Ocean explorer in God's Own Country

By Sachin Jose

KOTTAYAM: One would be surprised if they find a 58-year-old American tourist, John Racanelli, picking up littered bottles and plastic sachets at Kovalam Beach in Thiruvananthapuram.

     However, Mr Racanelli, Chief Executive Officer at Baltimore National Aquarium in the USA, remarked, "It is a simple commonsense thing to do... and if every beach-goer were to follow it, our shorelines would be devoid of trash. So let's!"

     He regards it as a mission to conserve the world oceans and its marine life. The ocean explorer, who belives he has "saltwater running through his veins," developed passion for "the briny" from childhood.

     "One of my earliest memories was of diving in the Pacific as a six-year-old," he recalled. "And I used to skip college to go on escapades including a 6,000-mile voyage from California to New York via the Panama Canal."

     At 17, Mr Racanelli became an aquarist at a marine park, when he started enjoying water sports including sailing, surfing, scuba diving and open-water swimming.

      After graduating in strategic management, he joined Monterey Bay Aquarium in California in 1984. After a decade, he left for a "risky" project to rejuvenate the bankrupt Florida Aquarium, which he successfully did.   Eventually, in 2011, he was invited to join the Baltimore National Aquarium in Maryland, where he engages 1.5 lakh students annually in the fields of marine biology, conservation and education.

     He resides at Canton Historic Waterfront District in Baltimore City with his wife and son who support him in his ventures. His wife Susan Backstrom Racanelli serves as National Development Officer at Seacology, a non-governmental organisation aimed at protecting the unique species, habitats and cultures of islands worldwide.

     Mr Racanelli regards underwater pioneer Captain Jacques Cousteau as his role model from whom he learned of the marine world and scientist Dr Sylvia Earle as his mentor, who at the age of 80 remains a tireless advocate for the preservation of aquatic life. Also, he was motivated by his father, John T. Racanelli, who served as a Judge in the USA for 30 years, inspired by his integrity, belief in service and commitment to social justice.

     Mr Racanelli is fond of dolphins and wishes to pilot a mini-submarine to the ocean's depths. His ambition is to travel around the world, making people aware of the importance of global marine wealth.

    Admiring Kerala, Mr Racanelli said, "I enjoy exotic food," disclosing that Malayali cuisine is one of his  favourites. "I enjoyed the backwaters and the shore, which I think, need more maintenance."