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Bring the ocean indoors: Educate and engage young people from the safety of your sofa

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For the first time, the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) education team will be offering live webinar sessions in addition to education tools and resources available online for groups, schools and individuals at home.

The webinar sessions will focus on recycling, plastic waste, and marine conservation more broadly. By offering engaging webinar sessions, live lessons and offline resources to download, young people can learn more about the state of our seas from the safety of their homes.

Jenny Griffiths, Education Programme Manager at MCS says: “We’re really pleased to now be able to offer a series of engaging online webinars which can keep young people entertained and educated during these uncertain times. Our ocean education resources are available for everyone to use, from teachers looking to provide support to their classes from afar, to parents and guardians hoping to keep children occupied! We at MCS have long believed that ocean literacy should be a key part of the national curriculum, with these resources we hope to show the incredible value in education the next generation about the ocean and the issues it faces.

The MCS Cool Seas Explorers website has a wealth of resources for different age groups, with educational games, quizzes, creative activities, image galleries and more, to help with home learning. Downloadable PDF resources and lesson plans which focus on different topics in more detail are also available.

Some of the amazing ocean resources available online:

–          Amazing UK seas (ages 5-11)

This topic looks at all the really important processes our cooler temperature UK seas allow for, including learning about our vital kelp forests and seagrass meadows which are habitats for many different creatures. In this section you can find some brilliant resources and lesson plans, covering rare and threatened species, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and how we can all help our ocean.

–          Marine litter (ages 5-11)

This topic explores how litter and waste finds its way onto UK beaches and what we can do to help prevent it polluting our coastline. Find games, galleries, lesson plans and documents in this section for more information on ocean plastics. A detailed Unflushables lesson plan is also available to download as part of the Cool Seas Investigators programme, which is aimed at secondary school students.

–          Marine industries (ages 7-11)

This can be used to teach older children about the different industries which utilise our seas, including fisheries, oil rigs, ports and shipping, and offshore renewable energy sources. There’s a Tetris-style game based on a shipping container’s cargo, a gallery of images of different industrial apparatus, and downloadable resources to use at home.

–          Encounter Edu

The team at Encounter Edu have a fantastic programme of live lessons scheduled which allow children to hear from experts in their field streamed live on location, a fantastic addition to your home learning schedule! The AXA Arctic Live 2020 event is also running from 4-15th May 2020, where there will be live lessons streaming from the UK’s Arctic Research Station on Svalbard. The first week of lessons will focus on life and work in the Arctic, and the second on exploring the conservation issues the environment is facing there.

All of these resources and sessions are available for groups, schools, or individuals at home to join in with, as a fun and interactive way of learning more about our ocean. If you are interested in booking one of these live sessions please email the team at education@mcsuk.org to find out more.

For more information, please join MCS’s UK Ocean Schools Resource Hub on Facebook, where members share useful marine education resources they’ve come across online.

Gear News

Introducing the TR-80, IR-50 and CS-30 Regulators from DYNAMICNORD

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Whether you are a beginner or a professional diver – with the three new main regulators from DYNAMICNORD, everyone will find their favourite regulator. They all look super stylish.

Excellent performance with the TR-80

Quality and performance are the be-all and end-all for regulators. It is not for nothing that the TR stands for Tec Reg. The innovative design of the TR-80 guarantees absolute reliability – even in ice-cold waters.

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Perfect breathing effort at 0.8 J/l / certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / structural design made of solid brass for best cold protection / membrane-compensated design with dry seal of the first stage / reduced exhalation effort thanks to optimized exhalation membrane and bubble deflector / adjustable Venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort / innovative design of the front cover prevents free-flow in strong currents or when diving with scooters / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 LP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.

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Amazing underwater adventures with the IR-50

The IR-50 is the top regulator for advanced and experienced divers. Natural breathing is the essence of this regulator.

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Ideal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / compensated membrane / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort/ outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.

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The Workhorse – our CS-30

For diving centres and diving beginners – the workhorse stands for strong construction, reliability and robustness. Perfect for your training.

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Optimal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /recommended for diving in waters above 10 degrees / non-compensated piston / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) / outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 1 HP and 3 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.

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Octopus OP-30

The OP-30 is the ideal addition to all DYNAMICNORD regulators. It is identical in construction to the CS-30.

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The TR-80, IR-50, CS-30 (DIN & INT) regulators and the Octopus OP-30 are available from DYNAMICNORD dealers and in the online store.

DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.

www.dynamicnord.com

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Marine Life & Conservation

Paul Watson Released as Denmark Blocks Japan’s Extradition Bid

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paul watson

Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.

The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.

Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.

In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.

Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.

Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.

The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.

Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.

Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.

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