Oceana’s Post

🚨Today we’re unveiling a series of landmark reports that reveal UK and Isle of Man seabed habitats store a whopping 244 million tonnes of carbon in just the top 10cm of the seabed! 🌊 💙Produced in partnership with the The Wildlife Trusts, the Scottish Association For Marine Science, WWF-UK and RSPB, these reports contain the first comprehensive estimate of #bluecarbon in the UK and Isle of Man’s seas and Marine Protected Areas. 🐟 With 98% of UK blue carbon being stored in seabed sediments, our seas are vital for wildlife. Protecting them from damaging activities prevents carbon from being released and worsening climate change. Bex Lynam, Marine Advocacy Manager for the North Seas Wildlife Trusts, said, “These world-first reports reveal the enormous value of UK seas, including the North Sea. For the first time we are able to fully appreciate the importance of our huge variety of habitat types for carbon storage and sequestration, particularly those unseen beneath the waves like sand and mud, which are often overlooked and yet store 98% of our sequestered organic carbon in the North Sea." 🌊 Protecting blue carbon habitats will not only help our climate, but will safeguard important areas for the future of UK fisheries and coastal communities. They should be safeguarded in Marine Protected Areas and considered when planning activities at sea. 🌟The UK is the first nation to map its seabed carbon both inside and outside of protected areas. This groundbreaking research could be world-leading in helping to protect blue carbon. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gHtwvdVr

Scotland's Marine Protected Areas: A Treasure Trove - MPAs Work. Scotland's seas are home to a wealth of underwater treasures. 37%  of Scotland's coastline were designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in 2014, when MPAs are given protection our research shows that it works, but most MPAs still lack the protection they need. With a decade already lost, we're calling on The Scottish Government to take immediate action to safeguard the future of our marine environment. By expanding the network of MPAs, we can protect vital habitats, support sustainable fisheries, and preserve Scotland's unique marine heritage. #DecadeofDelay #MarineProtectedAreas

🌊 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞'𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 (𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐬)! 🐠 MPAs, short for Marine Protected Areas, are dedicated sections of the ocean where certain activities are restricted to promote sustainable use and conservation of marine resources. Their purpose? To safeguard marine life and their habitats. Research proves that well-maintained MPAs offer incredible environmental perks like bigger fish, diverse ecosystems, and more! Belize boasts a variety of MPAs, each with unique activities allowed. From Laughing Bird Caye National Park to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Blue Hole Natural Monument, and Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, there's so much to discover! Managed by either the Fisheries Department or Forest Department, many MPAs collaborate with NGOs for efficient operations. 🤝 Which Marine Protected Area have you explored? Share your adventures below! 🌊 #MPA #MarineProtectedArea #MarineConservation #BelizeExploration #Belize

🥂 We’ve achieved a huge victory in terms of campaigning today. DEFRA has today announced the end to industrial sandeel fishing in the English waters of the North Sea and the Scottish Government has announced an end to industrial sandeel fishing in all Scottish waters. To put how momentous this is into context – it’s something the RSPB has been campaigning on for more than 25 years. Tenacity, commitment, innovation, all backed up by concrete evidence and data - so many people and such an amazing outcome at last. This decision is going to protect a vital food source of our seabirds, throwing them a crucial lifeline, when they are facing so many threats that show no sign of letting up.  And it wouldn’t have happened without so much work across our campaigns, communications, digital, policy and advocacy, and science teams and so much more. Our members and supporters who raised their voices in response to the UK Government and Scottish Government consultations last year played a huge and vital role – more than 44,000 people supported the two campaigns. The result of the UK Government Consultation was published in July, showing overwhelming support (over 95.5%!) for the discontinuation of industrial sandeel fishing. A real win for our seabirds.  A massive thank you to everyone who contributed to this over the years, and we’ll keep campaigning for the things that matter. There is hope - we've just got to believe and stick with it. This is proof that while nature is in crisis, together we can save it.  https://lnkd.in/dWqGsc-j #Campaigning #Conservation #Marine #Communications #hope

Let’s make waves to manage and conserve the Mediterranean Sea’s sharks and rays! 🌊 🦈 Over half of these Mediterranean species are a risk of disappearing from our seas forever. The Mediterranean region hosts some of the world’s leading shark trading nations, where many CITES-listed species are illegally and unsustainably captured and traded. Your voice can drive change! Join us for a webinar hosted with WWF Mediterranean, where we invite you to share insights on the interventions needed to support CITES implementation for shark and ray conservation. Webinar topics: 🔸 Current status of CITES for sharks and rays in the Mediterranean 🔸 Challenges in species identification 🔸 Mediterranean legal frameworks 🔸 Challenges for the fisheries sector 🔸 Enforcement hurdles 🔸 Strategies to help turn the tide for sharks and rays Mark your calendars: 📅 Friday, 21 June ⏰ 10 AM – 12:30 PM CEST Register here to help protect our oceans: https://loom.ly/D1REolI European Commission FAO Shark Conservation Fund (SCF) WWF-Adria WWF European Policy Office WWF Italia WWF-North Africa WWF España WWF-France IUCN SSC Shark Specialist Group (SSG) Europol #sharkconservation #CITES #oceanprotection #saveourseas #marinelife

Warming oceans and receding sea ice already challenge #Antarctic life. Add to this the pressure from industrial #krill fisheries, and you have a recipe for ecological disaster. 🌏🛑 We're at a point where laws must support conservation efforts. As Captain Hammarstedt said, "When a fishing vessel is breaking the law, we can cut their nets and block their operations. But when it's operating legally, we must first change the law." That's why we are on the frontlines, exposing the krill fleet's destructive practices, even as they operate within legal bounds, to push for a zero-krill catch quota and the establishment of more marine-protected areas around the icy continent. With this in mind - do you still consume fish or krill products❓If this doesn’t stop you, what would❓ 📸 Youenn Kerdavid, Salomé Torjdman / Sea Shepherd #stoptheplunder #antarcticsos #seashepherd #antarctica

#Sustainable #aquaculture As global fish farming is becoming greater in scale to fishing, the demand for feed raw materials is only growing. Highlighting the threats of over fishing natural sea life feed stocks can and should motivate innovation and greater pace in growth and regulatory approval in alternatives such as fermented Algae and insect.

Sand tiger sharks are Critically #Endangered. Subject to intense fishing pressure. At #CMSCoP14, we’re championing a proposal by Brazil and Panama for max protections for them and to require transboundary collaboration and cooperation on their conservation. https://wcs.org/cms-cop14

Please help to get this bottom trawling mafia out of the oceans. These criminals are destroying the oceans for good, time to stop them! Bottom trawling is ECOCIDE! **** Urge the EU Commission to Ban Destructive Fishing in Protected Waters What You Need to Know Bottom trawling is one of the world’s most destructive fishing practices. By dragging weighted nets along the ocean floor — some up to 240 meters wide — bottom trawling devastates coastal habitats, kills marine life indiscriminately, and depletes fish stocks. Just as bulldozing a forest destroys an ecosystem that has taken centuries to grow, bottom trawling decimates the seabed in a single motion, scraping up coral reefs and any other life in its path. Shockingly, bottom trawling is still permitted in some of Europe’s most fragile underwater ecosystems even though they have been designated as marine protected areas (MPAs). What’s the Issue? Bottom trawling is responsible for more than 90% of discarded fish in the EU and accidentally ensnared and killed turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. This harmful practice not only threatens Europe’s fish stocks but also the livelihoods of low-impact fishers and fisheries across the continent. In the Mediterranean, for example, 58% of all fish stocks remain overfished, largely because of bottom trawling, which makes it nearly impossible for low-impact fishers to keep up. By banning bottom trawling in MPAs as a starting point, marine life can recover, and we can preserve the low-impact fishing traditions that many communities depend on. Why your voice matters Public pressure can drive change. By raising our voices together, we can demonstrate public demand for immediate action to protect the ocean. Your support is critical in safeguarding marine ecosystems for future generations, ensuring sustainable fisheries, and promoting biodiversity. Cover Photo: Umeed Mistry | Ocean Image Bank Source: https://lnkd.in/dubD8qcK Www.stopecocide.earth https://lnkd.in/dNM3j9M #banbottomtrawling #actnow #tellthetruth #time_for_change

Please help to get this bottom trawling mafia out of the oceans. These criminals are destroying the oceans for good, time to stop them! Bottom trawling is ECOCIDE! **** Urge the EU Commission to Ban Destructive Fishing in Protected Waters What You Need to Know Bottom trawling is one of the world’s most destructive fishing practices. By dragging weighted nets along the ocean floor — some up to 240 meters wide — bottom trawling devastates coastal habitats, kills marine life indiscriminately, and depletes fish stocks. Just as bulldozing a forest destroys an ecosystem that has taken centuries to grow, bottom trawling decimates the seabed in a single motion, scraping up coral reefs and any other life in its path. Shockingly, bottom trawling is still permitted in some of Europe’s most fragile underwater ecosystems even though they have been designated as marine protected areas (MPAs). What’s the Issue? Bottom trawling is responsible for more than 90% of discarded fish in the EU and accidentally ensnared and killed turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. This harmful practice not only threatens Europe’s fish stocks but also the livelihoods of low-impact fishers and fisheries across the continent. In the Mediterranean, for example, 58% of all fish stocks remain overfished, largely because of bottom trawling, which makes it nearly impossible for low-impact fishers to keep up. By banning bottom trawling in MPAs as a starting point, marine life can recover, and we can preserve the low-impact fishing traditions that many communities depend on. Why your voice matters Public pressure can drive change. By raising our voices together, we can demonstrate public demand for immediate action to protect the ocean. Your support is critical in safeguarding marine ecosystems for future generations, ensuring sustainable fisheries, and promoting biodiversity. Cover Photo: Umeed Mistry | Ocean Image Bank Source: https://lnkd.in/dubD8qcK Www.stopecocide.earth https://lnkd.in/dNM3j9M #banbottomtrawling #actnow #tellthetruth #time_for_change