Aquariums unite for a sea change on litter

THE Two Oceans Aquarium, along with more than 100 aquariums from around the world, joined the European Commission’s global “World Aquariums Against Marine Litter” campaign.

The campaign was launched at the iconic Oceanographic Museum of Monaco by the European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, together with HSH Albert II, Prince of Monaco; head of the UN Environmental Programme, Erik Solheim; and the chief executive of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Doug Cress.

The campaign will disseminate information that participating aquariums from around the world will use to highlight to their visitors the impact of litter on the marine environment. The campaign, while designed to shock, will also offer concrete solutions to prevent and fight marine litter.

Marine pollution is one of the six main themes of the upcoming Our Ocean, An Ocean for Life conference to be held in Malta on October 5 and 6. This high-level international event will bring together ocean champions from government, civil society and business.

“Aquariums are windows on the ocean, showcasing the beauty and diversity of life beneath the wave,” said Helen Lockhart, communications and sustainability manager of the Two Oceans Aquarium.

“However, the oceans are under threat as a result of human activities and one of the major threats is plastic pollution. It is our responsibility to inspire and empower people to see the connections between their actions and the health of the oceans, and to provide practical actions to lighten their footprint, including leading by example.

“The Two Oceans Aquarium is proud to stand with aquariums around the world and to show what we are doing to raise awareness about the problem of plastic pollution. The more voices out there raising the alarm the better,” she said.

Estimates are that by 2050, there could be more plastic in the sea, by weight, than fish. From the tiniest organism to the largest ocean behemoths, plastic poses a threat to all life in the ocean.

Over a million seabirds are killed each year due to plastic pollution and with over 51 trillion pieces of micro plastic in the ocean, microscopic plankton are feeding on plastic, which causes the plastic to enter the food chain.

The Two Oceans Aquarium has for many years campaigned against sea litter. It runs six environmental campaigns. From Rethink the Bag, which aims to have single-use plastic shopping bags banned, to Straws Suck, which campaigns against the use of plastic straws, the aquarium’s campaigns focus on single-use and easily discarded items.

Each year on International Coastal Clean-up Day (this year on September 16) the aquarium also organises a large-scale clean-up of a local beach. This year it will take place at Milnerton Lighthouse. Staff Reporter

ESTIMATES ARE THAT BY 2050, THERE COULD BE MORE PLASTIC IN THE OCEAN, BY WEIGHT, THAN FISH