Marine Life & Conservation
Calling all Ocean Heroes: Nominations open for Marine Conservation Society Young Ocean Optimist of the Year Award
The Marine Conservation Society is calling for nominations for its annual Young Ocean Optimist of the Year Award.
Now in its third year, the award seeks to recognise the achievements of passionate young people across the UK, making a difference for our ocean. The Marine Conservation Society is encouraging nominations for individuals who have made a positive contribution or effort to protect and celebrate the ocean in the past 12 months.
Whether they’re cleaning a local beach, raising awareness of amazing marine life, or sharing their passion through research, art, social media, writing, walking or more, the charity wants to hear about it.
The award consists of two categories – one for those under 12 years of age, and one for 13-18-year-olds. This year’s winners will be announced at the charity’s online Annual General Meeting on 17th of November.
The Marine Conservation Society engages with and encourages young people to become a voice for the ocean. Its Youth Ocean Network was established in March 2022 and has over 100 members across the UK aged between 13 and 25 who share a sense of ocean optimism and a passion for our seas. The charity aims to showcase and celebrate the enthusiasm of young people for the ocean through both this network and the Young Ocean Optimist of the Year Award.
Sandy Luk, CEO of the Marine Conservation Society said: “We’re proud to work alongside so many passionate and inspiring young people across the country to protect, restore and celebrate our ocean and these awards are a fantastic opportunity to recognise those who’ve gone above and beyond this year. Young people are the future – for us and for the planet. It’s extremely encouraging to see so many taking action and making a difference, and I’m really looking forward to hearing about young people who’ve used their creativity and ingenuity to help us protect our blue planet.”
Katie Macfarlane, Youth Engagement Office of the Marine Conservation Society said: “Young people today have endless passion, knowledge and drive to protect our natural world, and in my experience are incredibly innovative and solution focussed. It’s this optimism that inspires me to do what I do – I learn from the young people I meet every day and am consistently amazed by their dedication. I am really looking forward to hearing about a whole new cohort of Young Ocean Optimists via our 2022 awards.”
Links to short videos (under 5 minutes), audio recordings (under 2 minutes) and social media or online articles/blogs to support nominations are welcomed.
Nominations will be shortlisted by a panel of staff and volunteers at the Marine Conservation Society, using criteria such as the nature, impact and dedication of the nominee’s efforts. The top ten nominees will then be sent to the judging panel, which includes Sandy Luk, CEO of the Marine Conservation Society, and Gavin Stewart from the Scottish Youth Parliament.
The panel will then select the winner for each age category when they meet on 13th October. The winners will be announced live at the charity’s online AGM on the evening of Thursday 17th November 2022.
The deadline for nominations is Sunday 9th October. To nominate someone, head to mcsuk.org/ocean-optimist and complete the nomination form.
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
Marine Life & Conservation
Leading UK-based shark conservation charity, the Shark Trust, is delighted to announce tour operator Diverse Travel as a Corporate Patron
Corporate Patrons provide a valuable boost to the work of The Shark Trust. The Trust team works globally to safeguard the future of sharks, and their close cousins, the skates and rays, engaging with a global network of scientists, policymakers, conservation professionals, businesses and supporters to further shark conservation.
Specialist tour operator Diverse Travel has operated since 2014 and is committed to offering its guests high quality, sustainable scuba diving holidays worldwide. Working together with the Shark Trust will enable both organisations to widen engagement and encourage divers and snorkellers to actively get involved in shark conservation.
“Sharks are truly at the heart of every diver and at Diverse Travel, we absolutely share that passion. There is nothing like seeing a shark in the wild – it’s a moment that stays with you forever!” says Holly Bredin, Sales & Marketing Manager, Diverse Travel.
“We’re delighted to celebrate our 10th year of business by becoming a Corporate Patron of the Shark Trust. This is an exciting partnership for Diverse and our guests. We will be donating on behalf of every person who books a holiday with us to contribute towards their vital shark conservation initiatives around the world. We will also be working together with the Trust to inspire divers, snorkellers and other travellers to take an active role – at home and abroad – in citizen science projects and other activities.”
Paul Cox, CEO of The Shark Trust, said:
“It’s an exciting partnership and we’re thrilled to be working with Diverse Travel to enable more divers and travellers to get involved with sharks and shark conservation. Sharks face considerable conservation challenges but, through collaboration and collective action, we can secure a brighter future for sharks and their ocean home. This new partnership takes us one more valuable step towards that goal.”
For more information about the Shark Trust visit their website here.
For more about Diverse Travel click here.
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