Marine Life & Conservation
Southern Tide and Beneath the Waves partner to create a Sustainable Future
Southern Tide, premier apparel brand and authoritative voice of coastal style, has announced a global partnership with non-profit marine conservation and research organization, Beneath the Waves. With 2020 marking the start of a critical decade for safeguarding the oceans, the partnership marks Southern Tide as the official apparel partner for Beneath the Waves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x-cZmipBKk
The relationship between Southern Tide and Beneath the Waves has evolved organically, as both brands have our coasts embedded into their DNA. Beneath the Waves’ mission is to use cutting-edge science to improve coastal sustainability and ocean health. The partnership will focus on research up and down the Atlantic coast, with the goal of catalyzing change for oceans and inspiring conservation through content development, immersive research activities, and a collaboration collection launching on May 20th, followed by a more extensive collection launching Spring ’21, both with a give-back component.
Recent work by Beneath the Waves researchers, published in leading scientific journals Science and Nature, demonstrated the need to create large marine protected areas to conserve threatened species like sharks, which are imperiled worldwide. The ocean provides important services to humanity such as food security, jobs, and oxygen, and coastlines are a critical buffer protecting coastal areas from storm surge. Protected areas allow for population recovery, which can also improve fisheries, tourism, and other socioeconomic and sustainability activities.
“Southern Tide has strived to positively impact coastal and marine conservation since our inception. We are proud to truly be doing the work that we believe is at the core of our brand. Southern Tide would not be a brand without the preservation of our coasts – and we consider this the purest part of our DNA. We could not be happier to be partnering with Dr. Austin Gallagher and Beneath the Waves in our efforts to continue this great responsibility,” said Christopher Heyn, Southern Tide CEO.
When partnering with Beneath the Waves, Southern Tide found Beneath the Waves’ content creation was one of the most valuable assets in building awareness. By combining authentic, impactful, and exciting research with curated content, Beneath the Waves has fostered a community of socially responsible members aligning with Southern Tide’s adventure-driven fanbase. In support, Southern Tide will be launching a social media sharing program #99percentseries.
Beneath the Waves is devoted to using science to protect the ocean, its most threatened species such as sharks, and is working toward a shared global vision for 30% of our oceans protected by 2030. Their three-pronged approach includes a focus on marine protected areas, deep-sea conservation, and coastal sustainability.
“We’re incredibly excited about the partnership with Southern Tide, which comes at such a pivotal point for the future of our oceans. Since founding the organization, we’ve strived to create a platform for change, one that would – in addition to doing impactful conservation work – be a hub for technology, content, and an opportunity for engaging with innovative brands. The Southern Tide partnership exemplifies this vision, and is a great example of how science, business, and marketing can work together authentically, for positive outcomes across the board,” said Dr. Austin Gallagher, CEO of Beneath the Waves.
For additional information on Southern Tide click here.
To learn more about Beneath the Waves, 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.
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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