Marine Life & Conservation
UK Government makes international commitments but fails to follow through with ocean promises at home
Hosting an event in Montreal to highlight the value of properly managed Marine Protected Areas at COP15 Ocean Action Day, the Marine Conservation Society, Blue Marine Foundation and Whale and Dolphin Conservation issued a joint call for the UK to pick up the pace on delivery of ocean protection at home.
On the final day of COP15, promising steps were made, with agreement that 30% of sea, in addition to 30% of land, must be fully protected by 2030. This is touted as being the biodiversity equivalent of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The UK Government claims that 38% of our seas around the UK are in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The reality is very different, as most of these sites are little more than lines on a map – with even the most damaging activities, like bottom-trawling, allowed. So far, bans have been implemented for just 4 out of the 40 offshore English MPAs. The UK Government has a long way to go in delivering on a ban on bottom-towed gear in England’s offshore MPAs by the end of 2024.
Anna Gelderd, Head of Strategic Advocacy at the Marine Conservation Society said: “This week, nearly 200 countries committed to protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030. This is an important moment. A rallying cry for global ambition. Now, the global community has eight years to deliver. Focus must turn from quantity to quality – and to delivery at home. Meaningfully managed Marine Protected Areas are one of the most effective tools we have to fix the current nature crisis and reverse biodiversity loss.”
Last week, the Marine Conservation Society released research showing there has been a 98% decrease in bottom-towed fishing in the English Dogger Bank MPA since June this year, when a byelaw to ban this fishing practice was introduced demonstrating the effectiveness of byelaws.
Charles Clover, co-founder and executive director of Blue Marine Foundation said:“The world did not have an agreement to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030 before, but it does now. That is very much to be welcomed. On a global stage there are countries who will be under serious pressure now as the 30% of their waters for some is a standing start. In the UK, it will make sure that 30% protection, which actually conserves species and habitats, is achieved.
“However, this is not a legally binding document. Delivery will rely on countries at the forefront of ocean protection to bring others along with them, highlighting the social and economic benefits of protection – which are considerable – to ultimately carry the day.”
However, it’s not just fishing activity that is hampering the recovery of Marine Protected Areas. Pollution of our seas is playing an increasing role in biodiversity loss. From plastics, to microplastics, raw sewage and ‘forever chemicals’, all building up over time an creating a toxic soup. In 2018, Defra set out to publish a Chemicals Strategy to curb pollution but nearly 5 years on, no strategy has been published.
Ed Goodall, Green Whale manager at Whale and Dolphin Conservation said: “Chemical pollution is devastating marine life in UK waters including the west coast population of orca in Scotland, which is now down to around just eight individuals. At the same time, we know that whales bring climate and biodiversity benefits, so restoring their populations by eliminating threats takes on additional urgency.”
The Marine Conservation Society, Blue Marine Foundation and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation are hoping that momentum from COP15 will encourage the UK Government to act urgently on their promises at home in order to achieve what was signed in Montreal.
Only time will tell if the Government follow through with their promises on MPAs, but with the climate and nature crisis intensifying, it is of paramount importance that the biodiversity of our seas is truly protected.
Marine Life & Conservation
Reef-World launch new toolkit in response to the current global coral bleaching event
The Reef-World Foundation – international coordinator of the UN Environment Programme’s Green Fins initiative – has launched a new coral bleaching toolkit in response to the 4th global coral bleaching event confirmed by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) in April 2024.
The Green Fins Global Coral Bleaching Response Toolkit provides guidance to the marine tourism industry on how they can help manage and monitor the impacts of coral bleaching and get involved in recovery efforts. It features information about coral bleaching, including the causes, impacts and response strategies. The toolkit is compiled from a variety of readily available resources from multiple organizations and initiatives, such as ICRI, Coral Reef Alliance, Reef Check and NOAA, along with Green Fins materials, to ensure it is accessible to everyone. These resources cover methods for reducing local impacts, monitoring the reefs and engaging tourists and local communities.
The El Niño phenomenon has been present since February 2023, which has led to persistently warmer temperatures being experienced around the world and has affected the sea surface temperatures. Coral bleaching has been recorded in all ocean regions ever since. While this event is widespread and serious, there is still hope as bleached corals are not dead corals. Corals can survive bleaching events and thrive if they are given the time to adapt to the changing climate.
“Coral reefs are under a huge amount of stress every day and that reduces their chance of recovery from bleaching events,” said Chloe Harvey, Executive Director at The Reef-World Foundation. “However, this time around the scientists have been watching the data closely, so we’re prepared. We understand what it means and we know what we need to do to respond to it. This global event calls for global action to protect these vital ecosystems for generations to come.”
By equipping the industry with the necessary knowledge and tools, Reef-World hopes to empower these key stakeholders to play a crucial role in preserving the health and resilience of our precious coral reef ecosystems. Reef-World believes that with the right resources, the marine tourism industry can be a driving force in the fight against coral bleaching and contribute significantly to the long-term sustainability of marine environments.
With this momentum, other key players in the industry, such as PADI AWARE Foundation and NOAA, have gotten on board the campaign for more citizen scientists to help out in monitoring coral bleaching. With the toolkit available to all, The Reef-World Foundation is looking forward to more collaborative actions in the industry.
Explore the toolkit on Green Fins’ website: greenfins.net/coral-bleaching
A real solution for an environmental catastrophe is in reach
Six years after setting sail for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), we have developed the cleanup technology to relegate the patch to the history books.
On 6 September 2024, The Ocean Cleanup will return to San Francisco, where founder and CEO Boyan Slat will provide an update in which he will announce what is needed in terms of time, money and efforts to eradicate the GPGP.
To confirm your presence, please RSVP to press@theoceancleanup.com
PROGRAM
- Press conference: CEO and founder Boyan Slat will announce the next phase of the cleanup of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
- Interviews: opportunities to interview Boyan Slat (CEO & founder), Joël Jansen (Director of Oceans), Arjen Tjallema (Director of Technology) and Matthias Egger (Director of Environmental and Social Affairs)
- Vessels & technology: visit our two iconic ships, take a look at extraction System 03 and see the extracted plastic up-close and personal*
*Limited availability; RSVP soon to press@theoceancleanup.com
PRACTICALITIES
Date: September 6, 2024
Press conference: 12 pm (noon) / doors open 11.30 am
Location: The Exploratorium (Google Maps)
Pier 15 (Embarcadero at Green Street), San Francisco, CA
Parking: Visit The Exploratorium’s website for details
RSVP: press@theoceancleanup.com
Press kit: a press kit will be shared afterwards
To find out more about the Ocean Cleanup, visit www.theoceancleanup.com.
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