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Marine Life & Conservation

Plastic Warriors – a fight against plastic pollution

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Filmmaker Lavado Stubbs & Environmental Scientist Kristal ‘Ocean’ Ambrose release PLASTIC WARRIORS, a film that follows Kristal’s fight against plastic pollution.

The Bahamas, a country internationally recognized for its stunning seascapes and wealth of fauna and flora, is a true paradise on Earth. However, this paradise is polluted by plastic. The marine litter concentrations for The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean is nearly three times the global average, with an accumulation rate of  up to six hundred million metric tonnes of plastic by 2025 for The Bahamas.

Plastic Warriors follows Kristal Ambrose, also known as “Kristal Ocean”, a marine and environmental scientist who grew up loving the oceans surrounding her island home of The Bahamas. After sailing across the Pacific Ocean to study an oceanic “garbage patch”, she returned home to affect change by inspiring both the government and its citizens to move towards creating a plastic free Bahamas through her non-profit organization Bahamas Plastic Movement (BPM). Using her unique approach to education and activism, Kristal connects Bahamian youth to the marine environment and empowers them to use their voice to protect the natural environment and create legislation aimed at its protection-these are the plastic warriors. In 2020, The Bahamas passed a law banning select  single use plastics, a monumental law brought forward by the plastic warriors.

Shot with vintage anamorphic lenses to exalt the beauty of The Bahamas landscapes’, Plastic Warriors is a documentary that follows Kristal’s fight to battle plastic pollution in The Bahamas and highlights the possibilities of change to protect the environment through youth empowerment.

You can watch the trailer here.

In just 24 hours of the world premier, Plastic Warriors exceeded 40,000 views. Following the premier a panel focused on legislative changes on small islands. Some featured panelists included moderator Danni Washington, Kristal Ambrose (Founder of BPM), Lavado Stubbs (Director, Conch Boy Films), Dyson Chee (Project O.C.E.A.N.), Kiana Liu (Maui Huliau Foundation), Abby Ramnarine (BPM), William Simmons (Space 2 Create), Jackie Nunez (The Last Plastic Straw), Tarryn Johnson (BPM), Jaclyn Johnson (Kokua Hawaii Foundation), and Lyndee Bowe (Ministry of Environment).

You can find a recording of the film premiere on the Bahamas Plastic Movement’s Youtube. To host your own screening you can find the screening kit on their website

Nick and Caroline (Frogfish Photography) are a married couple of conservation driven underwater photo-journalists and authors. Both have honours degrees from Manchester University, in Environmental Biology and Biology respectively, with Nick being a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, a former high school science teacher with a DipEd in Teaching Studies. Caroline has an MSc in Animal Behaviour specializing in Caribbean Ecology. They are multiple award-winning photographers and along with 4 published books, feature regularly in the diving, wildlife and international press They are the Underwater Photography and Deputy Editors at Scubaverse and Dive Travel Adventures. Winners of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Photo-journalist of the Year for a feature on Shark Diving in The Bahamas, and they have been placed in every year they have entered. Nick and Caroline regularly use their free time to visit schools, both in the UK and on their travels, to discuss the important issues of marine conservation, sharks and plastic pollution. They are ambassadors for Sharks4Kids and founders of SeaStraw. They are Dive Ambassadors for The Islands of The Bahamas and are supported by Mares, Paralenz, Nauticam and Olympus. To find out more visit www.frogfishphotography.com

Marine Life & Conservation

Steve Backshall to headline Shark Trust’s flagship event: For the Love of Sharks

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Join a host of amazing, shark loving, speakers including Steve Backshall and the Shark Trust team for an evening celebrating shark conservation at the Royal Geographical Society in London this November.

Date: 29th November 2024

Time: 6-10pm

Location: Royal Geographical Society, London

Tickets: https://www.sharktrust.org/Event/flos24

The event will be a celebration of all things shark. Those lucky enough to get hold of tickets will hear from engaging guest speakers with a passion for sharks.

The line-up includes (*subject to change if unforeseen circumstances arise)

Steve Backshall: One of television’s busiest presenters, BAFTA award-winning wildlife expert Steve has been passionate about the wild world ever since he was young. 

Steve’s impressive TV career has taken him all around the world, investigating a wide array of species and environments. Steve has filmed over 100 hours of children’s wildlife programmes with the BAFTA award winning Deadly 60 franchise and recently, with Sky Nature, for his new series ‘Whale with Steve Backshall’. He has been a patron for the Shark Trust for 10 years.

Simon Rogerson: is a photojournalist specialising in natural history, diving and the sea.

He is editor of SCUBA magazine, the official journal of the British Sub-Aqua Club. Simon started his career as a crime reporter but gravitated towards his ‘less depressing’ interest in underwater exploration, joining the staff of DIVE magazine in 1999. In 2005 he was named ‘Editor of the Year’ in the PPA’s Independent Publishing Awards. Simon also works as a freelance writer, contributing frequently to the Sunday Times and Telegraph, in addition to BBC Wildlife, Esquire, and a host of international diving magazines. He is the author of a book, Dive Red Sea, published by Ultimate Sports. Now based in Berkshire, Simon has been a Patron of the Shark Trust for 20 years.

More speakers to be announced soon. Head to the Shark Trust website to learn more.

The evening will also allow guests the final chance to see the Oceanic 31, shark art exhibition. Some of the artwork will be auctioned/raffled at the event, while the rest will be auctioned online to raise money for the Shark Trust Oceanic Programme.

For the Love of Sharks is an evening with something for everyone who is interested and fascinated by sharks. Join the Shark Trust, their Patrons, Trustees and Staff, along with a host of supporters for this celebration of shark conservation.

For more information or to buy a ticket: https://www.sharktrust.org/Event/flos24

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Marine Life & Conservation

Double Bubble for Basking Sharks

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The Shark Trust is excited to announce that, for two more days only, all donations, large or small, will be doubled in the Big Give Green Match Fund!

Donate to Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants

The Shark Trust is hoping to raise £10k which will be doubled to £20k. This will go towards Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants. And they need YOUR help to reach they’re goal.

The Shark Trust’s citizen science project is to monitor and assess basking sharks through sightings; encouraging data collection, community engagement, and promoting nature accessibility. This initiative aims to enhance health and wellbeing by fostering a deeper connection with British Sharks.

Campaign Aims

  • Increase citizen science reporting of Basking Sharks and other shark sightings to help inform shark and ray conservation.
  • Provide educational talks about the diverse range of sharks and rays in British waters and accessible identification guides!
  • Create engaging and fun information panels on how to ID the amazing sharks and rays we have on our doorstep! These can be used on coastal paths around the Southwest. With activities and information on how you can make a difference for sharks and rays!
  • Promote mental wellbeing through increasing time in nature and discovering the wonders beneath the waves!

Donate, and double your impact. Click Here

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Experience the Red Sea in May with Bella Eriny Liveaboard! As the weather warms up, there’s no better time to dive into the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea. Join us on Bella Eriny, your premier choice for Red Sea liveaboards, this May for an unforgettable underwater adventure. Explore vibrant marine life and stunning coral reefs Enjoy comfortable accommodation in our spacious cabins Savor delicious meals prepared by our onboard chef Benefit from the expertise of our professional dive guides Visit our website for more information and to secure your spot: www.scubatravel.com/BellaEriny or call 01483 411590 More Less

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