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 BLUE’S JUNE NEWSLETTER Dear Friend of BLUE, As World Ocean Day and the G7 meeting pass, BLUE continues to push for sustainable fishing across the globe. BLUE has hosted a Blue Carbon conference, a Fishing Aggregation Device (FAD) symposium and the awards ceremony for the 2021 Ocean Awards. Finally, ‘Blue Minds’, at 127 Sloane Street, is a wonderfully eclectic exhibition – do tune in on Instagram or visit in person. Research reveals that UK’s deep-sea mining permits could be unlawful  BLUE Investigations and Greenpeace have revealed that deep-sea mining exploration licences granted by the British government are “riddled with inaccuracies”, and could even be unlawful. As a result of the joint research, Greenpeace has launched legal action against the government. Focus on sustainable fishing continues, following Seaspiracy and Brexit  Charles Clover, BLUE’s Executive Director, has been featured in several news stories regarding sustainable fishing in the UK and the EU. The UK has been accused of reneging on its sustainable fishing pledge in the FT and the Grocer has highlighted the need for urgent collaboration for the UK to achieve sustainable fishing. Meanwhile, it’s been revealed that EU fishermen can “plunder” UK waters for remainder of this year following Brexit, leaving many in fury. Lastly, following Seaspiracy, Euronews explores why bottom trawling BLUE hosts a Blue Carbon conference  BLUE’s Blue Carbon conference brought together leading blue carbon experts to share progress and set ambition ahead of COP26. Lord (Zac) Goldsmith opened the conference by calling for greater action in protecting and restoring ocean-based carbon sinks. Watch the morning session speakers and find out more about some blue carbon projects around the world. Disappointing failure to curb overfishing of yellowfin tuna  BLUE launched its #TACforTuna campaign in advance of the June meeting of the IOTC, highlighting the urgent need for a responsible recovery plan and total allowable catch (TAC) for overfished Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna. The outcome of the meeting was mixed, with the new rebuilding plan providing a step towards the recovery of yellowfin tuna, while not securing a TAC for the stock. In a joint statement, BLUE and IPNLF expressed their frustration with the outcome and have called for a Special Session of the IOTC to be held in January 2022. BLUE hosts ‘Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) in Responsible Tuna Fisheries’ symposium  In May, BLUE hosted a symposium on ‘Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) in Responsible Tuna Fisheries’. The interactive discussion highlighted the ill effects and poor management of drifting FADs (dFADs) and the day concluded with many speakers favouring to ban dFADs altogether. BLUE’s FAD Report with more information will be published soon, or you can learn more now by watching the symposium in full here. The Ocean Awards winners announced for 2021  Returning for a sixth year, The Ocean Awards celebrate people and organisations working tirelessly to help address the crisis in our ocean. Co-hosted by BLUE and BOAT International, the 2021 Ocean Award winners were announced from an impressive list of finalists. You can watch the award ceremony here and nominations for the 2022 Ocean Awards are now open. BLUE calls for G7 leaders to deliver  BLUE urged G7 leaders to commit to ocean-based promises at this year’s G7 Summit in Cornwall, following their history of not delivering. BLUE encouraged leaders to should push for and vote to end harmful fishing subsidies at the World Trade Organisation in July. A vision for National Marine Parks in Scotland  A new report by BLUE, ‘A Vision for National Marine Parks’, reveals how coastal communities are beginning to explore how community-led national marine parks could boost economic growth, public health and economic recovery and Native Oysters reintroduced into Firth of Clyde  Our Wild Oysters team have suspended 1,300 native oysters underneath pontoons in Largs Yacht Haven and Fairlie Quay Marina in the Firth of Clyde. In the coming months, the oysters will reproduce, releasing millions of larvae into the Clyde, to help restore native oyster populations and see the return of healthy coastal waters. 550,000 young sturgeon released in the Caspian Sea  Nearly 550,000 young sturgeon have been released as part of “Rich Basins” project in the Caspian Sea, a project supported by BLUE. The event was attended by Leyla UK to trial highly protected marine areas (HPMAs)  The UK government has announced plans to increase protection of wildlife and habitats by banning fishing and other damaging activities from selected UK marine sites. Charles Clover, BLUE’s Executive Director, welcomed the pilot scheme, which he said would show the full potential for the recovery of our seas, provided the selected sites were large enough. World Ocean Day 2021  For World Ocean Day 2021 BLUE celebrated Ocean Optimism, a theme inspired by The Lifetime Achievement Ocean Award winner Dr Nancy Knowlton. Nancy is one of the inspirational figures behind the social change movement. To celebrate BLUE highlighted some of the biggest wins in ocean conservation this year. Blue Minds art exhibition to support BLUE  Blue Minds is running from 24 June to 6 July, bringing together some of the most exciting names in contemporary art to highlight why a healthy ocean matters. Book your tickets to the exhibition at 127 Sloane Street here and follow BLUE’s Instagram for artist takeovers and live conversations with the curators and artists.      |
