These are areas at work. And this - really, this one of the signs of hope. These are good news. When we protect these areas, the fish don't die much fast, they take a longer time to die, they grow larger, they reproduce. And after a few years, there are so many fish that they spill over the boundaries of these reserves, so fishermen can catch more outside.
And we were in the Mediterranean this June on an expedition, and we asked some fishermen if they were happy with the marine reserve there. And they said, oh, we're so happy, without the reserve - you know, we couldn't be fishing. And this is our savings account. And there are so many things that you can do, individually, or you can do as an organization And I just like to say that on Monday and Tuesday, here in Washington, there was a meeting of conservation organizations, philanthropists, the government people, scientists. And we got together to create - well, an alliance that already existed - but to create a network, a very strong network of ocean lovers, ocean stakeholders called Mission Blue, with the goal of restoring the health and productivity of the ocean. Sylvia and I were here with other colleagues. And it was really, really hopefully.
It was really fantastic to see all these people who have dedicate their lives to save the ocean realize that alone we cannot make it happen. I just want to go back to a point you mention before, that the fishermen who almost always resist the creation of such areas because they say these are waters of families and our businesses have fished for years. But that after a few years, they actually support these reserves? As you say, Neal, the fishermen are the first to complain when you talk about creating a reserve. But after a few years, they realize that without these reserves, there is no future for them. And fishermen are part of the solution. And just one short story. There was this fisherman, Drew Lanka(ph) from Alaska who came to our meeting on Monday and Tuesday. And the Copper River fishermen -fishing community, they have decided that they are going to do direct marketing. They are going to sell the salmon directly to the consumer. So they are going to make more money.
And the consumers are going to pay less, because they wouldn't use - they eliminate the middle man, which means that the consumers are going to be happy and the fishermen don't need to catch as many fish to make more money. So everybody is part of the solution. Let's get a question from here in the audience. Hi. My name is Lisa Mensly.Id just like to say it's a pleasure to be in a room with such an amazing woman. My question is, how resilient is - and man... (Soundbite of laughter) LISA MENSLY: ...and Neal Conan. Hey. Cutting it rather fine, arent we?
I just want to say, how resilient is the ocean overall, given an ideal timeframe if people stopped eating fish people threw aside their balloons and went for flowers or something, how fast - what kind of timeframe would the ocean bounce back, or would it? Dr. EARLE: The sooner the better. But realistically, the next 10 years may be the most important in the next 10,000 years, or forever for that edison light. And it's not about will the world survive. Let's get a question from here in the audience.