Ilha do Fogo, a 42-hectare island off the coast of Mozambique, has fully transitioned to 100% renewable energy. 

The island is a safe haven for one of the world’s most vulnerable marine species… sea turtles. In order to protect Ilha do Fogo’s habitat, for all wildlife, the island’s directors vowed to keep the island as low-impact on the environment as possible. 

Many islands are powered almost entirely by fossil fuels, however, the environmental impact of producing this type of energy went against everything the Fire Island Conservation team is working towards. 

The NPO’s chief of operations, Jan van Deventer, states “Running Ilha do Fogo purely on solar energy just makes sense. We had already developed a number of solar stills to harvest fresh water on the island, so the transition to run all our energy needs on solar power was the logical next step.”

The 120KW solar plant was installed on Ilha do Fogo in November 2022. Although the island has accommodation for guests in the manner of ‘floating’ ensuite tents, it has only recently opened up to eco-tourism. With the solar system currently operating at a fairly low usage level, it is generating an average of 6000 kWh per month. This translates to a reduction of around 70,000 kg of CO2 annually. However, it can easily generate 13,000 kWh per month to accommodate our guests on the island, which equates to an annual reduction of 156,000 kg of CO2.

The project’s conservation manager, Esther Jacobs, states “The island is truly a biodiversity hotspot and we aim to do everything in our power to protect its marine and terrestrial populations. Running on diesel-power energy goes against our ethics. Not only would this type of energy create a huge carbon footprint just in transporting fuel to the island, but would also emit pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter, which can be harmful to the wildlife.”

Even the accommodation was carefully considered to minimise any environmental impact.  “There are 10 tented suites sitting atop platforms that were built to ensure the existing ecosystems and vegetation stayed intact,” says Jan. “With each tent sleeping two people, we could feasibly have 20 guests staying at any given time. However, we want to keep guest capacity to a maximum of 12, ensuring our impact remains at a minimum.”

Ilha do Fogo accommodation is part of Unfound Africa’s portfolio of unparalleled destinations and undiscovered locations. Each offering in the collection has been selected for uniqueness, inspiring guests to protect their biodiversity and culture. A percentage of the proceeds from all Unfound Africa bookings are donated to Fire Island Conservation projects. 

You can read more about Fire Island Conservation on their website: www.fireislandconservation.com 

I greatly admire today’s young people — but I sure don’t envy them. We older generations are leaving them a hell of a mess.

Granted, many people of all ages are trying to help the world shift to efficient, cost-effective renewable energy and avert the increasingly devastating impacts of a heating planet. But some don’t want to give up the conveniences and luxuries they’ve become accustomed to, from jet-setting vacations to private automobiles, so they don’t push too hard for change.

And despite international agreements and significant progress on many fronts, those with real power to effect change are still propping up the fossil fuel industry. As oil companies rake in record profits, the world’s biggest economies, the G20 countries, invested a record US$1.4 trillion in public money in coal, oil and gas last year — despite ongoing pledges since 2009 to phase out fossil fuel subsidies.

It pains me to mention political “leaders” who oppose almost all climate policy and action — some publicly rejecting climate science altogether! The excessive support some show for polluting, inefficient energy sources makes me wonder who they’re really working for. They’re certainly not prioritizing the interests of those they were elected to represent, including those too young to vote.

It’s no wonder so many young people are angry — and sad, anxious and afraid. We’ve failed them. When they should be enjoying relatively care-free lives with friends and family, learning and gaining experience, many have become rightfully terrified for their futures. The resulting despair can be paralyzing.

It’s up to older generations to foster hope by taking concrete action to get off fossil fuels and stop destroying natural spaces. But we must also recognize the serious, often long-term mental health effects youth can experience in facing this crisis. We need to ensure they have access to adequate mental health support and tools for self-care.

After waiting too long for adults to make the right choices, many young people are finding that channelling their anger and fear into action is one antidote to despair. From climate strikes to community activism, they’re finding ways to connect with each other and shape their future.

Some have courageously mounted legal challenges. In Montana, 16 young people successfully sued the state this month for violating their right to a clean and healthful environment.

“Because of their unique vulnerabilities, their stages of development as youth, and their average longevity on the planet in the future, plaintiffs face lifelong hardships resulting from climate change,” the judge wrote.

Many are hoping the landmark decision will energize other youth climate lawsuits, including one next year in Hawaii.

In Canada, seven young people are suing the Ontario government over climate issues. And in a case supported by the David Suzuki Foundation, 15 youth from seven provinces and one territory are suing the federal government for violating their rights to life, liberty and security of the person under Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and violating their right to equality under section 15, because they’re disproportionately affected by the climate emergency.

Again, young people shouldn’t have to spend their time and resources going to court to compel governments to do what they should be doing in the first place: ensuring their constituents live in a healthy environment and that youth of all ages can expect a bright future.

It’s exhausting enough just living with the growing climate crisis, even if you aren’t in the midst of fires or floods or smoke-clogged skies — or worse. Knowing so many solutions exist and that change is possible offers hope but can also be a source of frustration, as there are so many barriers to progress.

Young people are especially vulnerable. I urge all youth to talk about and get active in climate issues if you can — whether it’s participating in a march, writing a letter or joining an organization — but remember also to enjoy your life. We still have each day, and it’s important and energizing to have fun, get out into nature, spend time with friends and family, listen to music, dance, play and just live.

Let’s not be overcome by despair. A better future is achievable. We older generations owe those coming after us our consistent, focused efforts to do whatever we can to get there!

David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with David Suzuki Foundation Senior Writer and Editor Ian Hanington.

Learn more at davidsuzuki.org.

Reef-World has expanded its impact, welcomed new team members, and embraced growth while prioritising employee well-being

The Reef-World Foundation — the leading voice in sustainable marine tourism and the international coordinator of the UN Environment Programme’s Green Fins initiative —released its Impact Report for 2022 – 2023, outlining a year of significant achievements, innovative initiatives and groundbreaking collaboration.

In a year marked by global challenges, The Reef-World Foundation has been resilient and continued to excel in its mission to protect and conserve coral reefs and related ecosystems. The organisation has expanded its impact, welcomed new team members and embraced the opportunity for growth, all while remaining dedicated to the well-being of its employees.

Chair of The Reef-World Foundation, Vic Hancock Fell, said, “The past year has been both challenging and transformative. We’ve embraced new faces and a culture of care, further igniting our passion for safeguarding coral reefs and our natural world. We’ve redefined our strategic objectives to drive immediate, collective action in the marine tourism industry.”

Impact Report Highlights

• Our Programmes: Green Fins, Reef-World’s flagship program, continues to set environmental industry standards and has made significant strides in protecting coral reefs globally. The Green Fins network now covers over 60 countries, an expansion from 14 in the previous year! Through the Youth Ambassador Programme, 2,432 students in the Dominican Republic are educated about marine ecology, creating Youth Ambassadors for reef protection.
• Sustainability Targets: Reef-World diligently works toward achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water). 
• Impactful Partnerships: In partnership with Reef-World, PADI established Eco Centers to recognise continuous conservation commitments. Reef-World’s supported survey, featuring partners like PADI, RAID, PSS, and ZuBlu, garnered 2,400 responses from April to June 2022, uncovering evolving travel trends and sustainability’s growing role in post-COVID-19 tourism.
• Expanding Communications: Reef-World’s refined approach amplifies its global message of sustainable marine tourism through increased social media engagement, press coverage, and a reformed communications strategy.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Reef-World’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion is reflected in its core values, culture of care and workforce capacity-building.

In the face of pressing climate change impacts, the need for immediate climate action is undeniable. The Reef-World Foundation has set the stage for a future where marine tourism will champion sustainable practices as the norm, offering solutions and hope for the world’s coral reefs.

Looking Forward

As Reef-World continues to grow and innovate, it remains committed to promoting environmental conservation and employee well-being. The organisation’s dedication to a Culture of Care and its efforts in fostering Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) set a shining example for the marine conservation sector and beyond.

“The launch of Green Fins Hub is positively a dream come true for us all, seeing the fruits of our labour over the years, and this is only the beginning. There is lots more work to be done, and now Reef-World has stronger foundations upon which to build, the only way is onwards and upwards,” said JJ Harvey, Operations Director at the Reef-World Foundation 

The Reef-World Foundation is immensely grateful for the continued support of its grant funders: UN Environment Programme, IDB Lab, The Matthew Good Foundation, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority and GIZ (German development agency) in Jordan.

Reef-World would also like to express its gratitude to international partners whose vital support has resulted in significant tangible benefits for our work and mission: PADI; Professional SCUBA Schools International (PSS); Explorer Ventures; 1% for the Planet; ZuBlu; Snorkel Venture, GSTC; Dive O’Clock; WildSocks, Charitable Travel and Seven Dragons, without whom these achievements would not be possible. 

Find the full 2022–2023 Impact Report on Reef-World’s website.

Learn about the algae in Lake Ontario, how the governments of Canada and the United States are managing the lake’s nutrient levels, and what you can do to help!

Details

Date & Time: Oct 19, 2023 12:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada) Zoom

Description

AGENDA (times given in ET)

12:00 – 12:02 Welcome – Emma Tahirali, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).

12:02 – 12:15 Nutrients and algae 101: Understanding and identifying algae, successes and challenges in managing nutrients – Marie-Claire Doyle, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC).

12:15 – 12:20 Audience Q&A #1

12:20 – 12:40 Taking Action: Controlling nutrient inputs to the lake – Reducing nutrient impacts to Lake Ontario nearshore – Upgrades to wastewater infrastructure in the city of Toronto (10 min): Bill Snodgrass, Toronto Water – Improving water quality in Western NY’s Lake Ontario basin with soil health practices (10 min): Caitlin Tucker, American Farmland Trust.

12:40 – 12:45 Audience Q&A #2

12:45 – 12:55 How to report nuisance and harmful algae – Emma Tahirali, MECP – Brian Duffy, NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

12:55 – 1:00 News you can use: Steps you can take to reduce nutrient pollution and algal blooms in Lake Ontario.

Learn More and Register

In the azure depths off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt, a pioneering initiative is making waves in the world of marine tourism. The innovative concept is the creation of an Underwater Military Museum. This endeavour not only promises to attract more tourists to alternative destinations but also to relieve the pressures on the fragile natural coral reefs that have long been the region’s main diving attraction. Diving and snorkeling enthusiasts are in for a treat, with the opportunity to explore a captivating collection of 15 pieces of military equipment strategically placed in three distinct underwater locations, providing them with an unforgettable subaquatic experience while championing sustainable tourism practices.

The need for such a solution became evident due to the rapid development and the subsequent surge in tourist numbers experienced in the Red Sea Governorate, particularly in the bustling city of Hurghada. This development led to an unprecedented increase in diving activities on the area’s natural coral reefs. Some sites saw over 200,000 dives per year, significantly exceeding the recommended safe diving limit of 22,000 dives per site annually. This relentless exploitation threatened the very ecosystems that drew visitors in the first place.

Recognising that the responsibility for preserving the environment is a shared one, the community and its organizations united to seek solutions and promote the sustainable use of the Red Sea’s unique and delicate living resources. In response, the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA) took a proactive role in addressing the excessive use of natural coral reefs.

In close collaboration with the Red Sea Reserves Sector, environmental monitoring efforts revealed the deterioration of several sites off the coast of Hurghada due to excessive diving and snorkeling activities. It was clear that action was needed to reduce the strain on these resources, shifting from passive observation to proactive measures.

Thus, HEPCA conceived a plan: the creation of artificial coral reefs by strategically placing retired military equipment in front of Hurghada. The idea garnered widespread support from the Red Sea Governorate and the Ministry of Environment. The multifaceted goals of this initiative include:

1. Relieving Pressure on Natural Reefs: By establishing new diving sites, the project aims to alleviate the stress on natural coral reefs caused by excessive diving activities.
2. Promoting Historical Diving: The sunken antiquities are set to captivate diving enthusiasts from around the world, introducing them to the exciting world of diving on submerged historical artifacts.
3. Boosting Marine Life: Over time, the sunken equipment will evolve into natural coral reefs, bolstering the local fish populations and enhancing the region’s biodiversity.
4. Sustainable Tourism: The addition of artificial coral reefs enables the implementation of a diving site management plan based on their capacity, shifting the diving industry towards a sustainable and economically vital activity for Egypt.
5. Collaborative Preservation: This project exemplifies collaborative efforts between civil society organizations such as the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA), the Red Sea Reserves (Ministry of Environment), and the Red Sea Governorate. Together, they work as custodians of Egypt’s natural wealth, committed to its sustainable preservation for future generations.
6. A Model for the Future: Success in this project could serve as a blueprint for other regions facing similar challenges. Plans are already underway to add four more sites in the Hurghada region, signaling a comprehensive shift from the overuse of natural coral reefs to sustainable practices.
7. Global Coral Conservation: Egypt’s coral reefs, classified as one of the world’s last coral refuges, face threats from climate change. International organizations recognize their significance as a beacon of hope for coral preservation. Projects like this contribute not only to Egypt’s cultural heritage but also to its reputation as a steward of global coral conservation.

This underwater wonderland promises to not only captivate divers but also safeguard Egypt’s precious coral reefs for generations to come, all while underscoring the vital importance of sustainable tourism practices in today’s world.

All images copyright of HEPCA.

Learn more about the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA) at: https://www.hepca.org

Litter picks are a super easy way to care for your local community and environment and allow everyone to get involved and engaged with protecting and preserving their homes.

Litter picks don’t have to be huge events and you don’t have to attend organised events although these can often be a fun way to meet like minded people and provide a cool social occasion to catch up with pals.

The whole point is to show your support and to demonstrate a low tolerance to litter. To make a stand, an obvious one at that, that you want to keep spaces clean. A demonstration that you care about rubbish in your area and that you don’t support it. A way to help take care of your local wildlife and the spaces that are part of your everyday life. By doing the right thing yourself, you also show others how to do the right thing.

None of us like rubbish and it can be hard to keep on top of it in busy areas especially over the summer holidays when beaches are packed and few bins are about but the obvious thing to do is to take your litter home with you and dispose of it properly there where you have general waste and recycling bins.

Amelie Stubbs, 10, of Southsea in Portsmouth spent some of her school holiday litter picking the beaches of Seaview on the Isle of Wight and was motivated by helping to keep ocean environments healthy for the critters that she loves to find at the beach and in the rock pools she likes to explore. 

Amelie hopped over from Portsmouth to the island in less than an hour with the super supportive team at Wightlink Ferries armed with her Waterhaul litter picker. Her natural interest in wildlife and nature mean that she enjoys adventures at the beach picking up harmful items that threaten the sea life she is passionate about. She knows she is making a difference and it motivates her and inspires us.

Good work Amelie Stubbs and a big thank you from us for caring so much!

Learn More:

• https://www.sas.org.uk
• https://waterhaul.co
• https://www.wightlink.co.uk/

A Project to Restore Endemic Seagrass, and Why It’s Important

Over a period of ten months, more than 140 thousand cuttings, spread over an area of 7 thousand square meters in the construction site area of the work were explanted and replanted in a more suitable area of the coast, accomplishing a biological record.

The record transplanting was done to save the Posidonia in the gulf, because it was decided to enlarge a part of the port of Porto Torres, but over a large seagrass meadow, so it had to be brought to safety.

We started with the placement of one hundred and fifty bio-geomat, structures that allowed us to be able to attach the plant to the substrate. So far, 80 percent of the plants have held out for the entire year, ensuring strong rooting to the substrate.

Why Did We Do It?

Posidonia oceanica plays a vital role in the marine ecosystem. It is a bioindicator of water quality, it hosts so many species and creates a refuge zone for them, so we are talking about a plant that allows different species to grow by finding the nutrients necessary for their survival and development. It produces oxygen and stabilizes the substrate present in the Mediterranean.

I am very glad to have actively participated in the project. It made me aware of the potential of this plant by teaching, to all those who participated, that we need to preserve this plant, not only because it is an endemic species of the Mediterranean, but because around this plant a real ecosystem is developed and created that allows the survival and development of so many species.

You can follow more of Paolo’s projects and adventures on social media through these links:

https://www.facebook.com/paolo.marras.5

https://www.instagram.com/paul.blake92/

Thursday 29th June, Westminster: The Shark Trust is celebrating as The Shark Fins Act passes into UK law, effectively reinforcing existing shark finning regulation through the broad application of global best practice.

“The Shark Fins Act now enshrines Fins Naturally Attached into UK law,” said Ali Hood, Director of Conservation for the Shark Trust. The Act not only applies to UK fisheries but also prohibits the import and export of detached shark fins, whether loose or in products. And whilst not an all-out ban on shark fin consumption and trade, Hood says, “this creates a more challenging environment for would-be traders, simplifying customs checks, and enabling the UK to hold other countries to the same standards to which we hold ourselves.”

Earlier this month The Shark Fins Act completed its passage through both Houses of Westminster supported unanimously by MPs and Peers from all sides. The Shark Trust has engaged in proceedings with interest, acknowledging this historic step in a 20 year journey from the first Shark Finning Regulation in 2003.

Shark finning (the removal of shark fins at sea and the discard of the carcass overboard) was banned in Europe and as a result the UK in 2003, following a campaign championed by UK Members of the European Parliament. In 2009 the UK took steps to further tighten shark finning regulation requiring sharks to be landed with their fins still naturally attached. The EU took a further four years to adopt equivalent legislation (2013), finally prohibiting the landing of detached fins by EU vessels.
Christina Rees MP introduced the Act to The House of Commons in 2022 as a Private Members Bill, which successfully garnered cross-party support. The Bill then passed to ‘the other House’ in January 2023, where Baroness Jones of Whitchurch led the debate in the Lords. The Peers demonstrated a clear grasp of the issues involved, and shark finning and the fin trade were discussed as a facet of overfishing, which is widely accepted as the greatest threat to sharks.

“I’m pleased to have played a small part in bringing an end to this cruel and wasteful practice,” said Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, “but the real thanks should go to the shark and marine conservation charities who did so much to highlight the need for a ban.”

Christina Rees, MP for Neath and Port Talbot added, “It has been a great privilege to take this hugely important Act through the House of Commons, and I am delighted to see it receive Royal Assent.”
Rees continued saying, “I want to put on record my thanks to campaigners in the marine conservation charities, including the Shark Trust, Shark Guardian, and Bite-Back, who have worked tirelessly to highlight the need to establish a law. My thanks also go to Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, for all her hard work in ensuring the Act’s orderly passage through the Lords.”

“This Act represents years of work and is the culmination of the leadership role taken by the UK on shark finning regulation. Banning the import and export of detached fins is a important addition to the fins naturally attached policy.” Hood went on to say, “The Shark Trust is pleased to have been able to play its part, providing briefings and expertise at many junctures. Massive thanks to all the organisations and members of the public who have so passionately campaigned for tighter finning regulation over the years.”

I heard about the BBC Earth Experience in London and naturally knew it would be exceptional. David Attenborough narrating shorts films about the seven continents in an immersive way sounded absolutely fantastic. 

Arriving at Earls Court station we strolled through the concrete buildings that surround and lead you to the venue. The tall apartment blocks, housing and building site that guide you into the building which is surrounded in wild flowers and wooden benches is beautiful.

The vibrancy of the staff when you get there is phenomenal. They all know what lay in store for you and are excited to share it. Soon you will be immersed and they are genuinely happy that you are there and that you want to see the installation. You can hear Attenborough’s calm voice in the background and flashing bits of light as people enter and exit the exhibit hall. It is enormously exciting.

It is hard to explain or describe how you feel when you first walk in. Huge cinema screens are rolling, different shapes and projecting the film and the natural World in all its glory beams in front of you. It is quite emotional. 

It is more than incredible to be able to access footage in this way, scenes that we will never see in our life time, access to the tiniest of creatures and the most hard to find habitats. The sounds of flamboyant cuttlefish pulsating or spiders weaving a web is glorious. It feels magic to be a part of it.

We flew over mountains, sat in the middle of thunder storms and tornados and were followed by schools of fish and roaming sharks. 

You don’t have to be an environmentalist, conservationist, marine biologist or zoologist to see this exhibition. You just need to be human, you just need to be open to understanding that we are all connected in ways we can never imagine and that we need a symbiotic relationship to survive.

As you move around the experience to meet creepy crawlies, tackle weather bands, spot sea creatures and meet polar bears you are gently guided out and as you exit you are met with a giant globe, projected quite beautifully above you. David Attenborough leaves you with his final words of advice as you depart, his plea to help preserve and protect our planet.

The totally over whelming planet that spins around you surrounded by stars and planets and moons is a stark reminder of how lucky we are. It is a reminder of what we are all a part of and a scary reminder of what we could loose.

You enter the building eager to be inspired and you exit consumed with a passion to engage more in nature. You walk back into the city, the grey concrete and towering buildings and you understand how small and special natural environments are and how much of it has been taken over by humans. Our extensive use of resources and land has drained the planet and ultimately us.

Thank you BBC Earth for giving us insight. Thank you for exploring and for showing us things we might not ever be lucky enough to see for ourselves.

Manufacturing companies around the world create plastic products using synthetic polymers. These products have affected our marine ecology for years, and understanding their effects will help you learn how to help ocean life. Read on to learn more about the effects of synthetic polymers in the ocean and why keeping them away from water sources is essential.

What Are Polymers?

Polymers are combinations of different chemicals that form a new product. These polymers have two varieties: synthetic and natural. The difference between synthetic and natural polymers is in how they’re made. 

Natural polymers occur naturally, such as from the adhesion found in tree bark, while people manufacture synthetic polymers. Synthetic polymers may come from natural or synthetic molecules that combine to make a new product, and in most cases, that polymer will make a type of plastic product.

Harmful Chemicals

Synthetic polymers degrade over time, and their environment will significantly impact how they break down. In wet environments such as a lake or the sea, the chemicals of the polymer will “wash” away because of the water and mix with the liquid. This mixture presents a toxic threat to marine life, such as fish and amphibians.

The ingested toxins will also present a danger to people who fish as the fish they catch may cause sickness when not cooked correctly. Keep synthetic polymers away from water as much as possible. Even small streams eventually lead to larger bodies of water where fish may come into contact with chemicals.

Choking Hazards

Many animals eat various objects that humans wouldn’t consider eating, such as paper or old food scraps. Animals may unintentionally ingest plastic, thinking it’s food due to the smell or substances on it. Synthetic polymers may have a sharp point or an awkward shape that could cause the animal to choke.

This is a common effect synthetic polymers have on the ocean. Many water-dwelling animals suffer from choking, strangulation, or severe sickness when they ingest synthetic polymers. Smaller plastics are a problem because more animals can eat them, and larger animals tend to accumulate them.

Take time to recycle plastics or prevent them from falling into a water source. Since animals are everywhere, they will eventually find plastic and may take a bite.

Reduction in Populations

The dangerous effects of synthetic polymers will lead to more marine life dying or becoming too sick to fend for themselves. The resulting deaths will eventually decrease certain populations and create a domino effect that harms other species. Many animals rely on the presence of other animals, and when one species has a depression in its population or a new threat takes the stage, the ecosystem will feel it.

Keeping synthetic polymers away from bodies of water is essential to protecting and conserving marine environments. Remember these effects as you walk in nature, throw away the trash, or sort through recycling; synthetic polymers are everywhere, and protecting marine life will ensure that there aren’t as many harmful effects on the planet.

On Saturday 20th May thousands of people united on their local beaches to protest against sewage in our seas. The Surfers Against Sewage event brought people together to shout about keeping the water they loved spending time in clean.

Surfers Against Sewage is a marine conservation charity working with communities to protect oceans, waves, beaches and marine life. It was created in 1990 by a group of Cornish surfers from the villages of St Agnes and Porthtowan on the north coast of Cornwall.

The event created a stir nationally and invited anyone and everyone to be heard, to voice their concerns and worries about the condition of the water that they interact with and in. It allowed people to say that enough is enough. 

Protesters took to the water around the country to demand change. The organised and peaceful demonstrations were led by surfers, paddle boards, divers, kayakers and swimmers. Everyone of them having the same goal, to just feel safer in the water.

Thankyou SAS for continuously fighting for all of us and for bringing us together. 

Learn more about SAS at: https://www.sas.org.uk

National marine sanctuary workers, partners, scientists, and volunteers are coming together to help coral reefs. How can you help corals? Find out in this #EarthIsBlue video!

Learn more about coral reefs by visiting https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/teachers/coral-reef/ 

Are corals in trouble? Find out in this #EarthIsBlue video

Learn more about coral reefs by visiting https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/teachers/coral-reef/ 

Meet the coral reefs of your National Marine Sanctuary System! Coral reefs can be found in several sanctuaries from the Pacific Islands to the Gulf of Mexico.

Learn about corals in our latest #EarthIsBlue video

Learn more about coral reefs by visiting https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/teachers/coral-reef/ 

Preservation of the oceans and water systems has become one of the most important challenges of the modern era. Water and the life of the oceans are crucial for life on our planet and this is why it’s worth knowing how to protect it. We got some expert fishing tips from FindYourFish regarding the preservation of wildlife through sustainable fishing. 

The Problem of Overfishing 

Before we jump into the information about sustainable fishing, let’s talk about one of the biggest problems with this activity. Overfishing is very common nowadays. It can result in an immediate payoff for those who catch fish. However, it also causes a drastic reduction in the already very small fish population. 

When too many fish are taken from the ocean, there is no time and opportunity for species to reproduce, and in effect, we can even face species extinctions. If the balance is not kept, fishing can destroy waters which has dreadful consequences not only on marine ecosystems but also the lives of many people. 

The Importance of Sustainable Fishing 

Sustainable fishing is usually practiced on a small-scale and can be called artisanal. This type of fishing considers economic, social, and environmental problems. The goal of it is to protect fragile ecosystems, as well as support local communities, and to help people benefit from artisanal fishing. 

In sustainable fishing, respect for the marine ecosystem is very important. This type of fishing is adapted to the reproductive rate of fish. In effect, the balance of fish is kept, and that provides a higher probability for the survival of all species. 

The idea of sustainable fishing is to catch only the species that are not endangered and which can be used for commercial purposes. The bycatch rate is decreased to the minimum. 

Thanks to the locality of sustainable fishing, over 66% of all catches go directly to local populations. This increases food security and reduces pollution connected to fish transport. 

It might be hard to believe but 90% of employment in the global fishing industry is provided by artisanal fishing. Because of that, small fishing communities can develop and people can have better chances for employment.  

How Anglers Can Fish More Sustainably 

If you are an angler, perhaps you wonder how you can make your fishing more sustainable and eco friendly. There are a few ways to do it. 

Using a rod with only a few hooks is already quite a sustainable choice. You can monitor which fish bite and quickly remove those that shouldn’t leave the waters. When you learn how to unhook fish correctly, they can easily go back to the water unharmed. Choose more modern gear, especially hooks that were designed to not damage fish, even when caught. 

As an angler, you should always check the rules about species you can catch and take home with you. Be sure to always refresh those rules, as they can change depending on the region, as well as on the time of year. Many fish cannot be caught during their breeding season. 

University of Arizona Professor achieves an underwater first – ‘camping’.

A May 2023 diving science and technology exercise successfully demonstrated the concept of an ‘underwater camping trip’.

The project took place within the University of Arizona’s Biosphere 2 facility, which is best known for its enclosed environments for earth science research, as well as studying human performance within such environments. The Biosphere 2 recently celebrated the recent accomplishment of enabling terrestrial Mars simulations at the Biosphere.

Within the Biosphere is an ‘ocean’, which for three years has been utilized as a testbed to advance lightweight, portable underwater tent technology. The technology’s co-inventors, Michael Lombardi of Lombardi Undersea LLC (Rhode Island), and Dr. Winslow Burleson of the University of Arizona were awarded a patent for the technology in 2018 entitled “Portable Inflatable Habitat with Modular Payload, System and Method”. The patent was licensed to Subsalve USA, also of Rhode Island, the leader in engineered inflatables for underwater applications who supplies commercial and defense customers worldwide. Subsalve Founder & Chief Growth Officer Rick Fryburg commented, “We are very proud to contribute our 40 years of manufacturing expertise within the subsea inflatable space to making these important scientific advances.”

The ‘tent’, or habitat, provides a relatively dry and protected space underwater for divers to enter, remove their equipment, and carry out any number of tasks before returning to the surface. Michael Lombardi commented, “Underwater habitation and the quest to live beneath the sea has been a dream for over half a century, though is met with very complex challenges – the reality of human physiology and expense make it a difficult proposition. Techniques in saturation diving, where humans live under pressure for weeks or longer, are well established and used in the offshore oil and gas industries via mobile diving saturation vessels. By contrast, marine science has sporadically made use of fixed permanent habitats resting on the seafloor. Both rely on high operational costs and heavy infrastructure. In the last 20 years, techniques in ‘technical diving’, typically for sport, have made dive excursions in excess of 5 hours using only personal life support fairly routine. We’ve leveraged technology and techniques from that sector to afford a new lightweight mode of intervention, akin to camping, where we’ve demonstrated these 5 hours can be extended to a day or more all without the massive infrastructure of the current paradigm”. 

During the recent tests at Biosphere 2, the Ocean Space Habitat® system was deployed by a small team, then Professor Win Burleson entered the habitat using life support carried independently, and spent an overnight. Total cumulative time spent underwater by Burleson along with safety divers was 26 person hours. He stated, “I was able to get comfortable enough to sleep through the night and be reliant on the ultra portable self-contained life systems engineered for the habitat. This capability results in orders of magnitude less expense than conventional fixed habitats and saturation diving, and exposes a new cross section in human intervention that might make advances in marine sciences possible”.

In today’s marine science paradigm, researchers require being mobile, visiting multiple sites, even within a single field mission. Lombardi went on to state, “…the underwater value is analogous to a backpacking excursion – we certainly learn more from an overnight in the environment than a short walk [scuba]in the park. When coupling our portable habitat technology with modern rebreather (gas recycling) apparatus, spending up to a few days underwater is well within reach. Within this model, an environment can be responsibly studied, but not beat up and destroyed by heavy dive traffic over lengthy periods of time which has been the case with previous permanent stations.”

During the recent Biosphere 2 mission, Northeastern University’s Ocean Genome Legacy (OGL) partnered with the project. Burleson and Lombardi collected marine organism tissue samples which have been isolated within Biosphere 2’s ‘ocean’ for 30 years, and processed them within the Ocean Space Habitat® to demonstrate use as a viable science station. Genomic libraries will be constructed by the OGL and maintained in repository such that researchers not having access to the Biosphere’s ocean may still study its novel biodiversity. Lombardi shared, “there are numerous very challenging ocean environments that are far from fully understood, and the reality is that accessing them requires considerable specialization. Our team has been developing these capabilities since the early 2000s, initially within the now defunct NOAA Undersea Research Program (NURP) framework and now also privately, and we’re now ready to meet the call for unlocking the ocean’s many secrets in ways that robotic intervention cannot. A core team of ‘Aquanauts’ can be trained and mobilized using our habitat systems along with associated technology and techniques to afford science with dexterous manipulation [hands], spatial awareness [eyes], and rapid decision making [brain]within these environments.”

Research and development efforts are ongoing.

As scuba divers, we have the privilege of experiencing the wonders of the underwater world firsthand. But with that privilege comes the responsibility to protect and preserve the marine environment we so love. In recent years, marine conservation has become an increasingly urgent issue as our oceans face threats such as overfishing, plastic pollution, and climate change. As a scuba diver, you can make a difference in the fight to save our oceans. 

Here are some ways you can get involved in marine conservation:

1. Support sustainable diving practices: Choose dive operators that prioritize sustainable practices, such as responsible diving practices and eco-friendly accommodations.

2. Reduce your plastic footprint: Avoid single-use plastics like straws and water bottles, and participate in beach cleanups to help remove plastic waste from our oceans.

3. Learn about marine conservation issues: Educate yourself on the issues facing our oceans and spread the word to others. Attend talks and workshops, read books and articles, and watch documentaries.

4. Get involved in conservation efforts: Join a local conservation organization, volunteer for reef monitoring or restoration projects, or participate in citizen science initiatives.

By taking these steps, scuba divers can make a real impact in the fight to save our oceans. And not only will you be helping to protect the marine environment, but you’ll also be ensuring that future generations can enjoy the same incredible experiences that we have as scuba divers.

Other Ways To Help

Here are some marine conservation charities you can consider supporting:

1. The Ocean Foundation: https://oceanfdn.org/

2. The Marine Conservation Institute: https://marine-conservation.org/

3. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: https://seashepherd.org/

4. Oceana: https://oceana.org/

5. PADI AWARE Foundation: https://www.padi.com/aware

6. Coral Reef Alliance: https://coral.org/

7. The Nature Conservancy: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/

8. Mission Blue: https://mission-blue.org/

9. The Blue Marine Foundation: https://www.bluemarinefoundation.com/

10. Reef Environmental Education Foundation: https://www.reef.org/

11. Reef-World: https://www.reef-world.org

12. Green-Fins: https://www.greenfins.net

These organizations work towards protecting and conserving marine ecosystems, and your support can make a real difference in their efforts.

Arriving on Gili Air on the Blue Water Express boat from Sanur, Bali is surreal in some ways. You drive out of the busy city scape, hop on a speedboat and before long are approaching a pristine postcard looking island. Fringed with bright blue water, palm trees and hammocks. It is hard not to fall in love with the place immediately. Begadans line up to take you to your accomodation. The sound of neighing horses and the waves crashing is unique and refreshing.

I had been emailing Rose Huizenga for what seemed like years now, pre and post COVID to plan this visit. Rose, completely accommodating to the never ending changing travel plans was just as I had imagined her. A entrepreneurial free spirit. I sit here thinking about how to describe her without just listing qualities But she really is quite an impressive woman.

We Rocked up at Gili Shark, a project that was born out of nothing but love and adoration for the ocean and supporting the preservation of Indonesia’s shark population. 

The base has to be mentioned here because it screams zen and calm. The perfect place to learn, study and just be. Beautiful rooms, stunning decor and final touches, jars filled with fresh coffee and granola. The environment oozed health and well being and was a spectacular hub. 

Warmly welcomed by her team of Sharkies, local staff and her Operational Manager Maisy, we felt at home and instantly part of a like minded community. All there for the same reason but on our own paths. It provided the the most gloriously beautiful spot to meet.

The burning question of where Gili Shark came from was easily answered by Rose. Of course it came about from a group of dive pals having a beer in a bar. Now, as a diver myself I can confirm that we have all had those chats. ‘Let’s just start our own dive centre.’ ‘Lets buy a boat and take people fun diving.’ ‘Let’s sack off the person we work for and start our own thing.’ It’s a common conversation amoungst travellers and especially divers. What is not common is people who actually do it and make those chats happen, turning them into reality.

Rose sat there talking to me with a fully operational, popular, well establish and respected shark conservation project and coral catch programme, a villa and island spa, her own school, two beautiful children and a husband sipping a freshly made ginger tea. It’s hard not to be in awe of the girl. She started all this as a backpacker, one with big ideas. I honestly couldn’t get enough of her story. Her passion to create a sustainable island life with a sound, thoughtful plan was jaw dropping really. Her very energy was inspiring. 

The base staff were in the background baking banana loaf and humming along happily, fermenting things and giggling with each other. The participants and students were social media creating and talking excitedly about their mornings, making plans to build new under water structures for the coral restoration project. Her vision was being delivered. Those ideas to create something positive were functional.

There were so many questions to ask, things to find out but the easiest place to start was of course with a dive. Where else is the best place to emerge yourself in the thick of the work going on somewhere. We donned our equipment and headed out for the morning dive with a Rose guiding us around the coral project. 

The dive sites were pristine. We descended on the coral restoration project and the Sharkies got to work, busily cleaning and tending to the young corals. Turtles reclined over them, basking in the soft current and finding comfort in the new spaces for them to reside. A healthy, flourishing site. 

‘In early 2019 our research team took off on a field trip to Nusa Lembongan to meet with Blue Corner Conservation. Thanks to Andrew C.F Taylor of Blue Corner dive our research team had an amazing few days learning about coral restoration and underwent full training in how to conduct this remarkable method. Back home on Gili Air, we immediately started preparing for our own coral restoration project which we launched in the summer of 2019.

In the summer months of 2019, we placed 60 hex dome structures between 5 and 10 meters on an area where rubble has the monopoly of space in the selected location at the North of Gili Air. To a portion of these hex domes our research team will add Micro fragments of selected s of coral from communities that are known to thrive in this area. We will leave a portion of each dome free of micro fragments to have sufficient space for natural recruitment.

On a weekly basis our research team will monitor the restoration site through assessing fish biomass as well as live coral coverage and the growth rate of each fragment. The methods we will use to collect this data include; Underwater Photo Transect (UPT) and Underwater Visual Census (UVC), weekly time-lapse of each hex dome, Remote Underwater Video (RUV) and manual measurement using vernier caliper for growth rate.

It is really key to not just mention Maisy but to take my hat off to her. A really experienced, intelligent, vibrant lady who seems to be the definition of multitasking and productivity. It makes sense that Rose hired her and trusted her to deliver her vision. She is as mega as Rose with an extensive background in scientific research and marine biology. With what felt like 50 balls in the air at all times, she very cooley lead the work that was going on and managed the programmes under Roses direction. ‘ Gili Shark Conservation.

The days rolled on with us acting as voyeurs to this wonderfully oiled machine. We joined a beach clean up and were joined by various tourists who had seen the posters around the island and on the social pages and come along. You didn’t need to move more than a meter to collect almost a bag of litter, debris that had arrived from neighbouring islands and from currents riding past the Gillis. It was sad in lots of ways but positive to see so many like minded folk coming together to clean up. It was significant because beach cleans don’t need to be organised, anyone can potter along a stretch of beach and collect trash but a regular organised clean motivates people. It gives you a time and a place to be to take part. It highlights to others that it needs doing. In bigger numbers comes impact.

The sustainability of projects is key. It is easy to start something but keeping it going, keeping it maintained and productive is a whole different ball game. The core injection of local staff to all that goes on here is underrated. The relationships with people from the area are immeasurably valuable. The knowledge and passion they have about where they are from and the respect for the ocean is beautiful. Rose and Andreas know that. They consider it in all that they do and strong partnerships have been born and will continue to be born because of that understanding and appreciation of Indonesians, their traditions and their culture. 

On our nearly last day we sat down by the boat at the end of a busy dive day. Rose’s children were playing on the beach front, tiny beach blonde, sun kissed babies collecting crabs with their little Indonesia friends and carefully putting them back in the water, jumping off logs and into sea puddles. I listened to them talk English to the participants, Bahasa to the lovely local ladies they were with. It made me see the longevity in the work here. Good intentions live on. Good people raise good people with core values and they grow the next generation of people who care. In those few moments I saw the life cycle. The relationships that are formed, the concern that these kids will inevitable adopt from their Mum and Dad and hopefully continue. 

I would urge anyone thinking about doing something positive and out of the ordinary to visit this island and to sit down and have a ginger tea with Rose. It’s a tea you will always remember. Explore marine biology and conservation, gain an understanding of why it is all so, so important to our existence and life balance. Visit Gili Air and change your view and your expectation of what is achievable.

Learn more at: https://www.gilisharkconservation.com/ and https://villanangkagiliair.com/

Photography by Radoslaw Krol http://www.picagaphoto.co.uk/

This Earth Day, Explorer Ventures Fleet is celebrating the planet by donating $100 per person from each new Caribbean booking to ocean conservation! Whether you’re a dedicated conservationist or a diver just wanting to do the right thing, you can feel good about booking a trip this April. 

How it works: Reserve a liveaboard holiday on two Green Fins’ certified vessels Caribbean Explorer II or Turks & Caicos Explorer II between April 19-26, for travel now until the end of December 2023. Then Explorer Ventures will donate $100 per person to local marine conservation efforts. Donations will be sent to Saba’s Sea & Learn Program (Caribbean Explorer II) or the Turks & Caicos Reef Fund (Turks & Caicos Explorer II).

This month’s donation offer is a small part of Explorer Ventures Fleet’s Dive Green environmental management program. They are constantly taking steps towards more sustainable operations. Other recent steps have included:

• Creating a new Dive Green downloadable conservation toolkit. This info package goes pre-trip to the Caribbean & Turks & Caicos guests. However, it’s now available in one spot online for everyone to read to encourage all guests to help protect our reefs. 
• Reducing paper usage at the head office and at tradeshows. 
• Donating free trips to help raise funds for conservation organizations like Shark Angels.
• Implementing anchor policies that minimize impact on marine life. 
• Conducting two beach cleanup events, a third coming soon.  
• Starting micro-plastic monitoring with Sint Maarten Nature Foundation.
• Assisting the local community with mooring installation and reef surveys.
• Adding more fleet vessels as Green Fins members, completing assessments and starting their individual action programs.

Learn more about Dive Green here.

Help Explorer Ventures celebrate the planet. Book a trip today! – https://www.explorerventures.com

Terms & Conditions: The Earth Day Special is valid for new reservations only, booked and deposited between April 19-26, 2023 for travel from April 19-December 31, 2023. The donation offer cannot be combined with group comps or FAM trips. Not applicable on existing bookings made before April 19, 2023. Additional booking terms and requirements may apply, contact us for details.

Three years after the start of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), a global conference will bring together the Ocean Decade community and partners to celebrate achievements and set joint priorities for the future of the Decade.

Hosted by Spain and co-organized with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO), the 2024 UN Ocean Decade Conference will take place on 10-12 April 2024 in the coastal city of Barcelona.

The event will be a key moment for governments, leaders, maritime sectors, philanthropy, universities, private sector, NGOs and more, to take stock of the achievements of the first three years of the Decade and define a collective vision for the coming years.

More details about the programme, registration process and calls for proposals for satellite events will be available soon.

Learn more in our Event Calendar or if you would like to receive updates, please sign up here

Dive without disrupting the wonders of the ocean with these eco-friendly scuba diving tips. Learn the environmental risks of diving and how to minimize them.

Scuba diving allows you to immerse yourself in the beauty and wonders of the ocean, home to many biodiversities. It gives you access to an unfamiliar ecosystem, teaches you about life underwater, and sparks adrenaline for adventuring hearts. 

Although scuba diving offers a lot of benefits, it also poses risks to wildlife and the environment, just as exploring any on-land natural habitats does. Reap the joys of scuba diving without harming the planet and marine life by following these best practices for eco-friendly diving. 

Practice Eco-Conscious Boating 

Boats play an important role in scuba trips. They transport you to and from your dive spot. However, they also generate multiple environmental risks. Boat propellers commonly run over marine life. Anchors risk catching onto and destroying coral. Gas motors release pollutants. Loud engines disrupt the peace of underwater ecosystems.  

Avoid causing environmental damage with your boat by following eco-conscious boating practices. For instance, switch your motor from gas to electric to prevent noise, water, and air pollution. Electric outboards offer many benefits, including quiet and clean motor systems. Drive slowly in heavily populated waters to avoid collisions between your propellors and marine wildlife. Anchor your boat a safe distance from coral. There are many ways to sail more environmentally and sustainably, protecting the oceans from harm. 

Invest in Sustainable Diving Gear 

Sustainable diving gear continues to rise in popularity and accessibility each year as environmental movements grow. It comes in many forms, including: 

• Reef-safe sunscreen 
• Eco-friendly equipment cleaner 
• Wet suits made from recycled and natural materials 
• Fins and snorkels made from recycled and recyclable materials 
• Reusable equipment bags 

Two of the biggest ocean pollutants are chemical run-off and litter. Investing in sustainable diving gear decreases those pollutants and keeps the water clean and safe for those that call it home.  

Keep Your Distance From Marine Life 

Humans indulge in experiences through their senses. Seeing, smelling, hearing, tasting, and touching your surroundings allow you to understand and connect with your atmosphere. However, keeping your hands to yourself better preserves marine ecosystems. 

As elegant and intriguing as swimming sharks and turtles or colorful coral and shells look, keep your distance. Respecting the marine life’s personal space ensures you and the wildlife stay safe. Every ecosystem operates in a specific way; disrupting that balance leads to a domino effect of issues. 

Avoid Collecting Natural Souvenirs

In tandem with putting space between you and marine wildlife, leave the ocean as you found it—unless you are removing trash and human-made items. Shells and coral are hot tourist commodities and home decor, but they also play a specific role in underwater ecosystems. They are shelters and food for many species and protect coastlines from erosion. While exploring the depths of the water, avoid snagging or leaving any souvenirs to better preserve the ocean and wildlife. 

Whether you are an experienced scuba diver or a beginner, keep these best practices for eco-friendly diving in mind the next time you head out for a dive. Practicing environmentally friendly boating, investing in sustainable gear, avoiding disruptions to marine life, and preserving the natural environment of underwater ecosystems allow you to dive with minimal impact. It keeps the ocean and all that it houses healthy and beautiful, maintaining an inviting and wonderful space for you to continue exploring. 

Litter in the ocean is an ongoing problem for the world’s ecosystems, but knowing how to help during underwater cleanups can help. Here are a few tips.

Humans are the number one producers of the world’s waste. Therefore, many have taken to cleaning up the trash that fills it to reverse the damaging impact we have caused over generations. Read on for five quality tips on underwater ocean cleanups.  

Control Your Dive

As you dive into the ocean, it’s important to have a controlled dive with the right buoyancy so you don’t float or sink at random intervals. Keep a neutral buoyancy to control how fast you dive and rise by breathing slowly and wearing the right weight. Keeping a good buoyancy will help you remain still to collect trash throughout the cleanup.

Always Cover Your Hands

The litter you pick up in the ocean will involve various items, from sharp metals to harmful chemical containers. In any situation, ensure you pick up litter using protective gloves to protect your hands and reduce the bacteria attached to your fingers. Handle sharp objects carefully, and consider how they may rest within your trash bag as you collect more litter.

Watch Where You Touch

The ocean has many creatures living within it, some of which are harmful to humans. When you take part in an underwater ocean cleanup, it’s important to watch where you touch, especially near reefs where small, dangerous creatures hide. 

For example, a cone snail is a dangerous animal with a venomous sting. These small mollusks hide in coral reefs globally, and it’s easy for an unsuspecting person to reach for its shell, mistaking it for garbage and getting pricked by its stinger. Always watch where you grab and mind your reach, so you don’t interact with dangerous animals as you work to clean up their habitat.

Keep an Eye Out for Predators

There are many predators in the sea, such as barracudas and sharks. Some fish species also prey on humans, so you’ll need to be on the lookout while underwater if you catch their eye. The best way to not attract an underwater predator is to remove anything shiny or metallic. Occasionally, look around as you pick up waste to ensure the coast is clear and that a sharp-toothed fish isn’t swimming your way.

Only Open Your Trash Bag When Necessary

It’s essential to keep your trash bag closed during an underwater cleanup. Only open it when placing garbage inside, ensuring you keep the bag still, so the contents don’t float out. It’s best to fill your bag three-fourths of the way so you don’t overfill it and cause it to burst.

Healthy ocean life is important for the world’s ecosystems, including ours on land, making underwater cleanups essential for the safety of sea life. Fortunately, plastic manufacturing is becoming greener as time passes and finding new ways to create sustainable products. However, until these environmentally friendly items become commonplace, use these tips for a safe and enjoyable underwater cleanup. After all, who knows what treasures you’ll find among the world’s trash?

Human activities affect the Ocean in different ways, the same Ocean that provides us goods and services and the one our life depends on. 

This has led to a situation in which long term sustainability for the ocean and its goods and services is threatened. Coastal habitats are directly stressed by human activities, like overfishing, pollution, habitat losses, nutrient over-enrichment, biodiversity loss, invasive species, but also indirectly such as climate change and global warming. 

The increase of greenhouse gas emission, like CO2, causes an important rise in temperature in the atmosphere having subsequently different effects on many ecosystems and organisms. The more CO2 we have in the atmosphere, the more CO2 we have in the Ocean. In order to minimize the effect of the global warming and fight against climate change, reducing carbon emissions is, without any doubts, a necessary step, but there is also the need to find ways to remove carbon from the atmosphere, since greenhouse gases will linger in our atmosphere for almost 100 years. 

When we think about who is going to save us from the carbon in the atmosphere, the rain forest is the first one which comes to our mind, but seagrass meadows bury carbon at a rate that is 35x faster than tropical rainforests and their sediments never become saturated!

The endemic seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile, which forms some of the most productive and valuable ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea, is a key ecosystem dominant on sandy sea beds, with a high conservation value. P. oceanica is a protected species, included in Habitats Directive and Natura 2000 network of nature protection areas as a priority habitat. By creating extent meadows, that can be found from 1m until 40-45 m of depth, P. oceanica provides important goods and services such as nursery grounds, nutrient cycling, blue carbon sequestration, sediment stabilization, trophic transfer to adjacent habitats and towards higher trophic levels and coast protection from erosion. Many organisms find food and shelter within its long leaves, rhizomes and in the sediment, feeling safe inside the meadow that protect them from the dangers of the sea! 

Seagrass meadows dissipate the wave energy, slow down the movement of ocean currents between the seabed and the end of the leaves and protect our coast from erosion. Even when the dead leaves reach the beach, transported by the waves, they can protect our beaches, creating a structure called banquette. 

A common mistake is confusing this seagrass with an algae, but the morphology of P. oceanica lets us immediately see the difference: there are roots, rhizomes, flowers and fruits! In fact, P. oceanica reproduces both sexually and asexually and the sexual reproduction occurs through the production of flowers and fruits. Flowering is regulated by environmental factors (light and temperature) and endogenous factors (plant age and size) and it seems that the rising temperature induces the flowering as a stress response. P. oceanica is highly threatened by the climate change and many studies have confirmed a few past mass mortalities due to extreme climatic events like marine heatwaves. 

Nowadays, research focus on seagrass restoration efforts which is considered a reliable strategy to enhance the recovery of the ecosystems and, even though there is still lack of information to define the perfect methodology for a successful action, many projects are now going on to save our Mediterranean lung!

A South Tyneside Council-led project aims to strengthen North Eastern coastlines and communities in the face of flooding, erosion and the impacts of climate change

South Tyneside Council has secured £6.9m in funding for the region’s Stronger Shores initiative, which will take a new approach to making British coastlines and communities stronger in the face of flooding, erosion and the impacts of climate change.

The project explores how to use the power of nature to restore our ocean’s health while cementing a more sustainable, healthy and prosperous future for coastal communities. Through Stronger Shores’ game-changing potential, the North East is trailblazing a path for the UK to be a world-leader in establishing proven, affordable and long-term solutions to the climate crisis.

This project is funded by Defra as part of the £150 million Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme which is managed by the Environment Agency to develop and test new approaches to help communities become more resilient to the effects of flooding and climate change.

Councillor Ernest Gibson, Lead Member for Transport and Neighbourhoods at South Tyneside Council and Chair of the Local Government Association (LGA) Coastal Special Interest Group (SIG) said: “Our coastline is one of our greatest treasures but, over the years, important natural habitats have been lost. Many areas are threatened by flooding, erosion and storms and climate change will only make this worse. If we do nothing, habitats, man-made coastal defences and communities could all suffer. That’s why we’re proud to have secured this funding for Stronger Shores, which will allow us to turn to the hidden habitats below the waves for an affordable, long-term solution.”

Councillor Gibson continued: “Traditional man-made coastal protection solutions are often expensive to install, maintain and replace. Sand dunes and saltmarshes offer protection but are themselves threatened by rising sea levels and development pressures. However, marine habitats such as seagrass meadows, kelp forests and oyster reefs can act as natural buffers that protect coastlines, enhance community benefits and reduce maintenance costs for existing coastal protection. By investing in protecting these seabed habitats now, we hope to see ongoing benefits for people and planet.”

Through Stronger Shores, a network of experts will test new restoration approaches to better understand how these habitats can benefit communities in the North East and beyond through: improving water quality, reducing erosion and structural damage, helping to stabilise shorelines, reducing wave impacts, creating rich wildlife, protecting against pollution, improving fisheries, protecting against climate change, providing community recreation areas, and extending the lifespan of man-made coastal defences.

The project is supported by: Newcastle University, University of Plymouth, Tees Rivers Trust, The North Sea Wildlife Trusts, Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Groundwork North East & Cumbria (GWNEC).

Celine Gamble, Restoration Project Manager, Zoological Society of London added: “This Stronger Shores funding will help us and Groundwork North East and Cumbria build on our previous work on the Wild Oyster Project. By allowing us to scale up, this investment will mean we can increase our habitat restoration efforts and deliver a more extensive, longer-term monitoring programme. As a result, we’ll be able to better understand and quantify the benefits of native oyster reefs for local habitats and communities. Even more exciting is the potential to transform how the UK government approaches coastal protection. Proving the success of affordable, long-term solutions to coastal threats – such as native oyster reefs – could justify policy change and unlock future funding for marine habitat restoration.”

Clare Fitzsimmons, Professor of Marine Ecosystems and Governance, from Newcastle University, said: “We are very excited to be working with Stronger Shores in the delivery of ground-breaking, interdisciplinary research to determine the roles of natural and restored kelp, seagrass and oyster beds in protecting our coasts. We will pilot restoration of key habitats testing new techniques to support recovery, while making sure our innovative measurement and monitoring methods can identify the most effective solutions. Then, working with University of Plymouth, we can identify critical links between ecological outcomes and benefits for society, filling significant knowledge gaps and testing a robust framework for future projects to follow.”

Mark Dinning, Head of Conservation, for Durham Wildlife Trust, said: “Connecting people with the marine environment is vitally important in securing its protection and restoration. Durham, Northumberland and Tees Valley Wildlife Trusts are excited to be delivering this element of the Stronger Shores programme. Stronger Shores offers opportunities to boost existing conservation projects by sharing resources, expertise and information with other organisations. Expertise from the North Sea Wildlife Trusts will allow the development of important seagrass restoration work along the North East England coast by testing innovative methodologies for seed planting and monitoring. This is a practical, value-for-money approach that can save money, assets and infrastructure later if we can create a proven framework for others follow – not just in the North East but across the UK and beyond.”

Simon Wilson, Environment Agency Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager for the North East, said: “We’re excited to be supporting Stronger Shores, which has huge potential to help communities become more resilient to the effects of flooding and climate change. It’s one of 25 innovative projects being funded by Defra as part of the £150 million Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme, which is managed by the Environment Agency. Climate change is happening now and we will see future impact on people, communities, wildlife and the economy. Stronger Shores will be key in finding long-term solutions to protect communities across South Tyneside and the rest of the country. We look forward to using the evidence gathered to inform future management approaches around the coast.”

Stronger Shores is expected to launch in Spring 2023 and there will be lots of opportunities for members of the public to get involved through volunteering, citizen science and more. In the meantime, South Tyneside Council is keen to hear people’s views on the project. For more information or to share views, email strongershores@southtyneside.gov.uk

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society debuted its new ship Seahorse yesterday in Operation Milagro to protect the Vaquita Porpoise. In Operation Milagro, Sea Shepherd and the Mexican Government protect the Zero Tolerance Area of the Vaquita Refuge by keeping the illegal fishing gear that ensnares the world’s most endangered marine mammal out of the UNESCO-recognized protected zone. 

Sea Shepherd leadership will be doing a press conference to discuss the new ship and the future of the campaign live from Mexico Thursday, January 26, at 12:30 EST. Sign up HERE to attend.

The Mexican Navy is part of the Grupo Intragubernamental sobre la Sustentabilidad en el Alto Golfo de California or GIS; a coalition of  Mexican government agencies and departments which  works in the ZTA to protect the Vaquita Refuge in coordination with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. They were represented in yesterday’s events Admiral Rubén Alfonso Vargas Suárez and Rear Admiral José Carlos Tinoco Castrejón. 

The Seahorse arrives at a critical time; data from 2022 indicates that in the past year, Operation Milagro’s joint efforts with the Secretary of the Navy and other government partners reduced the illegal fishing activity that threatens the Vaquita by 72%. This dramatic reduction in the illegal fishing activity responsible for the decline of the vaquita is due to the sustained commitment of Sea Shepherd and the vigilant enforcement of the Mexican Navy.

From October 10, to December 5 in 2021, Sea Shepherd crews observed a total of 449 hours of illegal fishing activity in the Zero Tolerance Area of the Vaquita Refuge (defined as the number of fishing vessels multiplied by the time they spent in the ZTA) with a daily average of 26.41 hours of illegal fishing activity every day being confirmed and responded to in the ZTA. During that same period of time in 2022, a total of 164 hours of illegal activity was detected with a daily average of 7.45 hours of illegal fishing in the ZTA. This means the partnership between the Government of Mexico and Sea Shepherd is responsible for a 72% reduction in the total hours of illegal fishing, the nets of which are a direct threat to the Vaquita.

The new ship builds on this momentum. Sea Shepherd completed the purchase of Seahorse in August 2022 and, at 150 feet long and 36 feet wide, the Seahorse’s ballast will allow Sea Shepherd to remain vigilant over the Zero Tolerance Area during inclement weather.

“M/V Seahorse is entering Operation Milagro at the perfect time,” Sea Shepherd’s Chairman Pritam Singh said. “Our new ship arrives after a year when our partnership with the Mexican Navy dramatically reduced the threat to the Vaquita, specifically a 72% reduction of illegal fishing activity. This is encouraging news, but we always have to do better. We chose and re-fitted the Seahorse specifically for its design and capacity, both of which will dramatically increase our effectiveness and ability to protect the Vaquita in 2023.”

“As members of the Intergovernmental Group on Sustainability in the Upper Gulf of California, we reaffirm our commitment to fulfill our responsibilities to the protection of the vaquita and the fight against illegal fishing,” said Admiral Rubén Alfonso Vargas Suárez, Commander of the Second Naval Region. “We welcome the vessel Seahorse of the Sea Shepherd Organization, with whom we will continue working jointly in accordance with the Collaboration Agreement.” 

Esteban Moctezuma, Mexico’s Ambassador to the US, said “Protecting the Vaquita porpoise is a top priority of the Government of Mexico. We are delighted to herald a new chapter in this joint effort and thank Sea Shepherd for its longstanding partnership.”

Learn more about Sea Shepherd at https://www.seashepherd.org

The Inland Ocean Coalition, a non-profit focused on building land-to-sea stewardship across the nation, is excited to announce that the application period for the ninth cohort of our Inland Ocean Ambassadors Training has opened. The virtual 5-week training covers the most pertinent ocean protection topics and features top minds in ocean conservation. 

The sessions, held each Thursday via Zoom from 5-7 pm MT beginning March 2nd and ending March 30th, are designed as intensive learning opportunities to engage with IOC’s staff and network. 

This is a great opportunity to join our network of over 200 ocean ambassadors in 35 US states and 26 countries! 

The application can be found here: IOA Application

Applications close February 17th. 

For more information on the training visit our website: https://inlandoceancoalition.org/inland-ocean-ambassadors/

Steve Traviss, director at a waste and recycling company based in Newcastle embarked on the “whale” sized task of a Guinness World Record attempt with hundreds of other divers participating in an underwater rubbish cleanup.

Anyone travelling to the land of smiles will be blown away by the vibrant sunsets along the coast. Over the years however, the pristine beaches have become peppered with broken down plastic rubbish that has found its way into the sea (to the annoyance of locals and tourists).

The environmental conservation group Go Green Active decided to take action and worked together with the tourist authority of Thailand (TAT) to organise a monumental cleanup just off the coast of Patong beach, Phuket.

Steve said that Thailand is getting better at managing its green agenda and when he learned about the conservation dive he knew he had to go and help.

“My motivation for taking part was because of my passion from my job in waste management in that I am able to make a real difference to recycling rates and sustainability.”

More than 300 qualified divers helped out in the monumental cleanup of the reefs in the Patong bay area which have been damaged due to the litter in the sea. Marine waste can block sunlight to the coral and even lead to it being vulnerable to disease, greatly putting the habitat at risk.

WasteManaged, where Mr. Traviss works, is a waste management and recycling company based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Working there allows him to find new ways to focus on his passion for environmental conservation and help reduce pollution.

“This was my personal way of doing something to make a difference, combining my PADI Master Scuba Diver qualifications and experience with doing something tangible to help the cause in Thailand.”

On Saturday, 19 November, Steve joined hundreds of both local Thai and foreign divers from around the world who turned up to take part in the event together in an effort to collect as much marine debris as possible. Those involved in the dive said they wanted to play a role in spreading this message to reduce marine pollution.

“The highlight of the event was seeing the real buzz and determination of the organisers and the local Thai divers to raise the profile of what is happening in the ocean.”

Local authorities and organisations got involved in support of the message. The opening ceremony was honoured by Vice Admiral Youkongkaew of the Thai navy along with other prominent members of state and notable figures involved in conservation.

“It was well supported by the Thai navy and marine units who were there to ensure the security and safety of the divers as well as keep the area clear of small boats or jet skis as they pose a real danger to divers underwater who may be surfacing. Because of their presence and their detailed briefings the event ran like clockwork.”

“The highlight of the event was seeing the real buzz and determination of the organisers and the local Thai divers to raise the profile of what is happening in the ocean. …and the after party was also good!”

Not only has this experience demonstrated unity and integration between public and private-sector organistations from multiple countries, but it shines a light on how most of the pollution around us can go unnoticed and give an inaccurate portrayal of the true scale.

By the end of the day all the rubbish that had been collected by the volunteers was then weighed at a total of over 3 tons before being taken to a waste sorting site for treatment.

“I have been diving now for 25 years, having started in the icy cold 5 degree waters of Bute in Scotland and progressing to the 30 degree water temperature of the Andaman Ocean in Thailand. I know which I like the best!”

He said the diving community in Phuket are also now doing regular beach cleans, and there is much less plastic being dumped than even 2 years ago as they have now adopted the same rules as the UK in encouraging the use of re-usable bags.

Job Title: Communications Manager

Location: Dumaguete City, Philippines (option for role to be fully or partially remote)

Salary: £19,000 – £24,000 GBP per annum, dependent on experience 

Contract Length: Permanent (Full Time) following a 3-month probation period 

Job Start Date:  1 Mar 2023 (or early as possible)

Reporting to: Directors

Closing date for applications: 8 Jan 2023

Hi! We’re The Reef-World Foundation, a registered UK charity which delivers practical solutions for marine conservation around the world. We are a small but highly effective team of passionate and dedicated individuals who are driven by achieving lasting conservation impacts in areas of the world where it is needed the most. We started working with local fishing communities in Thailand in 1999. Today we operate across 14 countries, supporting governments, businesses and communities to sustainably develop their coastal resources.

In partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), we are the international coordinator of the Green Fins initiative, which aims to protect and conserve coral reefs through environmentally friendly guidelines that promote a sustainable diving and snorkelling tourism industry. The reality is that coral reefs couldbe gone in your lifetime – if they go, the health and wellbeing of people and the planet go with them. Reef-World is working to buy more time for coral reefs to thrive by mobilising collective, urgent and wilful action through the marine tourism industry.

Our work involves supporting, inspiring and empowering governments, businesses, communities and individualsaround the world to act in conserving and sustainably developing coral reefs and other coastal resources.

The Reef-World Foundation is subject to UK employment law.

Reef-World’s Core Values

• We empower our colleagues, our stakeholders, our partners and our supporters to have conservation impact.
• We collaborate. Our approach is not competitive – the more we collaborate, the stronger the conservation impact we will have.
• We are innovative. We explore new ways to grow and harness new technology that helps us do so. We are not afraid to break from the norm and use innovative approaches, to achieve conservation impact.
• We stay optimistic in our decision-making and in our approach to tackling global conservation issues.
• We seek to inform. The messages we bring to the public’s attention are based on sound science. Westrive to keep ourselves informed and in tune with the latest science and approaches.

Job Purpose

The Communications Manager plays a key role within the organisation, shaping and leading the delivery of all aspects of communications and outreach related to Reef-World and its programmes, with a primary focus on Green Fins.

Coral reefs could be gone in your lifetime – if they go, the health and wellbeing of people and the planet go with them.A strategic-thinking and creative Communications Manager will continue to shape and lead Reef-World’s communications to address this reality.

The Communications Manager leads the development and distribution of Reef-World’s communication content topromote the work of the Charity. Additionally, they will work with the Programmes team to oversee the development and distribution of outreach content and materials supporting Reef-World’s programmes and partnerships, informed by cutting-edge behavioural change and evidence-based approaches to result inempowering more individuals to take action for environmental protection around the world.

The main responsibilities of this role are:

• Lead Reef-World’s communications
• Provide management and mentorship to Reef-World’s Communications team
• Deliver Reef-World’s communications output in line with Reef-World’s strategic plan
• Contribute to Reef-World’s strategic planning

In addition to the primary role, the Communications Manager will also support the implementation of Green Finsalongside country partners and teams consisting of government representatives and NGO’s.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Communications and Outreach

• Manage all articles and publications; with the support of the Reef-World team, release compelling contentthat works across a variety of channels (press releases, news, blogs, articles, publications)
• Lead development of The Reef-World Public Annual Report
• Lead on stakeholder engagement, public relations, digital and communication campaigns, engaging arange of audiences across a diverse set of geographies and platforms
• Ensure all content is on-brand (Reef-World and its Programmes where applicable) and consistent in terms of style, quality and tone of voice
• Act as the primary communications contact for outreach partners (press and media), Green Fins partners(dive and snorkel operators and dive professionals), general public and symbiotic partners
• Campaign design, development, implementation; based on results from analysis of current and pastcommunication campaigns / social marketing research (or similar)
• Conduct monitoring and evaluation of communication campaign uptake and impact using existing softwareand programmes (Sprout, Sendinblue, Google analytics etc) with a view to increasing our followers and overall reach.
• Design new, manage current and oversee production of marketing, outreach and capacity buildingmaterials associated with Reef-World Programmes (e.g. Green Fins materials)
• Oversee management of the content of Reef-World’s digital communications assets (social media accounts and websites)
• Design collateral for conferences, dive and travel shows and international conservation events

Programmes Support

• Support in training and capacity building for Green Fins as required
• Work closely with Green Fins partners (dive and snorkel centres, NGOs, national and local authorities) toshare lessons across active countries, support implementation and provide technical advice for enhanced conservation impact
• Document, report and carry out administration duties for Reef-World’s Programmes development in as instructed by the Programmes Manager
• Support the Programmes team in the monitoring of impact and uptake of all online tools and report on findings where necessary
• Maintain data management systems in line with Reef-World’s Programmes

Personnel Management

• Supervise and manage the Reef-World Communications team
• Maintain effective communication with Communications team members through regular 1-1s, organisationand team meetings, team socials and coffee meetings – following the standard internal protocols for each of these
• Support the Directors in ensuring all Communications team members understand their roles, are engaged in Reef-World’s strategic direction/ goals and, fulfil their responsibilities in line with their personal annual targets
• Oversee the recruitment and and onboarding of new Communications team members staff as required
• Create the conditions to ensure effective teamwork and morale in line with Reef-World’s Culture of Care
• Support the Directors in appraising and improving the performance of Reef-World’s Communications team

Culture of Care

• Ensure the definition and validity of wellbeing days is fully understood among Communications staff
• Champion reflection days
• Ensure communication and methods of working with other staff is informed by insights gained from TypeCoach personality analysis
• Champion the support provided by the Reef-World team coach

Internal Communication

• Use and champion internal communications platforms and channels, ensuring they are fully embedded in to daily working life of the Communications team and provides an effective two-way flow of information with staff
• Utilise internal communication platforms and channels to maintain regular communicationbetween Reef-World pillar teams, Managers and the Directors

Fundraising and Networking

• Assist with identifying fundraising opportunities through relevant grants and private sector donations for Reef-World projects including but not limited to Green Fins.
• Support the delivery of Reef-World’s Sustainability Strategy
• Monitor and refine the effectiveness of Reef-World’s online donation tools
• To represent Reef-World at exhibitions, shows and events

Administration

• Ensure organised accounting and reimbursement of all Reef-World expenses to the Directors
• Support reporting of Reef-World activities to the Trustees, UNEP and other grant sources.

The employee’s duties may from time to time be reasonably modified as necessary to meet the needs of the Charity and/or associated project.

What We’re Looking For

We’re on the lookout for someone who is passionate about conserving coral reefs and the marine life and localcommunities they support. The successful candidate will be a confident marketer with 3-5 years of experience in conservation or environmental communications management.

You should be a proactive and resourceful leader and team player, able to work independently and remotely across multiple time zones while maintaining strong communications with international team members. You will naturally approach tasks with a sense of curiosity, patience and the ability to consider the bigger picture impact ofyour work. You’ll be open to new experiences and adventures, adaptable and have a good sense of humour!

Skills and Experience

Essential

• Prior experience in conservation / environmental communications;
• Strong copywriting (English, UK), editing, proofreading, layout and design, professional printing / publishing skills, including the ability to present concepts verbally;
• A certified scuba diver;
• Experience working in multiple locations around the world and / or within international teams;
• Prior experience in leadership and management;
• Excellent attention to detail;
• Excellent organisational and planning skills;
• Superior project management and time management skills;
• A wide degree of creativity and latitude;
• Self-motivated with a positive and professional approach to management;
• Possess good interpersonal skills, agility to think and act strategically;
• Confident communicator and presenter;
• Multilingual, fluency in English is essential;

• Ability to use basic Windows or Mac computer packages such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint or similar;
• Excellent written English; and:-
• Committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Desirable

• Previous knowledge of the diving or marine tourism industry;
• Strong knowledge and understanding of current trends in digital media/social media;
• Training or experience in behaviour change communications and design for the environment;
• Experience using GSuite including GDrive, Gmail and GCalendar; and:-
• Prior experience working with governments and/or NGOs.

Reef-World believes that a team with diverse experiences and backgrounds generates richer discussions andmore nuanced thinking that will magnify our conservation impact. We strive to be an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome and respected. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from anyone with the required skills and experience: whatever their background or location. We actively encourage applications from those whose identities reflect the diversity of the communities and networks we serve and whose identities are traditionally underrepresented in the conservation sector.

Benefits

Holiday entitlement

30 days a year.

Flexible working

The Directors are based at the Future Leap coworking in Bristol and we have a field office in Dumaguete in thePhilippines. As an international team working across timezones our working policy is flexible and hybrid.

Pension

For UK employees, we’ll pay a minimum of 3% or match up to a maximum of 8% per month. You’ll pay a minimum of 5% of your qualifying earnings per month.

Staff

A small, friendly (but ambitious) staff team

How to Apply

Please email your CV and a separate attached cover letter specific to this position to apply@reef-world.org. Inyour cover letter, please include how you meet the job specifications and why you feel you’re the best person to help us boost our global conservation impact. If you’re a diver, please include details of your qualification and number of dives.

We will then get back to you after the team has reviewed your application and let you know if we would like to pursue your application. Due to the expected volume of incoming enquiries, the charity does not have the resources to provide feedback on applications that have not been accepted. If you do not hear from us by 20 Jan 2023, then takenote that we have decided not to take your application further, and we wish you the best of luck in your career.

Applications close 8 Jan 2023.

Round 1 of interviews (online) week commencing 16 Jan 2023.

Round 2 of interviews (online) week commencing 30 Jan 2023 (you will be expected to complete a short assignment if you reach this stage).

Learn more about Reef-World at: https://www.reef-world.org

Court of International Trade bans import of fish from certain New Zealand fisheries to protect the Māui dolphin.

Today, in a lawsuit brought jointly by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Sea Shepherd New Zealand (collectively Sea Shepherd) to protect the critically endangered Māui dolphin, the United States Court of International Trade ordered a ban of imports of nine fish species caught off the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island. The ban specifically applies to set-net and trawl fisheries operating in Māui dolphin habitat. 

The Māui dolphin is found only in New Zealand waters and most recent estimates suggest between only 48 and 64 individual dolphins over the age of one year remain. Sea Shepherd brought its lawsuit against the United States Department of Commerce under the Marine Mammal Protection Act because set-net and trawl fisheries that overlap with Māui dolphin habitat result in injury and death to dolphins in excess of United States standards. The preliminary import ban will remain in place until the United States makes a valid finding that New Zealand’s regulatory program for the fisheries is comparable in effectiveness to the U.S. regulatory program or until the court case is fully resolved. 

“The Court’s ruling sends a strong signal to New Zealand and other countries that unless they can show their fisheries regulatory program is comparable to the U.S. regulatory program, they risk an import ban,” said Pritam Singh, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. “The Court found we are likely to succeed on two of our legal claims and that a preliminary import ban for these nine species was in the public interest. We agree.” 

“This is a victory for independent science, which, in this case clearly demonstrated the technology used by the fisheries at issue – indiscriminate set nets and trawls – were putting the endangered Māui dolphin at greater risk of extinction,” said Michael Lawry, Managing Director of Sea Shepherd New Zealand. “We’re happy the Court of International Trade recognized the urgency of this situation for the Māui dolphin and agreed with us that an import ban was legally required.” 

The nine fish species included in the Court’s injunction are: 1) snapper; (2) tarakihi; (3) spotted dogfish; (4) trevally; (5) warehou; (6) hoki; (7) barracouta; (8) mullet; and (9) gurnard deriving from New Zealand’s West Coast North Island multi-species set-net and trawl fisheries. 

Sea Shepherd is represented in the lawsuit by Lia Comerford and Allison LaPlante of Earthrise Law Center, at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. 

Learn more about Sea Shepherd and Sea Shepherd New Zealand at: https://www.seashepherd.org and http://www.seashepherd.org.nz/

This year on Black Friday, fourth element are announcing their new partnership with Sea Shepherd, encouraging people to move away from mindless purchasing and to opt-in to supporting something powerful.

For 40 years Sea Shepherd, a leading non-profit organisation, has been patrolling the high seas with the sole mission to protect and conserve the world’s oceans and marine wildlife. They work to defend all marine wildlife, from whales and dolphins, to sharks and rays, to fish and krill, without exception.

Inspired by Sea Shepherd’s mission, fourth element have created a collection of fourth element X Sea Shepherd limited edition products for ocean lovers and protectors, with 15% of every sale going to the Sea Shepherd fund to help continue to drive conservation efforts globally.

“Working with Sea Shepherd gives fourth element the opportunity to join forces with one of the largest active conservation organisations in the world to try to catalyse change in people’s attitudes and behaviour. Fourth Element’s products are designed, developed and packaged with the intention of minimising our impact on the ocean environment, and with this partnership, we will be supporting the work of Sea Shepherd, in particular in their work on dealing with the twin threats of Ghost fishing nets and plastic pollution.” Jim Standing fourth element co-founder

Read our Sea Shepherd Opinion Piece HERE

Scuba divers rally to protect an unprecedented 60 threatened species

PADI^® (Professional Association of Diving Instructors^®) is celebrating a major win today in their fight to save sharks. At the 19^th meeting of CITES (the Convention on Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) in Panama City, government representatives agreed to restrict international trade for all requiem sharks, one of the biggest family of species, all hammerhead sharks, and all guitar sharks adding an extra 60 species to the list of shark species protected by CITES on Appendix II.

This positive outcome follows PADI being asked by the host nation of Panama to provide specialist advice and research to all attending government representatives to help secure support for a critical vote to double the amount of protected shark and ray species.  In the lead-up to this important vote, PADI actively mobilized their global community of 128,000 PADI Professionals, 6,600 PADI Dive Centers and Resorts, and the over 29 million certified PADI Divers to take part by urging their own local governments to take action at CITES – and asking all ocean torchbearers (whether a diver or not) who are passionately committed to creating positive ocean change to sign the petition that urged governments to vote “YES”.

“Today’s decision to restrict the unsustainable global trade in some of the most threatened species on the planet provides us all with a hope and optimism that we are not too late to end the dramatic declines in the ocean’s most iconic, and critical, animals,” said Ian Campbell, Associate Director of Policy and Campaigns for the PADI AWARE Foundation^TM, which is PADI’s global non-profit. 

“The listing of requiem sharks, an iconic group of species that includes diver favorites such as the blacktip reef shark, bull shark and grey reef shark sends a strong signal that healthy populations of these animals are economically important far more than just the trade in their harvested fins, meat and organs.”

Shark tourism generates hundreds of millions of dollars globally, contributing to the economies of countries around the world and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. Previous studies of the tourism sector indicate shark-based tourism is on track to generate over three-quarters of a billion dollars a year over the next decade.

With the global pandemic having a significant impact on the economies of island nations such as Fiji, the Maldives and the Bahamas, the growth in shark tourism is likely to play a significant role in the financial recovery of countries with healthy shark populations around the world.

“This result, to limit the international trade in shark species that are found at the world’s most popular dive spots, will bring a huge economic boost to communities across the globe,” says Julio Salvatori, the South America Regional Manager for PADI and technical adviser to the Panamanian government. “The prospect of diving with sharks in their natural environment is a major attraction for the recreational dive sector, many of which made their concerns known to the decision-makers. We are optimistic that this can be a turning point for shark populations worldwide.”

Recent studies have indicated that sharks – and their close relatives the rays – are one of the most threatened groups of animals on the planet. Over a third of all species are classed as facing an increased risk of extinction, mainly due to overfishing, habitat loss and unsustainable trade.

“We commend the strong leadership and commitment to conservation shown by the government of Panama, supported by many others, to secure this much-needed trade restriction,” continues Campbell. We also realize that this decision is only the start of the recovery for many shark species, and the revenue-generating recreational diving sector is primed to play its role in implementing the commitments made today.”

Protecting sharks is a core component of PADI’s Blueprint for Ocean Action, with the established goal of reducing the number of sharks and rays facing extinction by 25% in the next decade. To date, PADI has already helped secure protection measures for 51 species of sharks and rays, with today’s vote more than doubling that number to a total of 105 species. 

To learn more about how to support PADI’s continued conservation efforts to save vulnerable marine species like sharks, visit https://www.padi.com/aware

“Sharks: In Deep Water is a film to change things,” explains Producer Matt Brierley. The film’s global online premiere is 8^th Nov 2022 and tickets can be obtained through www.sharksindeepwater.com enabling you to stream the film at home.  

Sharks matter. Without the sea’s top predators ocean ecosystems collapse. We are perilously close to creating tipping points beneath the waves – in many places ocean systems have already collapsed, taking with them people’s livelihoods and their primary source of protein. 

Shark conservation is a topic close to many people’s hearts. It is also an issue that conjures images of shark finning and Eastern markets. Sharks: In Deep Water tells a new story. 

Laws to protect sharks from finning at sea have tragically backfired. Today sharks must have their fins removed on land. That has sparked a global trade in shark meat. As top of the food chain in a polluted ocean, sharks bioaccumulate toxicants in concentrations harmful to their health – and ours if we eat them. 

Undercover investigation by Sharks: In Deep Water found sharks in Western ports and on menus in high-end UK restaurants. The film conducted DNA analysis of battered fish sold in UK fish and chip shops. The results proved conclusively that Endangered shark is sold under confusing names. The findings made headlines across the UK. 

“Shark livers are also harvested – typically from deep water sharks science knows very little about. Again these are Western market forces not Eastern,” Matt Brierley said. “For too long we’ve understood shark conservation as a simple story; sharks are finned at sea by Eastern countries. But the story has moved on and that old narrative is excusing the Western nations who are fishing shark and selling it. The UK and EU are hugely complicit in the greatest underwater extinction event of our time.” 

Sharks: In Deep Water is a film that has been designed to educate, inspire and – ultimately – to make a difference. It is uplifting and joyful at times, sad at others, but crucially it is hopeful and an authentic telling of the issues facing sharks present day.

Join Matt, Louise and Samantha and their team as they journey from Morocco to Continental Europe and on into the UK, documenting a trade in sharks closer to home than you ever imagined possible – and finding ways to spark positive change. 

Producer Matt Brierley has worked across a suite of Natural History programming including Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II and The Earthshot Prize: Repairing Our Planet. 

To watch the film’s trailer, get tickets to the online premiere or learn more about the film visit www.sharksindeepwater.com. Details of future screenings will also be announced there.

To sign the film’s present petition to stop the sale of Endangered shark in UK fish and chip shops visit https://tinyurl.com/chippypetition 

The film team would like to thank Primordial Radio, Bristol Green Capital, Greenpeace, Exeter University, Manchester University, The Daily Mirror, the MCSUK and those who generously supported and publicised their crowdfunding campaigns. 

Reef-World reveals developments that will create lasting and systemic change for the marine environment

The Reef-World Foundation – international coordinator of the UN Environment Programme’s Green Fins initiative – today released its 2021-2022 annual report highlighting its major developments to spur inclusive growth of the Green Fins initiative for coral reef protection globally. The report shows the resilience of the organisation amid unprecedented times.

“Not only did they manage to navigate the disruption and stresses of pandemic life from different parts of the world, but they also used this time to reflect, resourcefully adapt, and prepare for the eventual resumption of international travel and dive tourism. As the world gradually reopened over the last year, the team were more than ready to hit the ground running across the various project countries, with even more drive and determination,” said Viv Stein-Rostaing, Chair of The Reef-World Foundation.

One of the year’s main highlights is the rebranding of Green Fins, a brand which has not changed since it was created in 2004. The rebrand comes as the urgency of Green Fins’ work ramps up due to climate change impacts. It represents the initiative’s global expansion, the evolution of its network and the inclusivity of all its stakeholders. Another major milestone includes the release of the new Green Fins Diver e-Course, further increasing the accessibility of marine environmental knowledge and tips on reducing environmental impact whilst diving.

Green Fins activities at popular diving destinations started to buzz again, and Reef-World supported the national governments of  Costa Rica and Japan to launch Green Fins and trained new Green Fins assessors in the Dominican Republic and the Philippines. Other major developments such as the Green Fins Hub, a new type of digital membership and Green Fins membership structure updates are now launched in September 2022, months after the annual report operational year.

Green Fins collection of educational materials, which covers guidance on tackling every environmental challenge facing the diving industry has also been bolstered. Four new guidelines for environmental best practices, two new language translations (Chinese and Bahasa Malaysia) and two posters were updated to expand the reach of its conservation message. The revamped Green Fins website, which loads faster and is more mobile-friendly, saw a 16% increase in web traffic, and communications efforts to broaden the charity’s audience resulted in a 200% increase in web traffic on Reef-World’s website.

With the growth in impact and scale, and as an exemplary marine conservation organisation, Reef-World’s Directors have embarked on the Great Organisational Shakeup, integrating a culture of care alongside an ambitious recruitment plan to meet a new strategy to ensure the long-term success of the team personally and professionally. To support staff in navigating the challenges of working remotely, the charity engaged a coach to provide regular one-to-one coaching sessions, and the results have been invaluable. In May 2022, Reef-World was ranked number six for Escape the City: Top purpose-led companies to ‘escape’ to in 2022, as one of the most progressive organisations to work for amongst 13,000 company nominations.

“The Reef-World team dreams big, and we’ve proven in the past that when we do so, big things happen. We’re super excited about the coming year. To lead and innovate for lasting change, to continue to deliver on the needs of local communities and further secure the long-term sustainability of the marine resources they rely on.” said Chloe Harvey, Director at The Reef-World Foundation.

Reef-World would also like to thank its grant funders: UN Environment Programme, IDB Lab and TUI Care Foundation; symbiotic partners whose vital support has resulted in significant tangible benefits for the ocean: PADI; Professional SCUBA Schools International (PSS); The Matthew Good Foundation; Explorer Ventures; 1% for the Planet; ZuBlu; Snorkel Venture, GSTC; Dive O’Clock; WildSocks, Charitable Travel and Seven Dragons. 

The full 2021–2022 Annual Report is available on Reef-World’s website.

The new Green Fins Hub is a game-changer in overcoming the biggest sustainability challenges in the marine conservation tourism industry.

Sustainable marine tourism is receiving a major boost with the launch of the Green Fins Hub this week. We are delighted to have been part of the pilot program with five of our liveaboards already Green Fins Hub members and in various stages of completing their assessments. 

“The new Green Fins Hub offers enhanced and global membership for participating dive and snorkel operators to conserve the marine environment. It is the first-ever global marine tourism industry platform, helping operators to make simple, cost-efficient changes to their daily practices by utilizing tried and tested solutions, keep track of their annual improvements and communicate with their communities and customers. The tool has been developed by The Reef-World Foundation in partnership with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to overcome the biggest sustainability challenges in the marine conservation tourism industry. The industry-backed digital platform is expected to scale up reach from about 700 operators across 14 countries today to a potential 30,000 worldwide, thus increasing coral protection and conservation worldwide.” UNEP

Explorer Ventures Fleet’s participating liveaboards include:

Humboldt Explorer, Galapagos Islands
Tiburon Explorer, Galapagos Islands
Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Turks & Caicos Islands
Caribbean Explorer II, Saba & St Kitts
Black Pearl Explorer, Palau

Since the beginning of our partnership with The Reef-World Foundation in 2018, we have become a pioneering liveaboard fleet for the Green Fins environmental program. We received the first official liveaboard Green Fins Membership in 2018 (Caribbean Explorer II) and have assisted in paving the way in overcoming the unique hurdles the liveaboard industry faces. Alongside our own sustainability management program Dive Green®, we have used Green Fins as a tool to guide and support best practices. Our organization is working towards creating an eco-friendlier liveaboard community and aiming to reduce our own footprint. We hope to expand the Green Fins Hub to the rest of our Fleet as part of our continued commitment to a more sustainable future. 

Learn about the Reef-World partnership and dedication to our Dive Green sustainability program here.

The Reef-World Foundation has launched a new online platform, the Green Fins Hub, which will assist Curaçao’s leading sustainable dive tourism operators as Green Fins Digital Members in developing best environmental practices for marine tourism.

These leading sustainable dive tourism operators (Ocean Encounters, The Dive Bus, Scubacao and GO WEST Diving) in Curaçao have all become Green Fins Digital Members to reinforce the absolute need to create change in order to provide future generations with an opportunity for a healthy and sustainable environment, both above and below the waterline.

“From a private sector point of view, Dive Curacao is incredibly proud to support sustainable dive tourism and these leaders of the Curaçao Dive Tourism Industry to create change. Afterall, if we do nothing to support the environment, we will eventually have an unsustainable dive tourism industry in Curaçao. This will lead to an inability to deliver exceptional dive travel and vacation experiences in the future. Bottom line is that apathy can no longer be embraced.”, says Bryan Horne, Founder of Dive Curacao

Why should responsible Curaçao Dive Tourism operators become a Green Fins Members?

The most important reason why Curaçao Tourism operators should become Green Fins Members is, of course, to support the environmental component of Curaçao. Coral reefs in Curacao comprise 104 square kilometers of extremely bio-diverse systems and therefore represent a high economic value.

Consequently, it is important to protect the dive sites and snorkel sites to ensure the sustainable growth of this valuable industry. The same way these dive operators take part in certification programs to raise their service level, The Reef-World Foundation developed the assessment system to measure compliance to the “Green Fins Code of Conduct” that was co-created with UNEP. The Green Fins tools and resources also support industry compliance to Sustainable Diving and Snorkelling ISO standards that address the needs of the industry to meet the rapid shift in demand for sustainable tourism plus the mounting threat towards the marine environment.

Accordingly, initiatives like this combined with government support for progressive marine management legislation will change, legitimize and strengthen the position of the dive tourism industry in Curaçao. As recent studies have shown, their contribution to the Curaçao economy is of great value.

“Marine tourism plays an important role in Curaçao’s economy and as the industry grows, it is critical to establish practical approaches to protect the marine environment. By adopting Green Fins, dive operators are taking vital steps in ensuring Curaçao’s dive market is sustainably managed to increase corals and marine life’s resilience to wider global threats and protect the valuable marine ecosystems for future generations.” said JJ Harvey, Director at The Reef-World Foundation

About the Green Fins Hub

The Green Fins Hub is the latest development by The Reef-World Foundation to meet the growing industry demand for environmentally friendly underwater sports. The foundation recently surveyed more than 2,400 dive tourists and professionals, 75% of whom said they are willing to pay more for marine tour operators with a firm commitment to sustainability.

Created in partnership with UNEP and industry key players such as PADI, PSS, RAID, DAN, ZuBlu and PADI Travel, the Green Fins Hub hosts both the existing Certified Members and registrants to its new digital membership program.

The Hub includes a Community Forum where members can discuss solutions and other topics related to sustainable marine tourism with like-minded operators, NGOs, governments and industry partners; a Solutions Library with information on how to implement best practices; and an Action Plan Tracker to track, collaborate and improve operation’s conservation efforts.

It is hoped the new global digital platform will increase Green Fins uptake, not only in Curaçao, but globally, from the current 700 Green Fins certified operators in 14 countries to a potential 30,000 operators worldwide.

The Green Fins digital membership is available to dive, snorkel and liveaboard operators around the world, in which they will receive environmental scores based on a detailed online self-evaluation of their operation’s environmental practices and most importantly, solutions and actions to the results of their self-evaluation.

This process is seen as the first step to implement Green Fins in Curaçao on a national level with a government-led team to enable dive operators to become Green Fins Certified Members where they will receive annual in-person assessment, on-site training for staff and consultation to help the business develop and implement best practice to improve the sustainability of the marine tourism industry.

Operators that have registered, successfully completed their online self-evaluation and developed their own action plan will be provided with a digital certificate enabling tourists to identify operations that have committed to taking steps to reduce their environmental footprint whilst carrying out their activities. 

For more information about Green Fins and the new digital membership, visit www.greenfins.net/digital-membership/

Ottawa, ON – Today, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program added over a dozen Canadian and U.S. fisheries, including lobster and snow crab, to its “Red List” of seafood because they currently pose risks to the survival of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. Seafood Watch provides recommendations for seafood buyers based on sustainability criteria. The “Red List” recommends that businesses and consumers avoid purchasing certain seafood because they are caught or farmed in ways that have a high risk of harming wildlife or the environment.

Oceana in the U.S. issued this press release, and Oceana Canada’s campaign director Kim Elmslie released this statement, following the announcement:

“Today’s listing by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch is one more clear reason why the Canadian government must do all it can to protect North Atlantic right whales from entanglements in fishing gear and vessel strikes.  Saving these whales from these threats is vital to protecting them from extinction, and to safeguard market access for some of the most lucrative fisheries in Atlantic Canada.

Oceana Canada is calling on Fisheries and Oceans Canada to take the following actions to protect right whales:

1. Transition the government’s approach to right whale protection from one that is temporary and reactive to one that is permanent, adaptable and transparent, ensuring certainty with decision-making and involving all stakeholders
2. Reduce the risk of entanglement by limiting the number of vertical lines and gillnets in the water where right whales are present by continuing to support alternative fishing gear, such as ropeless and pop-up gear; and
3. Continue to improve existing measures that require fishing gear to be removed and vessels to be slowed when whales are present.”

To learn more about Oceana’s campaign to save North Atlantic right whales from extinction, please click here.

Oceana Canada

Oceana Canada was established as an independent charity in 2015 and is part of the largest international advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana Canada has successfully campaigned to end the shark fin trade, make rebuilding depleted fish populations the law, improve the way fisheries are managed and protect marine habitat. We work with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples and the federal government to return Canada’s formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. By restoring Canada’s oceans, we can strengthen our communities, reap greater economic and nutritional benefits and protect our future. Find out more at www.oceana.ca.

Press Release Date: September 6, 2022 from Oceania Canada

Are you passionate about protecting the ocean?

Maybe you’d love to help the cause and learn more about marine conservation, but you’re not sure where to start and you’re really just beginning your journey…

Eco-Conscious Diver offers a unique opportunity to gain marine conservation certifications & certificates in self-paced, online courses from the comfort of your home.

Plus, you’ll be learning directly from Caitlin McCall! 

The best part? You’ll get lifetime access, so even if you can’t start it right now, you can get the discount and start later when you’re ready.  

Keep scrolling for a unique coupon code just for readers of The Scuba News…

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Questions? Just email caitlin@eco-consciousdiver.com

I can’t wait to dive into marine conservation with you soon!

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Learn more at: https://www.eco-consciousdiver.com/online-learning

Reef-World released a report informed by divers to help the diving industry bounce back from the pandemic without compromising on sustainability

The Reef-World Foundation released a new report summarising the results from an online survey conducted from April to June 2022, which received over 2,400 responses from various demographics. The study reveals new travel trends and how important sustainability is regarded in this new era of tourism as the industry recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Reef-World hopes for the report to assist in this rehabilitation process and aid marine tourism businesses, local governments and communities to not only bounce back better but also prepare themselves for a bright future of travel, all whilst protecting the ocean.

“This survey has highlighted some really encouraging trends,” said Chloe Harvey, Director at The Reef-World Foundation. “The Gen Z and Millennials, those with the biggest buying power today and tomorrow, are seeking out experiences that align with their sustainability values. They are willing to pay more for sustainable offerings and are wanting to educate themselves and be involved in meaningful environmental activities while on holiday. This is so positive for both the industry and the environment upon which it is built. It’s given us a sneak peek into the future of marine tourism; one where sustainability is no longer a competitive edge, but a minimum requirement. We’re proud that the Green Fins approach and tools remain at the cutting edge, delivering on the needs of the industry and the consumer as we move into this new era of tourism.” 

The report has identified some of the key narratives that will drive the market in the future and insights to help businesses take advantage of these trends for the future sustainability of their business and the environment it is built on. One main highlight from the report is that the demands from dive tourists have shifted since the pandemic.

Emerging from a travel hiatus, they now want more sustainable holiday options and more transparency around options coined as environmentally friendly during their dive trips. While 75% of dive tourists are willing to pay more for sustainability, they fear spending more on their holidays due to the risk of contributing money towards “greenwashing”. The tourism industry needs a brand-conscious, transparent, and effective global green label to address that.

The industry professionals (guides, instructors, business owners) have also spoken. The data clearly suggests they seek more environmental education and tools to raise environmental awareness, both for themselves and their customers. From their perspective, the fact that these are lacking represents the single biggest challenge for them on achieving their sustainability goals in their workplace. An overwhelming majority of dive professionals think dive operators, including the operations they work in, should do more to protect the environment. Dive tourists are also calling on marine tourism operators to do better. They believe these businesses profit from tourism and therefore have a responsibility to protect the environment and surrounding ecosystems they work in and should be held accountable for their actions.

The Reef-World Foundation leads the global implementation of the UN Environment Programme’s Green Fins initiative, which focuses on driving environmentally friendly scuba diving and snorkelling practices across the industry globally. Green Fins offers the world’s first independent certificate to stop the environmental impact from marine-based tourism. It is a proven conservation management approach that leads to a measurable reduction in the negative environmental impacts of marine tourism.

The survey, conducted with the support of Reef-World’s partners, PADI, RAID, PSS and ZuBlu, proves that tourists will be increasingly voting with their wallets and selecting businesses and brands that align with their values for sustainability and preservation of our incredible ocean ecosystems. 

To learn how the key findings from the survey can help marine tourism businesses to bounce back from the pandemic while keeping sustainability at the forefront, download the full report.

You’ve been daydreaming about joining an adventurous GVI conservation program, but you’ve got some questions. Maybe you haven’t travelled alone before and you’re wondering where to start? Or you’re wondering what to expect? Join us on 20 August at our next free Virtual Open Day is your chance to discover first-hand what GVI is all about, and why becoming a global citizen is so valuable. 

• Sat 20 August
• 4 pm – 6 pm (BST)  
• Zoom (link will be sent to all those who sign up via email & SMS

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
16:00: GVI programmes overview (15 mins) – Amanda (Staff)
16:15: GVI Nosy Be, Madagascar  (20 mins) – Padraig O’Grady (Program Manager)
16:35: Becoming a global citizen: why and how? (10 mins) – Brooklyn Norton (Staff)
16:45: GVI Tenerife, Canary Islands (20 mins) – Ale Carvallo  (Program Manager)
17:05: My GVI experience (15 mins) – Samantha DiSibio (Past participant)
17:20: GVI virtual internships (20 mins) – Siobhan Cunliff (Staff) & Ambassador
17:40: Why GVI? (20 mins) – Maria Ingreso (Staff)

TO SIGN UP OR LEARN MORE: http://go.gviworld.com/opendays/gvi-open-day/

Today, the Madagascar Whale Shark Project is announcing a new way for ocean-lovers to support its efforts to protect endangered whale sharks. The project has launched a donation-based Patreon page to enable followers to support its vital work through a monthly subscription while benefitting from brilliant insights and exclusive content at the same time!

Stella Diamant, Founder of the Madagascar Whale Shark Project, took the initiative to set up the Patreon to share the knowledge she’s gathered from setting up her project so other scientists and conservationists can benefit. On the Patreon page, Stella and her team will open the doors of the project to share exclusive content and behind-the-scenes snippets for everyone that loves the ocean as well as advice for those progressing in their conservation careers. She’ll interview inspirational figures from her network of marine scientists and experts to find out about their epic ocean stories, expertise and fieldwork. Supporters will also have early access to trips, volunteering opportunities and even the chance to name a whale shark before anybody else! 

Stella said: “When I set up the Madagascar Whale Shark Project, I learned how to set up a conservation not-for-profit simply by doing it. I felt there was a stark lack of information about the realities of working in the conservation sector and running a successful organisation. Lots of charities are happy to talk about their successes. But when it comes to the challenges, delays and frustrations, it’s often hard to find the truth about what it’s really like.”

She continued: “I don’t think it’s helpful – for individuals or the sector as a whole – if we’re only sharing what went well. That’s why I invest my time to empower other conservationists, particularly women and younger generations, to set up their own projects and share actionable advice. I also want to help people realise that you don’t have to be a marine biologist to make a difference. Marine conservation NGOs need lots of other skills: from marketing and photography to finance and project management. 

I’ve set up this Patreon to give people the knowledge that will help them thrive in their conservation careers – whether or not they come from a science background. This kind of practical information is lacking on so many topics relevant to the conservation industry which means there’s a large knowledge gap in NGOs around the world. And, of course, we’re so grateful to everyone who joins for their support to keep our project thriving too.” 

Supporters can choose how deep to dive by selecting one of four levels:

·       Shallow (€3 per month): becoming part of a passionate community dedicated to protecting the ocean by making a regular monthly donation

·       Mid-water (€8 per month): for exclusive project updates, behind-the-scenes insights and a sneak peek into Stella’s monthly interviews with conservation experts

·       Deep (€15 per month): with monthly hour-long chats with the world’s leading conservation experts to benefit from their life-changing advice

·       Abyss (€150 per month): early access to trips and volunteering opportunities, one-to-one time with Stella and the chance to name a whale shark

When Stella saw her first ever whale shark in Nosy Be, Madagascar in 2014, no work had been undertaken to establish population size, trends or how they connect with other regional groups. So, Stella set up a project with tourism operators in the region to find out this important information. Since then, the project has identified over 400 individual whale sharks, published several peer-reviewed studies, implemented a code of conduct and initiated a local education programme. Now, she’ll be sharing her extensive expertise with other conservation professionals and ocean-lovers through the Patreon page. 

For a no bullsh*t deep dive into the behind the scenes of a conservation not-for-profit (not just the exciting Instagram-worthy highlights), sign up at https://www.patreon.com/madawhalesharks. 

The five-day workweek is an anachronistic relic of a time when conditions were far different than today.

Back in 1930, renowned economist John Maynard Keynes predicted that technological advances, slowed population growth, increasing capital (or “material things”) and changing economic priorities would make three-hour shifts or a 15-hour workweek possible and desirable within 100 years.

Then, he wrote, “The love of money as a possession — as distinguished from the love of money as a means to the enjoyments and realities of life — will be recognised for what it is, a somewhat disgusting morbidity, one of those semicriminal, semi-pathological propensities which one hands over with a shudder to the specialists in mental disease.”

Keynes cautioned, however, that the “age of leisure and abundance” could be met with dread: “For we have been trained too long to strive and not to enjoy. It is a fearful problem for the ordinary person, with no special talents, to occupy himself, especially if he no longer has roots in the soil or in custom or in the beloved conventions of a traditional society.”

Still, he remained optimistic: “I feel sure that with a little more experience we shall use the new-found bounty of nature quite differently from the way in which the rich use it to-day, and will map out for ourselves a plan of life quite otherwise than theirs.”

We’re eight years from Keynes’s 100-year prediction. Technology has advanced, more than he could have imagined. Population growth has slowed, although not stabilized. Capital has increased, albeit much wealth has been hoarded and monopolized by a few. And environmental and social crises have led many to question economic priorities. So, why are we still working hours similar to 70 years ago?

Part of the answer lies in the postwar adoption of “consumerism” as an economic model. It may also relate to the concern Keynes raised: the “dread” that people won’t know how to occupy their leisure time.

But with so many people feeling overwhelmed by an out-of-whack work-life balance, the latter isn’t an insurmountable problem. Women, especially, are feeling the crunch. Unlike in the 1950s, most have joined the workforce, but as in those days, they still do most of the housekeeping and child care.

Keynes distinguished between “absolute” and “relative” needs. The latter, he argued, “satisfy the desire for superiority,” and “may indeed be insatiable.” But Columbia University economist Joseph Stiglitz notes that society moulds our choices. We “learn how to consume by consuming,” he writes, and how to “enjoy leisure by enjoying leisure.”

Because we’ve failed to reduce work hours gradually, as Keynes envisioned, we’re unlikely to achieve 15-hour workweeks by 2030. But environmental and social conditions have sparked a move toward a four-day workweek. (David Suzuki Foundation staff have enjoyed a four-day workweek since its founding in 1990.)

The biggest trial is in the U.K., where 3,300 workers at 70 wide-ranging companies, from small to large, recently started working four days a week with no loss in pay. The experiment — led by 4 Day Week Global in partnership with the think-tank Autonomy, the 4 Day Week Campaign, and researchers at Cambridge and Oxford universities and Boston College — will “measure the impact on productivity in the business and the wellbeing of its workers, as well as the impact on the environment and gender equality,” a Guardian article says.

Governments are also backing trials in Scotland and Spain, and countries like Iceland and Sweden have run successful trials. Along with other benefits like increased vacation time and flexibility, and working from home, shorter workweeks not only give people better lives, they’re also good for the environment. Fewer people commuting means reduced pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion.

The pandemic taught us it’s possible to rapidly shift our ways of thinking and acting, especially as they relate to work. It’s past time to recognize that life isn’t given meaning through excessive consumption and toil, but by having time to spend with friends and families and by pursuing interests outside of work. That will even benefit employers by helping staff be happier, healthier and more productive.

We may not achieve Keynes’s predicted 15-hour workweeks by the end of this decade, but we can surely aim for a better balance.

David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Senior Writer and Editor Ian Hanington.

Learn more at davidsuzuki.org

From direct action to marine conservation research, Sea Shepherd protects endangered wildlife in some of the most fragile ecosystems.

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s contributions to the scientific community are featured in the prestigious academic journal Science.

Founded in 1880, Science is internationally recognized as a top-tier academic journal, publishing the best in scientific research across a variety of disciplines. Its articles are among the most cited in the world, and the journal is a trusted primary source of high-profile, peer-reviewed scientific research.

The article highlights Sea Shepherd’s transformation from a grassroots activism organization into an international marine conservation organization, collaborating with governments and researchers worldwide. Sea Shepherd’s scientific campaigns contribute to the research needed to shape policy and enhance protections for all marine wildlife. The non-profit environmental group has expanded efforts to work with the scientific community in recent years, establishing multiple campaigns focused on supporting conservation research.

In Mexico, Sea Shepherd’s collaborative campaign with Dr. Gustavo Cárdenas Hinojosa of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas, referenced in the Science article, has helped to establish one of the largest photo identification databases of Cuvier’s beaked whales in existence. In 2020, the project led to the possible discovery of a new species of whale. In 2021, researchers on board Sea Shepherd’s vessel Sharpiesighted multiple vaquitas – the rarest marine mammal in the world – contributing to updated population estimates for this critically endangered animal. This work ties closely to Sea Shepherd’s Operation Milagro, a collaborative campaign with the Government of Mexico which aims to protect the vaquita by removing illegal fishing gear from the Zero Tolerance Area of the Vaquita Refuge.

“I am grateful to Science magazine for featuring Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s science focus,” said Dr. John Payne, Sea Shepherd’s Director of Science. “Ocean life is threatened by global warming, acidification, fishing, and pollution, and it will take a concerted effort by the world’s science community to best address those threats. Sea Shepherd’s goal is to support the best scientists from countries around the world and help advance their work to protect the oceans.” 

Learn more about Sea Shepherd at: https://seashepherd.org

To reduce the pressures on coral reefs and increase the value of sustainable marine tourism

The Reef-World Foundation, the Onna Village Diving Association, the local government, and Oceana are delighted to announce that Japan is now the 14th country globally to implement the Green Fins initiative – a UN Environment Programme initiative. Onna Village in Okinawa is the first Japanese tourist destination to adopt Green Fins environmental standards to reduce the threats associated with diving and snorkelling on the marine environment.

Green Fins is piloted in Onna Village, Okinawa prefecture, an area renowned for its marine sports and has been working to protect its reefs for many years. Green Fins is implemented as part of the national Sustainable Development Goals project, which aims to manage and illustrate to the local industry how sustainable tourism can play a role in reef conservation. The economic benefits of the reefs benefit not only the fisheries industry but also the tourism industry as it has rocketed in recent decades. 

If the project is successful – proving the value of sustainable tourism – the model has the potential to be escalated to a national level. A wide rollout would allow Reef-World to focus on uptake and expansion into other marine tourism and biodiversity hotspots across Japan. Green Fins implementation in Japan would provide practical solutions to many of the common problems faced in the area. It would also help to promote high standards for diving in the country. Improving the quality of the diving industry through Green Fins would demonstrate the added value of Onna Village’s tourism product. This, in turn, will encourage tourists to spend more time and money diving in the region.

Following a week of training by Reef-World (23 to 28 May 2022), Japan now has a national Green Fins team comprised of four fully certified Green Fins Assessors and two Green Fins Coordinators from Oceana and the local government. They will be responsible for recruiting, assessing, training and certifying dive and snorkel operators to become Green Fins members in the country. This involves providing training about the ecology and threats to coral reefs, simple and local everyday solutions to these threats and Green Fins’ environmental standards to dive and snorkel operators. Green Fins membership will help marine tourism operators improve their sustainability and prove they are working hard to follow environmental best practices as a way of attracting eco-minded tourists.

James Harvey, Director at The Reef-World Foundation, said: “We are really excited to finally introduce Green Fins in Japan. We have been planning this for almost three years, but the travel restrictions related to the pandemic hindered progress. The diving industry in Okinawa and the marine life upon which it has been built is so unique, it must be preserved for generations to come. The Okinawa diving community is very passionate about protecting their marine environment, and Green Fins has given them an opportunity to collectively work to reduce their environmental impact and pursue exemplary environmental standards.”

Diving and snorkelling related damage to sensitive marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, is becoming an increasingly significant issue. This damage makes them less likely to survive other local and wider stressors, such as overfishing or plastic debris and the effects of climate change. Based on robust individual assessments, the Green Fins initiative helps identify and mitigate these risks by providing environmental consultation and support to dive and snorkel operators. Through Green Fins implementation in Japan, Reef-World aims to reduce negative environmental impacts in the region by reaching 10 marine tourism operators, training 50 dive guides and raising awareness of sustainability best practices among 10,000 tourists in the first year.

Yuta Kawamoto, CEO of Oceana, said: “Green Fins will help to unify all the conservation efforts in Okinawa by applying the guidelines in many areas and raising tourists awareness. We hope this will increase the sustainable value in the diving industry and in turn increase the diving standards in the country.”

Green Fins is a UN Environment Programme initiative, internationally coordinated by The Reef-World Foundation, which aims to protect and conserve coral reefs through environmentally friendly guidelines to promote a sustainable diving and snorkelling tourism industry. Green Fins provides the only internationally recognised environmental standards for the diving and snorkelling industry and has a robust assessment system to measure compliance. 

To date, four dive operators in Onna Village have joined the global network of 600+ trained and assessed Green Fins members. These are: Benthos Divers, Okinawa Diving Center, Arch Angel and Pink Marlin Club. There has also been significant interest from other operators, even those that are not located in Onna Village, for Green Fins training and assessment.

Suika Tsumita from Oceana said: “Green Fins serve as an important tool for local diving communities to move towards a more sustainable use of their dive sites; so that they can maintain their scenic beauty and biological richness to provide livelihoods for many generations to come.”

For more information, please visit www.reef-world.org or  www.greenfins.net/countries/japan.

Dive and snorkel operators interested in signing up for Green Fins can find the membership application form at: www.greenfins.net/how-to-join.

Dive and snorkel operators in Japan interested in signing up to be Green Fins members can contact the Green Fins Japan team at japan@greenfins.net.

Diadema antillarum, also known as the long-spined sea urchin, is one of the most important grazers on tropical coral reefs, removing algae and maintaining open space for coral growth.

In February 2022, we received reports of extensive Diadema die-offs in the Caribbean. While we do not know what is causing these die-offs, the speed at which large numbers of sick urchins are now dying resembles the mass mortality event of four decades ago, in the 1980s.

You can help track sea urchin health by adding your observations of healthy, sick, or dead urchins from dives at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, or anywhere in the Caribbean. These reports will allow scientists to determine the extent of the die-offs and share the sequence of events as they are happening.

To report observations, go to https://www.agrra.org/sea-urchin-die-off/

The fossil fuel industry has employed many strategies over the years to keep money flowing. It’s covered up its own science showing that burning its products is heating the world. It’s sowed doubt and confusion about the evidence through front groups and compromised “experts.” And it’s lobbied politicians and contributed generously to their campaigns. Industry executives have consistently put their own interests ahead of the health and survival of humanity.

It’s also used “greenwashing” and misleading language to garner support for its destructive products. One example is the term “natural gas.” As a fossil fuel, it’s no more natural than coal or oil, and just as destructive.

In the face of increasing concern about oil and coal’s pollution and climate impacts, the industry has upped its campaign to promote fossil gas as a cleaner alternative or as a “transition” or “bridge” fuel while the world shifts to renewable energy. A 2011 David Suzuki Foundation and Pembina Institute report detailed the fallacy of the bridge fuel argument, as has more recent research.

My home province’s gas company, FortisBC, has joined others — including Enbridge, TC Energy and ATCO Gas — in Fuelling Canada, an organization created by the Canadian Gas Association. Part of a push by gas companies everywhere, these companies and organizations have been spending enormous amounts on advertising (often designed to appear as journalism) on numerous platforms and outlets.

As Vancouver and Quebec join jurisdictions around the world banning fossil gas in many new building developments, gas companies are fighting back. With ads and articles extolling the virtues of “clean” gas, “bridge” fuels and “renewable natural gas,” the companies want customers to believe they’re part of the environmental solution to climate disruption.

They aren’t. So-called “natural” gas is, in fact, a processed fossil fuel composed almost entirely of methane — a greenhouse gas about 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over the short term. Most of it is now obtained by fracking vast landscapes — blasting large volumes of water, chemicals and sand into rock formations to shatter them and allow bubbles of trapped gas to escape and funnel into wells. Methane escapes into the atmosphere in every step of the process — fracking, processing, transporting and burning in homes and buildings — even more than industry and governments have been reporting.

Renewable natural gas is mostly methane obtained from agricultural, landfill or other waste. Although it’s better than fracked gas, as it can utilize some methane that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere, and has applications in hard-to-decarbonize industries, it doesn’t live up to the hype. For example, FortisBC offers customers the option of being supplied with RNG, but it doesn’t mention that existing customers are getting the same gas as everyone else, which is more than 99 per cent fossil gas.

For building cooling and heating, heat pumps are far more efficient, and less expensive, than gas. Gas usage in homes and buildings also causes indoor air pollution, emitting nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde, nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, which can linger for hours. Studies have shown this can cause respiratory ailments like decreased lung function and asthma, especially in children.

University of Saskatchewan chemist Tara Kahan and colleagues measured pollution in homes with gas stoves in 2017 and 2018. “All of the researchers were pretty horrified,” she told CBC, adding that she switched her gas stove to an electric induction appliance. Many chefs are also switching to efficient induction stoves.

Buildings were the third largest greenhouse gas emissions source in Canada in 2019, much of it from space and water heating.

The solution to the climate crisis and to building and home emissions — as scientists and experts worldwide from organizations and institutions ranging from the International Energy Agency to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have shown — is not more fossil fuels; it’s electrification using renewable energy and storage, along with energy efficiency and conservation. As a new David Suzuki Foundation modelling study finds, doing so is entirely possible in Canada by 2035.

As every scientist and energy expert who understands the climate crisis keeps saying, we can’t continue fracking, building pipelines, expanding oilsands and developing oil, gas and coal projects if we want to avoid worsening climate impacts — and we don’t have to.

We have solutions. Fossil gas isn’t one of them.

David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Senior Writer and Editor Ian Hanington.

Learn more at https://www.davidsuzuki.org

World Ocean Day supports collaborative efforts to promote ocean health and wellbeing. It is a day set aside to unite individuals in the fight against climate change and damage to our seas. It is a day where anyone, anywhere can stand up and say that enough is enough and that now is the time for change before it is too late. It is a day about making a stand and promoting the importance of the message to others willing to hear and who don’t want to hear. We caught up with some local folk who are keen to make a difference in Portsmouth. 

St Mary’s Church hosted a World Ocean event with evening performances from local school children, aquarium aquarists, story tellers, local artists and many more to send out a clear message about the need to protect and sustain our ocean environments. ‘Here in the south east we are lucky to have such an exciting, diverse range of marine life which includes sponges, squat lobsters, soft corals, seahorses and seals. However, the south east is an extremely busy area with various activities and marine users jostling for space and resources. Our seas continue to be exploited beyond sustainable levels resulting in the decline of fish stocks, loss of key habitats and species. It is vital that we have protected areas to minimise damage and disturbance.’ The Wildlife Trust 

The speakers on the night were rationalising why all of the above issues have to be everyone’s problems, whey we all have to start caring more and doing our bit where and when we can. Simple tip cards were given out about ways to reduce plastic waste in your home, ways that would dismiss bad habits and become ritual and better for the environment.  Beautiful sea creatures adorned the church and gave out a clear message that if we don’t do something soon, they will be gone forever. Locals joined together to show support and to raise awareness about the problems we as a community face if we don’t work as a team and act fast.  

A poignant night indeed. 

Learn more and help at: https://worldoceanday.org/take-action/

UNESCO has announced the endorsement of 63 new endorsed Actions in the context of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (the ‘Ocean Decade’). The announcement adds to global celebrations of the UN World Oceans Day, themed this year around the theme “Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean”.

Collective action to create ‘the ocean we want’

With the aim of achieving the Ocean Decade vision of ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’, the newly endorsed Decade Actions address priority issues including marine pollution, management and restoration of  marine ecosystems and the ocean-climate nexus.

Four new Decade Programmes will contribute to generating new knowledge and solutions to the impacts of climate change and other stressors on the ocean through collaborative approaches, as well as reducing the gaps between science and policy.

In addition, the results of the second Call for Decade Actions also include 38 shorter more focused Decade Projects and 4 Contributions of in-kind or financial resources. 

A further 9 Projects have received official endorsement following a Decade co-branded call with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) as part of the Ocean Decade-DFO partnership.

The identification of 8 fellows from the AXA Research Fund “Towards more resilient coastal livelihood” also comes to grow the network of collective ocean action, aiming to advance science on key coastal livelihood preservation and resilience risks.

Three Projects submitted during the first Call for Decade Actions complete this set, bringing to 63 new endorsed Decade Actions that will bolster the collaborative design of the science we need to deliver a healthy and resilient ocean by 2030.

Ocean Decade expands global network

The Decade Coordination Unit (DCU) will benefit from targeted support from two new Decade Collaborative Centres:

• Ocean Visions – UN Decade Collaborative Centre for Ocean-Climate Solutions, hosted by Ocean Visions, Georgia Tech and Georgia Aquarium, United States
• Decade Collaborative Centre for the Northeast Pacific Ocean, hosted by the Tula Foundation in British Columbia, Canada

These Centres will help coordinate efforts between national, regional and global initiatives, share knowledge and tools developed, create links between potential Decade partners and monitor and report on the impact of the Decade.

Three new Decade Implementing Partners have also joined the Ocean Decade ecosystem to strengthen the work of the DCU and other decentralized coordination structures, including Collaborative Centres:

• Heirs to Our Ocean, based in the United States
• EurOcean, based in Portugal
• National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), based in Egypt

Discover the new decade actions at: https://www.oceandecade.org

PADI Women’s Dive Day Brings Communities Together for Global Celebration

PADI® Women’s Dive Day has grown to become the most celebrated diving day on the planet, transforming lives and opening doors to the underwater world. For the past eight years, the dive community has banded together to encourage divers of all genders, ages, races, backgrounds, and abilities to confidently explore and protect the ocean.

Since the inception of PADI Women’s Dive Day, events around the world have addressed the connections between diversity, inclusion, and environmentalism. The diving community around the world demonstrates their continued commitment to turning their passion into purpose for the ocean and choosing to be part of the solution.

PADI® (Professional Association of Diving Instructors®) is the world’s largest ocean exploration and diver organization, with a global network of more than 6,600 dive centres and resorts and over 128,000 professional members. With over 29 million certifications issued to date, PADI enables people all over the world to seek adventure and save the ocean through underwater education, life-changing experiences, and travel.

PADI has been undeniably The Way the World Learns to Dive® for over 50 years, upholding its high standards for dive training, safety, and customer service, which are monitored for worldwide consistency and quality. PADI, which has a long history of environmental conservation, is paving the way for millions of people to actively explore, steward, and protect the ocean through its course offerings and partnerships with like-minded, mission-driven organizations.

With its mission to create a billion torchbearers to explore and protect the ocean, PADI embodies a global commitment to ocean health.

Learn more at: https://www.padi.com/women

When I was 18, just as my friends were finishing A levels and heading off to Uni, my mum put me into my wheelchair and pushed me across the road to feed the ducks. That wiped me out and after all the excitement of duck feeding, it was back to bed for the rest of the day. I had always been a ‘sickly child’- shoulder problems, back pain, asthma, eczema, you name it, we’d been to the GP for it, and I’d ended up crashing out of A levels and into hospital appointments with an ‘inexplicable illness’.

That summer, I had been diagnosed with chronic fatigue. The fact I predominantly struggled with gastro issues and joint pain were, I was told, irrelevant to the diagnosis. I returned to school that September to re-sit year 13, and with a restricted diet and careful pacing, made it through my A levels and off to Uni. Fitness and activity seemed a world completely excluded to me- when even walking to the bus stop after a day of lectures could wipe me out. I dislocated my knee and trapped a nerve in final year, but was told everything was unrelated.

Fast forward 5 years and I had graduated, was working as a teacher, and was stressed. Social media showed that loads of my friends were doing couch to 5 k- so I started too. Suddenly, I was out in nature, calming my thoughts, pushing my boundaries- I loved it! I ran the Great South Run, Man v Horse (as a relay) and was all set for a future of exciting running until- the dislocations returned with a vengeance. The knee was in and out. I taught Y2 SATs prep on crutches in the school hall to comply with our insurance. Shoulders popped and cracked. I ended up with shingles over 25 times in 3 years- all apparently unrelated. The issues made running impossible- I was constantly returning to C25K and recovering from the latest injury. The amazing lower limb physios at St Mary’s hospital told me running may not be the sport for me. I tried walking- 106km round the Isle of Wight, 100km of the Camino de Santiago, but it took its toll on my knees and ankles.       

Finally, in January 2020, I got a diagnosis. EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome)- a congenital issue with the connective tissues. It’s EDS awareness month in May, and you can learn more about the condition here. The joint pain, the recurring skin issues, the gastro problems were all related, and now I knew what it was. The pandemic followed close after- and I was cast adrift. I couldn’t run, so I walked for miles around the city and across the common, but nothing was challenging me, pushing me or giving me the sense of achievement I got from running. Even worse, working from home was causing havoc with my spine and neck. Migraines became a common occurrence, and I was often ending the day popping prescription pain medication and trying to uncurl my back across a gym ball from the spasms I got in my work chair. My anxiety was peaking and my body was breaking.

Spring 2021 came and I was lying on the gym ball, stretching my back out when I saw an advert for a swim study being undertaken by the University of Portsmouth, for beginners to open water swimming. Before I knew what I was doing, I found myself expressing interest in an email. Because of my EDS, next was an ECG to make sure I would be safe in the cold water. Heather, the researcher, came to my house, masked up due to covid, and checked me over. The cat watched, and my nerves at not being able to join in messed up the first reading. I breathed, we ran it again, and everything was fine. I was good to go.

The swim course changed my life. Our incredible coaches Tori and Bec gently and gradually introduced us to the sea, the tides, the currents, acclimatisation and the utter irrelevance of underwear after a sea swim. I made great friends, and met my swim buddy CP with whom I proceeded to swim through the winter, as he completed the gold polar bear challenge and I (with neoprene socks and gloves) completed the penguin. 

The unexpected outcome of my introduction to sea swimming was the almost immediate and lasting impact it had on my health and pain levels. Whereas running had always caused me more pain (but I loved the endorphins and subscribed to a somewhat ‘no pain no gain’ mentality), swimming in cold water felt like it turned my pain levels right down. With 3 or 4 swims a week, I weaned myself off the naproxen, watched the migraines drop from multiple per week to one every few months, and felt my mental health bolster and begin to recover. The sea quickly became my restorative reset point, and I couldn’t imagine returning to my indoor, achy, oppressive pre-swimming pandemic existence.

Then in October I became aware of the impact that sewage discharges were having on the Solent. My mood swung between anger (at Southern Water for doing this, legally, all the time) and fear- what if I had to stop swimming? What would I do in winter when all the lidos were closed? What would restarting and staying on pain medication do to my liver? What about my friends from the swim course who were immune-supressed?

I set up Stop the Sewage Southsea in October 2021 and we’ve been working ever since, to put pressure onto Southern Water to stop dumping sewage, on government to change legislation and on Portsmouth City Council to do more to keep swimmers safe and to reduce rain water going into drains. There is still so much to do, but we now have a core team of activists and are planning for a summer of campaigns.

On Christmas Eve, in one of my swim groups I saw someone share a flyer looking for people to swim the Solent to raise money for Surfers Against Sewage. Immediately, my interest was piqued! A cause that I’m passionate about and a challenge that terrified me but felt just on the very periphery of ‘doable’? It had to be worth a go! Tori, one of the swim group leaders, had spoken about doing this swim and how much she’d enjoyed it. I clicked and signed up before I could change my mind. My co-leader for Stop the Sewage, and all-round open water swimming legend Rachel Whitfield also signed up.

It’s been quite the journey training- 2 nasty chest infections over winter, a sub-laxed knee and a huge armpit abscess caused by saltwater chafe have all been overcome, and now with 6 weeks to go, I just completed my longest training swim to date- 3 km. I’ve been working with an incredible swim coach, Mike Porteous, who supports disabled swimmers and has been incredible at modifying my training plan to keep me in the water and swimming when different joints have been protesting the training. 

I couldn’t be more excited for my first physical challenge since diagnosis. On 9^th July I’ll be swimming not only for the protection of the beautiful Solent from sewage pollution, but also in honour of the thousands of other EDS patients who are not able to swim, walk or engage with nature in the way that I am so lucky to be able to.

Please do consider sponsoring me: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sarahswimssolent

The Reef-World Foundation – the international coordinator of Green Fins – and Reef Check Malaysia are pleased to announce that Bahasa Malaysia-speaking dive and snorkel operators can now benefit from environmental resources in their first language. 

The Green Fins programme is resuming in the country after a pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The newly translated Green Fins posters and guidelines are designed to help marine tourism operators understand their impact on the environment and empower them to adopt more sustainable practices. 

Diving related damage to sensitive marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, is becoming an increasingly significant issue. This damage makes them less resilient to survive other local and wider stressors, such as overfishing or run-off from land containing pollutants and plastic debris and the effects of climate change, such as rising sea temperatures. 

Dive and snorkel operators being able to understand the issues faced and educate others is hugely important to the local environment and community, especially when Malaysia is a part of the Coral Triangle as well. Having access to readily available materials in their first language will help Bahasa Malaysia speakers learn how to protect coral reefs by adopting sustainable tourism behaviours and empower local guides to teach best practice to their guests whatever their level of English. 

JJ Harvey, Director at Reef-World, said: “We’re thrilled that our educational materials are now available to Bahasa Malaysia speakers. With Green Fins being a global initiative, it’s important for us to communicate and educate as effectively as possible and translating materials into Bahasa Malaysia allows us to reach even more people than before leading to greater impact.”

Samantha Craven, Programmes Manager at Reef-World, said: “The face-to-face environmental training sessions given by the Green Fins national teams to dive shop members in their local language are invaluable to building the environmental knowledge of their staff and crew. That’s why we’re delighted to build on this by providing our suite of tools and resources in Bahasa Malaysia to help even more marine tourism operators improve their sustainable practices.” 

Alvin Chelliah, Senior Programme Manager at Reef Check Malaysia, said: “Many local boatmen, compressor boys, snorkel guides, divers and snorkellers aren’t fluent in English. Also, with the restarting of tourism in Malaysia, more local tourists are travelling and exploring destinations close to home. Having the Green Fins materials in Bahasa Malaysia makes it easier to get the message across to a much wider range of people that are visiting the reefs, which could have more impact on raising awareness and taking actions to protect them. We hope this will encourage more dive and snorkel operators to use them with their guests.”

Green Fins is a UN Environment Programme initiative which aims to protect and conserve coral reefs through environmentally friendly guidelines to promote a sustainable diving and snorkelling tourism industry. It provides the only internationally recognised environmental standards for the diving and snorkelling industry and has a robust assessment system to measure compliance. Green Fins was first launched in Malaysia back in 2004 and is available to dive and snorkel operators nationwide.

Green Fins members are evaluated annually based on a 15-point code of conduct, which measures the company’s impact on coral reefs: of a possible score of 330, the lower the score, the lower its impact. The assessment then enables Green Fins assessors to offer practical alternatives to the most pressing threats posed by that business.

Download the Bahasa Malaysia Green Fins materials here.

For more information, please visit www.reef-world.org or www.greenfins.net. Dive and snorkel operators interested in signing up for Green Fins can find the membership application form at: www.greenfins.net/how-to-join.