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Proud of my local town, St. Just, Penwith

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St. Just in West Penwith is not a true coastal town as it lies a few miles inland. But being Cornish, wherever you are, the sea is a great influence in our daily lives. It gives us our weather, our culture, our work place and our great sense of well being. The sea inspires our leisure time, our art and encourages our health. Our beautiful north and south coasts are a wondrous sight and change their mood throughout the year from serene splendour to uncontrollable rage. They are full of an undefinable energy which energises the human soul.

St. Just cares about the sea and it cares about the environment. That is why it recently, in association with Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), became a plastic free town. I’m sure that very few of us are happy with the way our environments are being polluted and probably often complain about it. Well here is the answer. Just get up and do something.

A driving force behind Plastic Free St.Just is Allie Scott, owner of Windswept Gallery. I asked her how this all came about.

Jeff: Hi Allie. Many congratulations to you and St.Just on becoming a plastic free town. Can you tell me what exactly this means?

Allie: Thanks… Basically, in short, this means that as a town we have made a commitment to limiting the amounts, and if possible eradicating, the use of single use plastics. This goes for businesses, local governance, schools, community venues and groups as well as local residents.

Jeff: Is this status recognised nationally by any governing body such as central government or local councils?

Allie: It is. It’s all part of a Government acknowledged scheme, started by SAS, where local Councils across the country acknowledge this as a standard to be achieved in a bid to begin to tackling the problems that single use plastics present. If you see a business displaying the Plastic Free Champion sign, you can be assured that they are taking steps to minimise their consumption and supply of single use plastics.

Jeff: What percentage of the St.Just population and businesses needed to support this to make it a true plastic free town?

Allie: The amount required varies per population, From the 2011 census, St.Just had a population of 5,000, but this has grown since. We had to gain the support of at least six businesses and we are at present at 24 and still growing. Also half of its community spaces, and a third of its schools (we have all three). We have more than this and people are still signing up to join in. This will never stop growing… any business that wants help and advice as to how it can achieve the status is guided through the process and helped in any way possible. This is a long term process… Rome wasn’t made plastic free in a day.

Jeff: What made you decide to do this?

Allie:  As a business we have been plastic free for nigh on 25 years; I have never liked to think that something we have produced could and would have a negative impact on the planet. When the scheme came about I asked around the town and there seemed such great and positive support for it so I thought “why not”… It’s great to think that the ethos that our gallery has had for all these years has now been shared with so many. Also as we surf locally and beachcomb most days for materials for our creations we definitely have seen first hand the rise of plastics washing up on our shores. When you are faced with it like that, and see marine animals and birds washed up and harmed by it, it’s hard not to want to do more.

Jeff: Have you always been aware of environmental issues or is this relatively new found with the plastic contaminations?

Allie: No it’s definitely not a new thing for us, Before we moved here we were Environmental Contractors specialising in inner city nature areas and conservation, using traditional skills to manage the environment, so it’s been something we have done for about 30+ years.

Jeff: Have you had full support from the entire community of St.Just or have there been local objections and barriers?

Allie: There have been no objections or barriers but there are still a few people not joined up and that’s fine… they will get there in the end. On the whole though the support has been fantastic and 90% of people and businesses are well onboard, but most importantly the young are involved via schools and youth groups. They then in turn influence their families to hopefully make a few more better informed choices.

Jeff: You mentioned how schools and youth groups have really got behind the project and are supporting it fully. Can you tell me more about this?

Allie: Well all of our schools have signed up to be Plastic Free Schools and part of this, apart from them just cutting down on their own plastic consumption, is that they get involved with writing to Local and Central Government and large businesses requesting that they too start to do something about the amount of plastics there are out there and maybe they could start to develop an alternative that won’t do the damage that plastics do. Also local cub/scout/brownie/guide groups have joined in with beach cleans and are joining in with the pledge to cut plastics, and as soon as they all start up again I shall be approaching the local surf clubs to do the same .

Jeff: Living all my life in and around the sea, I personally have been witness to the insipid build up of plastic waste in our oceans and shores since I began diving over forty five years ago. When did you first fully become aware of how serious the problem was and was there a defining moment?

Allie: I’m not sure there ever was a ‘light bulb’ moment, but there was a definite time when we realised whilst we were out there collecting driftwood for our furniture making we were suddenly picking up more plastics than wood… That was a tad depressing. When we first started about 20 years ago, you would find the odd piece and you would think…oh that’s interesting…that’s come all the way from, say, China…. but then you start to realise that it’s getting more and more and it’s no longer the odd piece. There has also been a rise in dead and injured marine life… and that’s never a nice thing to find.

Jeff: Are there any other towns or cities in Cornwall who are following your lead or have gone before you?

Allie: Well Penzance was the official first Plastic Free Community. But there are many, many more, in fact SAS had to change the campaign from Coastlines to Communities as so many inland towns wished to sign up. There are now 444 (both accredited and working towards accreditation) official Plastic Free Communities all over the country…. we were about 25th I think.

Jeff: Do you think becoming Plastic Free has changed or added value to St Just ?

Allie: I’m not sure… it has brought us together for a common goal whereas before we were a town with many individual businesses, all doing their own thing… but now people are sharing their ideas and suppliers and in some instances bulk buying together, so that’s really great to see. St Just has always been a tight community and now it’s one that is proud of what it has achieved. We are very much ‘living on the edge’ here… both figuratively and literally, so that tends to unite you in ways other places probably don’t understand. I also like to think that maybe visitors will be encouraged to visit safe in the knowledge that we are a town that cares for its local environment as well as the wider world, so I think that can only be for the good.

Jeff: What’s the next stage?

Allie: I would love to get the bigger companies in my area signed up… I’m currently working with our local Co-Op in a bid to get them more plastic aware. We also have a large pasty producer, but to be fair, they aren’t too bad, but there are still a few steps they could take. Other than that, its more beach cleans, more businesses signing up and more raising of awareness to the problem. We shall carry on producing our wares from reclaimed, recycled and sustainable materials, wrapping in paper, and treading as lightly as possible, hopefully with the odd surf thrown in.

Jeff: What advice can you give to someone who wants to go plastic free ?

Allie: Do it! Everyone thinks that someone should do something about this problem… well guess what… that someone starts with you. If you, even on your own, start to look at the choices you make everyday then that’s a great start… But do get others involved… maybe become a community leader for the Plastic Free Communities Campaign (just go on the SAS website for details). Ask your friends, colleagues, club members, school mates to do it with you. I used to get quite down about the problem, but then as I decided to get the community involved I was very heartened by how many other businesses were trying to do their bit too. It’s not hard and it can be fun. People used to say to me… what’s the point? What difference can I alone make? Well, if 1 million people stop using take away coffee cups and use a keep cup, then that’s 1 million less cups in landfill… it soon adds up. We don’t have endless time to sort out this problem… we have to start now and stop adding to the disaster that is out there and of our making in the first place. Then, and only then, will future generations have a chance.

Jeff: Thanks Allie. Please do keep me informed about events and beach clean-ups.

Allie: Thanks for asking and being interested in what we do, and feel free to join us for the next beach clean… details on our Facebook pages…Windswept Gallery or Plastic Free St Just.

Jeff is a multiple award winning, freelance TV cameraman/film maker and author. Having made both terrestrial and marine films, it is the world's oceans and their conservation that hold his passion with over 10.000 dives in his career. Having filmed for international television companies around the world and author of two books on underwater filming, Jeff is Author/Programme Specialist for the 'Underwater Action Camera' course for the RAID training agency. Jeff has experienced the rapid advances in technology for diving as well as camera equipment and has also experienced much of our planet’s marine life, witnessing, first hand, many of the changes that have occurred to the wildlife and environment during that time. Jeff runs bespoke underwater video and editing workshops for the complete beginner up to the budding professional.

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Saba’s Plan for a Coral Comeback

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Saba

Saba has an exciting new initiative to restore its coral reefs. This new project, running from 2024 to 2026, will focus on reviving key species in the island’s underwater ecosystems. With a collaborative team from the Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF) and Van Hall Larenstein (VHL) University of Applied Sciences, the project aims to restore both corals as well as sea urchins.

This initiative is centered around coral restoration, specifically reviving two essential coral species—staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) and elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata).  By mapping parent colonies and using a technique known as coral gardening, SCF will create and maintain coral nurseries. These corals will eventually be outplanted at key reef sites around Saba to not only expand the number of coral colonies, but also provide essential fish habitat. The project focusses on installing coral nurseries, training staff with the newest techniques and starting with the restoration of key reef sites.

Saba

Reef Cleaners to the Rescue

It’s not just corals getting a makeover—this project also shines a spotlight on the essential role of grazers, particularly sea urchins. VHL is leading the charge on cultivating and restocking two key sea urchin species, West Indian sea egg (Tripneustes) and long-spined sea urchin (Diadema), known for their ability to keep algae in check. By removing algae, which are important competitors of corals, they help the coral to thrive. By restoring these “reef cleaners,” Saba’s project will give corals the breathing room they need to grow, setting the stage for a healthier, more balanced marine ecosystem.

From Tiny Urchins to Big Goals

The project will be funded as part of the Dutch Government’s Nature and Environment Policy Plan (NEPP) 2020-2030 for the Caribbean Netherlands, a comprehensive initiative aimed at conserving and restoring the unique natural environments of the Dutch Caribbean islands, including Saba, St. Eustatius, and Bonaire. This project is aiming for big milestones:  build and maintaining coral nurseries, the expansion of urchin cultivation facilities, and the creation of a dedicated research center. By 2026, the project hopes to ramp up coral and grazer restoration, with the ultimate goal of extending these efforts across the Dutch Caribbean. By linking local initiatives to broader regional goals, Saba’s restoration project promises to leave a lasting impact on both the environment and the community.

Find out more about the DCNA at dcnanature.org.

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Reef-World marks two decades of marine conservation: strengthening impact amid coral reef threats

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reef world foundation

Empowering ocean stakeholders to tackle future challenges and ensure the survival of coral reefs and humanity

2024 marks the 20th Anniversary of The Reef-World Foundation’s tireless efforts for global coral reef conservation. The UK charity is the international coordinator of the UN Environment Programme’s Green Fins initiative, known as the leading voice in sustainable marine tourism. Today, Reef-World released its 2023-2024 Impact Report outlining a year of substantive growth and impact in its marine conservation programmes. 

Impact Report Highlights:

  • Impressive improvements in environmental behaviours to protect coral reefs by the marine tourism industry as the global participation of Green Fins increases.
  • Continued capacity building for government and NGO staff to effectively manage marine tourism activities in Asia, Caribbean and Red Sea regions. 
  • For the first time in Green Fins’ 20-year history, tourism operators have achieved ‘Best Environmental Performer’ status by demonstrating the lowest possible environmental impact in their environmental assessments. In 2024, three dive operators achieved this challenging milestone. 
  • Significant increases in global participation of Reef-World’s innovative digital conservation tools.
  • 138 Green Fins dive operator members achieved the strict threshold for PADI Eco Center recognition.
  • Developed four new educational materials and translated two into 16 languages to support the marine tourism industry in achieving sustainability targets.
  • Establishing a new Reef-World Development strategy and recruiting new roles – Development and Programmes Managers. 
  • Reef-World’s board welcomes new Chair and Trustees strengthening organisational leadership. 

Reef-World started as a one-person mission to inspire and empower communities to act in conserving and sustainably developing coral reefs and related ecosystems. Today, the team of 12 continues to meet this mission by inspiring and empowering the global marine tourism community to be exemplary sustainability leaders by using the Green Fins guidelines and tools to simultaneously use and protect the world’s precious reefs. 

In April 2024, the fourth global coral reef bleaching event was confirmed. Reef-World’s work has never been more urgent as the marine environment, and the benefits they provide humanity, continue to be eroded by global threats. The reduction of local threats, like those from the marine tourism industry, is an essential step to ensuring a future where coral reefs survive and continue to support the millions of people who depend on their ecosystem benefits. Reef-World’s work buys time for coral reefs and related ecosystems to be resilient to the impacts of global threats. 

 

“Right now our corals are facing the greatest fight of their existence as the terrifying predictions of the steps towards their complete extinction are starting to come true. But all is not lost, reefs are resilient and they have existed on this planet for millions of years. We must take action now, to buy time for reefs by reducing threats facing them and allowing them to react and adjust to the changing environment they need to survive in.” – Chloe Harvey, Executive Director

Looking Forwards: 

Like coral reefs, the Reef-World team needs to be resilient in the face of the complex challenges of the conservation sector. Reef-World has invested significantly in developing a Culture of Care to ensure the well-being of its team on a daily basis, continuing to be an exemplary employer to enable its team to best achieve the mission for coral reef conservation.

With the foundations of a Culture of Care and organisational development laid, Reef-World is emerging from the end of a natural organisation life cycle, that brings the challenges of growth and scale, stronger than ever. With a new strategy in place to generate much needed resources, Reef-World is excited for the opportunities to leap forward, continue to scale our impact and lean into new innovations and untapped opportunities for marine conservation. 

We continually strive to become a forward-thinking organisation that delivers on our goals and commitments to our stakeholders with fresh approaches and not being afraid of steering away from a “normal approach.” This approach is not only applied to our programmes of work but also internally and carries over to our Culture of Care for our team.” — JJ Harvey, Operations Director

reef world foundation

The Reef-World Foundation is immensely grateful for the continued support of its grant funders: UN Environment Programme, IUCN’s Blue Natural Capital Financing Facility, Adventure Travel Conservation Fund, PADI Aware Foundation, and World Nomads Footprints Program.

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; Seven Dragons; DiveAssure and Eco Beach, without whom these achievements would not be possible.

The full 2023–2024 Annual Impact Report is available on Reef-World’s website.

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