Groups unite for World Oceans Day celebrations

WITH World Oceans Day on Monday, the global NGO for sustainable seafood, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), is launching a campaign to help make ocean conservation more relevant.

The MSC has launched the Big Blue Future campaign and has released research findings about the state of seafood buying and ocean life sustainability. The survey revealed that 77% of South African seafood shoppers made changes to the way they chose and bought seafood.

The survey, carried out between January and March, included more than 20 000 people across 23 countries and was conducted by independent insights consultancy GlobeScan.

Consumer activism included switching to brands or products that stated they helped protect the oceans or fish (37%), buying different seafood species (22%) and changing where they bought seafood (18%).

Nearly nine out of 10 South African seafood consumers are prepared to take further action to safeguard our oceans.

Non-profit organisation, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob), is highlighting seabirds that are dependent on the health of the ocean.

It aims to reverse the decline of seabird populations through the rescue, rehabilitation and release of ill, injured, abandoned and oiled seabirds.

They will be promoted in the Big Blue Future campaign alongside likeminded organisations to encourage consumers to choose certified sustainable seafood.

“Low fish availability poses a major

We are focusing on threats to sea turtles and ghost fishing gear Maryke Musson TOAEF

threat to seabirds,” said Sanccob’s Lauren Waller.

The Two Oceans Aquarium Education Foundation is all set for a funfilled World Oceans Day. It is teaming up with NPO’s Captain Fanplastic and The Beach Co-op which offer environmental literacy programmes, to bring an online event called Turtle Tales.

“For World Oceans Day, we are focusing on the threats to sea turtles specifically and ghost fishing gear,” said foundation chief executive Maryke Musson.

The I Am Water Ocean Conservation NPO educates ocean-users about the world beneath the waves and will host live chats.

The NPO will co-host talks with Two Oceans Aquarium’s research co-ordinator Inge Adams and penguin intern Martine Viljoen, along with other activities with various ocean organisations, said I Am Water founder Anli Prinsloo.

The Beach Co-Op, which focuses on single-use plastic and aims to improve ocean health, has as its theme “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean”.

“We would like to encourage our followers to be innovative about how they avoid and remove single-use and unnecessary plastic from their lives,” said founder Aaniyah Omardien.

The City of Cape Town adopted a coastal protection by-law last week.

“Cape Town’s coastline draws millions of visitors yearly. It is a national asset and contributes approximately R40 billion per annum, or 10%, to our local economy,” said Mayco member for spatial planning and environment Marian Nieuwoudt.

The by-law would allow the City to take appropriate action during emergencies in the interest of public safety and enable law enforcement of activities that could damage the coast.