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Marine Life & Conservation

Is it Game Over for the deep sea?

Published

4 years ago

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The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) has launched a brand new game as part of a campaign for a moratorium on deep-sea mining (DSM). The game, based on the original Space Invaders Arcade game, highlights the risks posed by the mining industry to the health of the ocean and humankind.

Game Over aims to build greater public understanding of the potential impacts of DSM and support for a global moratorium by engaging users in the retro game, pitting a deep-sea dwelling Dumbo octopus against the onslaught of deep-sea mining machinery. Crucially, game players are encouraged to take action in defence of the deep by emailing world leaders at the end of the game, calling on them to support a global moratorium on the destructive industry.

The game can be played on mobile platforms as well as online, and there is a competition for the highest scorer on the leaderboard. The game can be found here:

www.savethehighseas.org/gameover/

A healthy deep-sea environment helps to make life on Earth possible, providing a vast range of services including crucial carbon sequestration. Making up 90% of our ocean, it is home to amazing and highly vulnerable species, the majority as yet undiscovered.. It may also hold the key to our future, providing a potential source of medicines and immeasurable intrinsic and cultural value.

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) has issued exploration contracts for 1.3 million km² of the deep seabed. If these are converted to exploitation licenses, this would create the largest mining operation ever undertaken in Earth’s history. This could cause widespread, irreversible harm, including ecosystem destruction, disruption of critical oceanic processes and could create additional negative impacts on commercial fisheries already under pressure.

The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition believes that deep-sea mining isn’t worth the risk and the only responsible course of action is a global moratorium. We do not have sufficient understanding of the biology and ecology of the deep sea to make informed decisions on deep-sea mining and need consistency with global policy and commitments to safeguard the health of our ocean

By giving deep-sea mining the green light, we would undermine these international agreements and our responsibility to protect our ocean and endangering the future wellbeing of humankind.

About the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition

The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition is an international coalition of 80+ organizations that aim to safeguard the long-term health of our ocean by addressing the greatest threats it faces. Find out more here: www.savethehighseas.org/

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Marine Life & Conservation

Shark Trust launches Oceanic 31 Shark Art Auction

Published

3 weeks ago

on

November 1, 2024

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After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.

People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:

https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction

It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.

The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.

One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.

Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:

https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24

Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.

Find out more here:

https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31

 Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”

Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction

Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden

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Marine Life & Conservation

Meet Steve Backshall in the Bite-Back Prize Draw

Published

1 month ago

on

October 21, 2024

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steve backshall

Until 28 November, prizes worth a massive £10,000 – including experiences, products and tuition – feature in a line-up of items that can be won for £5 in an online prize draw to celebrate Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation’s 20th anniversary and help generate crucial funds for the future.

Top of the list of prizes is the chance to spend time with adventurer and wildlife expert Steve Backshall, a workout session with Nat Geo star Aldo Kane, a kayaking trip alongside white-water expert and diver Sal Montgomery and a Zoom call with ‘shark whisperer’ Cristina Zenato.

On top of that, some of the most admired companies in the diving and scuba industry have been quick to support the charity with fabulous prizes that make the £5 ticket price worth more than just a flutter.

Master Liveaboards, BSAC, Midlands Diving Chamber, Go Freediving and Blue Shark Snorkel have all generously donated experience prizes, while celebrated photographer Alex Mustard has donated a print and artists Scott Gleed and Olivier Leger have donated a sculpture and illustration to help boost the fundraising pot.

Fourth Element has donated Ocean Positive gear and LA watch company Nodus has gifted the charity a stunning dive watch. For land lovers, the charity has included a five star London hotel stay at Bankside Hotel plus a family visit to Longleat Safari Park in the roster of prizes.

Campaign director for Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with support from companies and individuals that we truly admire and who have supported us on our 20 year journey and we’re truly grateful to them all. While we feel incredibly proud of our achievements over the past two decades – and we are super excited about the next chapter – this prize draw isn’t a vanity project. It represents a real lifeline to our work and important advancements in the global protection of sharks. So we hope divers, dive clubs and even bargain hunters grab some tickets to make this a massive success.”

The charity hopes that the prize draw will generate crucial funds to launch a brand new, ground-breaking, campaign to enrol the public and increase support for the protection of sharks around the world.

To enter the competition visit www.bite-back.com/prizedraw. The prize winners will be announced on 1 December 2024.

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