Marine Life & Conservation
RAID’s Col McKenzie Announced As World Environment Day Awards Finalist
The Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators (AMPTO) has informed RAID that one of their Executive Directors, Mr Col McKenzie – also of RAID Asia – has been selected in the United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards in the Individual Category.
Mr McKenzie is one of four finalists in the Individual Category which recognises significant environmental achievement over many years. “Mr McKenzie has been the driving force behind the Crown of Thorns Starfish (COTS) since 1998 and has successfully lobbied for millions of dollars to help control the pest and to protect the Great Barrier Reef (GBR),” said Mr Baker, the Chair of AMPTO. The Crown of Thorns has contributed to approximately 50% of the live coral loss on the GBR and not only reduce the live coral, but also effect the whole coral ecosystem. Mr McKenzie was working effectively in this space for years before becoming the Executive Director of AMPTO and he has a history of environmental activity. He has worked very hard on environmental issues over many years.”
Mr McKenzie’s consulting company, Gempearl, was also one of the first companies in Far North Queensland to be carbon neutral. He was one of just a handful of Far North Queensland people to do the Al Gore “An Inconvenient Truth” presentation training and did presentations in Victoria, South Australia and Queensland.
During the rezoning of the GBR 12 years ago, Mr McKenzie was the marine tourism industry’s public face and even received death threats for taking the stance that increasing the “no-take” zones from 4.7% to 33% was the right thing to do. Furthermore, last year Mr McKenzie headed up the court challenge by the marine tourism industry against the dumping of dredge spoil on the GBR. Legislation was passed only this month in the Australian Federal Parliament to stop dredge spoil dumping.
The health of the GBR has been much maligned in the last 12 months and it is the activities of people like Mr McKenzie that will help determine the GBR’s future and ongoing health.
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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