and his entourage got caught with coke and they all had to sail back to port. But while rich guests causing havoc on the high seas is great, the REAL drama comes from the staff. And although they get treated like absolute shit while on the show, it turns out the Below Deck cast get paid massive salaries.

Refinery 29 claim theyve worked out how much each staff member earns. Their analysis takes into account the average salary of crew working on superyachts, the likely fee they will receive for appearing on the show, as well as the average tips they get from the charter guests.

So, without further ado, heres what cast members of Below Deck actually earn while working on the show.

I want to be Captain Lee when I grow up

The captain of a yacht the size of those used on Below Deck earns between $150,000- $210,000 per year, and thats before tips.

A chief stew could expect to earn up to $6,000 per month, while the second or third stews would rake in around $5,000.

The chefs could get anywhere between $7,000-$10,000 depending on experience. Its no wonder that the legend that is Ben Robinson has a net worth of around $2.5m.

Chef Ben looking like hes put his finger in a plug socket

The deck hands are unsurprisingly at the lower end of the pay scale, but are still getting $5,000 a month. Not bad at all.

But wait a minute. This is all before tips. Each Below Deck cast member gets around $5,000 in tips for every six weeks they work. That means that for just a month and halfs work, chief stews like the unforgettable Hannah Ferrier, could have pulled in a whopping $24,000.

On top of this, the Below Deck cast dont work for the full yachting season so its highly plausible that they could go and work on different yachts and get more dollar for the rest of the year.

I think its time I learnt how to drive a boat.

Below Deck: Take this quiz and well tell you which rank youd be on a charter yacht

Below Deck: Who is Chef Ben and where is he now?

Below Deck: Where is Chief Stew Hannah Ferrier now?

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This is how much the cast of Below Deck actually earn - The Tab