News
SeaStraw sign up 100 Ocean Heroes
Ocean-lovers on a mission to rid Manchester (and beyond) of single-use plastic
SeaStraw is an environmental campaign focussed on helping bars and restaurants to reduce the amount of single-use plastic they use. The campaign was founded by an ocean-loving family, including Scubaverse team members Nick and Caroline, who had seen the plastic problem first hand and wanted to do their bit to help reduce the amount of disposable plastic. Over a beer in a local bar, SeaStraw was formed.
- Plastic can remain in the environment for over 2,000 years. It does not biodegrade, but instead breaks down into tiny pieces.
- Over 8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the ocean every year, and much of that plastic comes from our rivers.
- By 2050 it’s estimated there will be more plastic in the sea than fish.
SeaStraw works with pubs, bars, restaurants and other businesses to avoid single-use plastic and help businesses move to sustainable alternatives. The idea started by asking bars and restaurants to swap their plastic straws for sustainable alternatives like paper, but quickly grew to look at how we can reduce other kinds of single-use plastics for food and drinks.
Doug Robertson, co-founder of SeaStraw, says: “We came up with the idea of a pledge, where a bar, restaurant or takeaway promises to stop using single-use plastic straws, cups or takeaway containers. It’s a great way of starting a conversation around the quick and easy things to change, then we can go from there to look at the more complicated issues of other single-use plastic”.
SeaStraw are delighted that it has reached 100 bars and restaurants that have signed up to the pledge around Greater Manchester and are keen to hear from other businesses who want to join the cause.
Dr Luke Blazejewski, SeaStraw campaigner and wildlife photographer, says: “The impact of plastic on our oceans is a really hot topic at the moment, but what a lot of people don’t realise is the impact plastic is having on the wildlife of our cities. Urban rivers are being suffocated with plastic, and nesting birds are using plastic as nesting material more than ever before”. Luke volunteered to make a campaign video for SeaStraw and you can see his fantastic work below.
Doug says: “We have a dedicated and passionate team of volunteers who chat to the staff at bars and restaurants and raise the question of whether they would consider replacing their single-use plastics with sustainable alternatives. Cutting back on plastic can attract more customers and actually save money”.
To learn more about the SeaStraw campaign please visit their website by clicking here.
News
Dive Worldwide Announces Bite-Back as its Charity of the Year
Over the next 12 months, specialist scuba holiday company Dive Worldwide will be supporting Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation with donations collected from client bookings to any one of its stunning dive destinations around the world. The independently-owned operator expects to raise £3000 for the UK charity.
Manager at Dive Worldwide, Phil North, said: “We’re especially excited to work with Bite-Back and support its intelligent, creative and results-driven campaigns to end the UK trade in shark products and prompt a change in attitudes to the ocean’s most maligned inhabitant.”
Bite-Back is running campaigns to hold the media to account on the way it reports shark news along with a brand new nationwide education programme. Last year the charity was credited for spearheading a UK ban on the import and export of shark fins.
Campaign director at Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’re enormously grateful to Dive Worldwide for choosing to support Bite-Back. The company’s commitment to conservation helps set it apart from other tour operators and we’re certain its clients admire and respect that policy. For us, the affiliation is huge and helps us look to the future with confidence we can deliver against key conservation programmes.”
To launch the fundraising initiative, Phil North presented Graham Buckingham with a cheque for £1,000.
Visit Dive Worldwide to discover its diverse range of international scuba adventures and visit Bite-Back to learn more about the charity’s campaigns.
MORE INFORMATION
Call Graham Buckingham on 07810 454 266 or email graham@bite-back.com
Gear News
Scubapro Free Octopus Promotion 2024
Free Octopus with every purchase of a SCUBAPRO regulator system
Just in time for the spring season, divers can save money with the FREE OCTOPUS SPRING PROMOTION! Until July 31st SCUBAPRO offers an Octopus for free
with every purchase of a regulator system!
Get a free S270 OCTOPUS with purchase of these combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with A700
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with S620Ti
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with D420
MK25 EVO Din mit S620Ti-X
Get a free R105 OCTOPUS with purchase of the following combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with G260
MK25 EVO or MK17 EVO with S600
SCUBAPRO offers a 30-year first owner warranty on all regulators, with a revision period of two years or 100 dives. All SCUBAPRO regulators are of course certified according to the new European test standard EN250-2014.
Available at participating SCUBAPRO dealers. Promotion may not be available in all regions. Find an authorized SCUBAPRO Dealer at scubapro.com.
More information available on www.scubapro.com.
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