Marine Life & Conservation
Resolutions for an ocean and planet-friendly 2022
With concern for the climate crisis and health of the planet at an all-time high, the Marine Conservation Society suggests resolutions for an ocean and planet-friendly 2022.
Four in 10 people said climate, environment and pollution were a major issue for Britain in a recent poll* – the highest ever score for the topic since it was included in Ipsos MORI’s issues index in October 1988.
Take action to help clean up the ocean
With 62% of respondents in a recent survey saying they were very or extremely concerned about plastic pollution in the UK**, it’s understandable that people want to play their part in fighting it.
The Marine Conservation Society’s beach cleaning programme operates year-round, with beach cleans available to join as a volunteer, or organise for friends, family or colleagues.
Joining a beach clean with the charity also supports the Marine Conservation Society’s campaigning work. Volunteers collect litter and record what they find, feeding into more than 25 years of data.
To make a real difference to the state of the UK’s seas, make a resolution to help clear up the coast with the Marine Conservation Society. Find more details, and a beach clean near you, here.
Go ‘climatarian’
Looking carefully at where your food comes from and choosing sustainable options, is an impactful way to reduce your impact on the environment.
In Waitrose and Partners’ Food and Drink Report 20021-22 the supermarket identified climatarianism as a trend for 2022.
If you are buying seafood (or meat or dairy), be sure to shop mindfully. Consider how it was caught or farmed and where.
The Good Fish Guide is an easy-to-use resource to search for the most sustainable seafood options; choose seafood rated green on the Guide to minimise your impact on the marine environment and help protect blue carbon stores.
The Guide is downloadable from www.mcsuk.org/goodfishguide, and available offline.
Some low carbon seafood options include:
– UK farmed shellfish such as mussels
– Handline-caught mackerel (from southwest UK)
– Anchovies from northern Spain
Become a citizen scientist
Getting involved in projects which provide data and insight to scientists is a fantastic way to proactively help protect the ocean and planet. Everyone can become a citizen scientist, and the Marine Conservation Society has various different projects to get involved with:
– Big Seaweed Search: seaweed tells scientists a lot about the state of the sea. By learning what species of seaweed can be found where around the UK coast, scientists can better understand things like ocean warming and acidification. Simply download the survey form, head to the coast and identify what seaweed you see.
– Wildlife sightings: amazing wildlife is regularly spotted around the UK, and identifying what animals are coming to our shores really helps scientists understand the impacts of climate change on wildlife. If you see jellyfish or turtles when at the coast, let the Marine Conservation Society know via this sightings page.
– Beach cleaning: the charity’s year-round beach cleaning programme asks volunteers to clear and survey the UK’s beaches of litter. Support by arranging your own beach clean, or find one near you.
What’s more, research has shown that time by the sea brings real benefits for people’s health and wellbeing. Spending more time by the sea, or looking after it, is a resolution that not only supports the fight against the climate crisis, but also supports physical and mental wellbeing.
Explore the Marine Conservation Society’s Our Blue Heart project, and find ways to get involved at the coast on the charity’s website.
Join a community of ocean optimists
By supporting the Marine Conservation Society, members help the charity fight for the future of the ocean.
The charity’s campaigns, supported by members, have had real results on the health of the ocean. Thanks to data gathered by volunteers, and policies campaigned for by members, there’s been a 55% drop in plastic bags on UK beaches since charges were introduced in 2011.
Learn more about becoming a Marine Conservation Society member on the charity’s website.
Dive (or snorkel) in
The Marine Conservation Society’s Seasearch programme works with volunteer divers and snorkellers in UK and Irish seas and offers an exciting way to learn about marine life while playing a part in protecting and restoring the ocean.
Volunteers collect information about habitats, plants and animals underwater, and help track the health of the ocean.
Seasearch offers training at different levels, from absolute beginners to experts so anyone can get started or extend their skills. This training provides the skills to be a biological recorder (Seasearch is not a dive school). Once trained, volunteers can collect records independently or on organized trips.
To learn more about Seasearch, please visit www.seasearch.org.uk
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.
Marine Life & Conservation
Shark Trust Asks Divers to help with Shark Sightings this Global Citizen Science Month
Whether you are stuck for ideas of what to do with the kids or are off on the dive trip of your dreams. You can get involved in Citizen Science Month and help the Shark Trust by providing vital data about sharks are rays both close to home and further afield.
In addition to reporting the sharks and rays you see on your dives, the eggcases you find on the beach, the Shark Trust is looking for some specific data from divers who are asked to report any Oceanic Whitetip and Basking Sharks.
Oceanic Whitetip Sharks
The Shark Trust are looking specifically for Oceanic Whitetip Shark sightings over the coming weeks and months. So, if you are diving anywhere in the world, please report your sightings via the website or app.
Website: https://recording.sharktrust.org/
App: Search The Shark Trust in your app store
The Oceanic Whitetip. Known for their incredibly long dorsal and pectoral fins, this species was once the most abundant oceanic-pelagic species of shark on the planet.
Large and stocky, they are grey or brown above, and white below and famous for their huge rounded first dorsal fin and paddle-like pectoral fins. The fins also highly prized within the shark fin trade. Whilst they are mostly solitary, Oceanic Whitetips do occasionally hunt in groups.
An inquisitive species, they were easy prey for fisheries. Combined with their low reproductive rate, they were inevitably at high risk of population depletion. And declines of up to 99% have been reported in certain sea areas. They are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Redlist (2019).
Conservation efforts to discourage further declines include listing on CITES Appendix II and CMS Appendix I. They’re also the only species prohibited from take by all the Tuna RFMOs (Regional Fisheries Management Organisations). However, these measures do not mean that Oceanic Whitetips are not still caught – whether targeted or as bycatch – in some parts of the world. With populations declining at such a high rate, effective implementation of management measures is essential to ensure that the species can recover.
If you are lucky enough to get an image of an Oceanic Whitetip and you record your sighting on the Shark Trust app or website YOU CAN WIN! All images submitted with sightings, that also give consent to use in conservation messaging, will be in with a chance to win an Oceanic Whitetip T-shirt and mug. The competition will run until the end of “Shark Month” in July – so keep those sightings (and images) coming in.
Basking Sharks
Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) season is upon us, and the Shark Trust is asking everyone to keep an eye out for these majestic giants over the summer months. If you see any, you can record your sighting to the Basking Shark Sightings database.
Each year, these mighty fish return to British waters to feed on plankton. You may see one, (or a few if you’re really lucky) from around April-October. They can be seen feeding at the surface of the water, where they look like they’re basking in the sun. Thus, their name!
Sighting hotspots around the British Isles include southwest England, Isle of Man, north coast of Ireland, and western Scotland. The Sea of the Hebrides is the most prolific sightings area in Scotland, but they have been spotted all around the coast and have even ventured into some of the sea lochs. The Shark Trust has received thousands of sightings since the Basking Shark project began, but more data is needed to truly understand what is going on with population numbers and distribution. You can help by recording your sightings this summer.
Great Eggcase Hunt
The Shark Trust has an Easter Egg Hunt with a difference for you to try. Take part in the Great Eggcase Hunt and get involved with a big citizen science project that helps shark, ray and skate conservation. And it’s an enjoyable activity for all the family.
The Shark Trust also want snorkellers and divers to record their underwater eggcase findings. Underwater records help pinpoint exactly where sharks and skates are laying their eggs and can help link to beach records. Learning the depth and substrate that they lay on also helps better understand the species.
Find out more: https://www.sharktrust.org/great-eggcase-hunt
Whether you are diving, snorkelling or exploring on the beach you can take part in Citizen Science Month and get actively involved in shark and ray conservation. Find out more: www.sharktrust.org
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