US actor dives in to save SA’s oceans
ENVIRONMENTAL advocate, actor (Big Little Lies) and Ocean Unite Network member Shailene Woodley recently gave her energy and time to a cause close to her heart: promoting the conservation of South Africa’s oceans.
Woodley added her voice to those of divers, surfers, paddlers, fishers and marine scientists to highlight why oceans need to be protected.
Until October 2018, South Africa had only 0.4% of its oceans protected. The government then increased the area so that today 5% of its ocean space is designated as safe havens for marine life within Marine Protected Areas.
But Wildoceans and many others are advocating for even more, given the consensus of international scientists that at least 30% of the ocean should be highly protected.
“Working with Shailene was a privilege, and her advocacy and passion for the ocean was unmistakeable,” said Wildoceans’ Ocean Impact campaign lead, Lauren van Nijkerk. “Supporting the commitments of our government, we are striving for 10% marine protection by 2020 and 30% by 2030, for the ocean to keep giving us what we continue to take out.”
Woodley said the ocean was home to her. “I think I learnt how to swim before I learnt to ride a bike. The reason I feel so called to the ocean is that I’ve never met a better teacher.
“She is therapy. She doesn’t allow you to think too hard, she forces you to be very present, and I think that’s missing in our lives. The reason I use the word ‘she’ when describing the ocean is I feel she is feminine in her nature and her essence,” Woodley said.
Ocean Impact youth spokesperson, Ruth Mthembu, said working with an ocean-loving, award-winning actor like Woodley, showed that young people around the world shared a love for the ocean which transcended cultures.
According to Karen Sack of Ocean Unite, a partner of Wildoceans, 2020 is a critically important year for ocean protection. “It’s when the UN’s agreed target of protecting 10% of the ocean matures. Countries will gather in China in October to agree on marine protection targets for 2030,” Sack said.