©Pew Charitable Trust

Every year, 273 million sharks are killed.

For shortfin mako sharks, this overfishing has meant they have declined in every major ocean, that decline ranging from a whopping 96% to 60%.

And now, some of their ray relatives – giant guitarfish and wedgefish – have been declared to be the most imperilled marine fish families on earth.

BUT

In a few dates, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has an opportunity to protect them from fishing that’s illegal and unsustainable

The EU already supports these safeguards (including the UK).

The Pew Charitable Trust has an opportunity for us all to thank policy makers for supporting protections for mako sharks, giant guitarfish and wedgefish. 

CITES Parties meet in August to look at 3 proposals that would add 18 shark and ray species to Appendix II including makos, giant guitarfish and wedgefish. 

Please tell EU leaders that you support protections for these species—and that you want them added to Appendix II this month. Send your message today

It’s July and a chance for you to challenge yourself – can you #GoPlasticFree for the month of July?  Will you take up the challenge?

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is holding what is now its annual  #GoPlasticFree challenge.  It does say that it’s pretty impossible now to be completely plastic-free, but we can all make small changes to reduce our plastic footprint.  The more of us who try to do this the better.

According to its website, 3,957,397 tonnes of plastics have been dumped into the ocean so far this year.  Goodness knows how that’s worked out, but even if it was a couple of tonnes, that would be too many.

We use single-use plastic for pretty much everything, from cleaning our teeth and showering, to buying and storing our food and other products.  The problem is that plastic’s properties allow it to persist in the environment for hundreds to thousands of years.

Anyway, you will no doubt have  heard the saying “Be the change you want to see in the world” so I’ve been looking to get rid of as much plastic in my life as I can.

So far, I’m using bamboo toothbrushes, a shampoo bar, a water bottle I can refill, I never bother with a straw anyway (can’t see the point of them), a coffee mug, I keep a bag in the for stopping off at the shops, and we’re growing herbs and fruit to cut out plastic packaging. 

I know this is only a start, and I’ve got a lot more to do but now I stop before I use something or buy something and think, “Is there an alternative?” and “do I really need this?”  And it’s amazing how much money you can save asking those questions…

For suggestions about what to do…

The Marine Conservation Society has lots of resources including

• Get your school involved
• Fundraise
• A Plastic Free Living Booklet you can download
• Plastic Free products
• Share tips on our community page

So dive in and see what you can do to reduce your plastic use.  It’s estimated that if there isn’t a global response, there could be more plastic than fish in the sea by 2050.

Visit the Marine Conservation Society’s website for more information

It's World Oceans Day!   You'll find plenty of promotional materials on the World Oceans Day website so take a look and see how you can use it to  promote the day!

Most of us think of water when it comes to World Oceans Day - the blue stuff which turns grey when it gets angry.

But for Polar Bears International, their focus is on the FROZEN ocean that polar bears and people depend on for survival.   

Polar bears live on the surface of the frozen ocean - with a complex ecosystem under their huge paws.

Polar Bears International have highlighted some ways you can help polar bears and the Arctic:

• Discover  Why Oceans Matter – to Polar Bears  and share the information there
  
  
• Tune in for Live Chats from Svalbard, Norway! 
  • "The Crazy Frozen Ocean" — Facebook 11:00am Central // Instagram 11:30am Central
  • "Midnight Sun Celebration" — Facebook 5:00pm Central // Instagram 5:30pm Central
    
    
• Make a donation and receive a gift from Polar Bears International to help you lessen your impact on thep lanet.  Give a minimum of $65, and they will send you a Polar Bears International Save Our Sea Ice reusable shopping bag (made entirely from recycled bottles) and a special edition polar bear bracelet from 4Ocean! Give a gift of $80 or more and we'll send you a shopping bag, a water bottle, and a 4Ocean bracelet. Learn more here

They say...each 4Ocean bracelet represents one pound of trash removed from the ocean—helping to prevent potential toxins from entering the marine food web and the polar bears that depend on it. Take a deeper dive