Marine Life & Conservation
Public remains steadfast in their call for Deposit Return Schemes
The Marine Conservation Society has shared the results of a public survey which shows the continued support of the public for Deposit Return Schemes (DRS). In England, 77% of adults said they supported the scheme and in Wales, 72% of adults were in support.
The charity surveyed the public’s opinion of a DRS in 2017, finding similarly high levels of support for the scheme – 73% in England and 71% in Wales.
In early 2018, then Environment Secretary Michael Gove announced that a DRS would be introduced in England. Consumers would pay a small deposit on top of the price of a drink, which is then refunded when the bottle or can is returned to a designated destination. The proposed launch for the scheme is now 2024, seven years after Westminster first announced it, during which time billions of bottles and cans will continue to pollute the environment.
The Scottish Government has already committed to having a Deposit Return Scheme in place by 2022, leaving England and Wales falling behind.
Dr Laura Foster, Head of Clean Seas at the Marine Conservation Society says: “Deposit Return Schemes would have an immediate and tangible impact on the amount of drinks related litter we see on the UK’s beaches year in, year out. Apart from the progress in Scotland, the other UK governments have offered nothing but empty promises since 2017 and it’s high time there were firm commitments and frameworks put in place.”
The charity’s annual Great British Beach Clean has found drinks litter consistently throughout the 27 years the events have been running. Drinks related litter, including bottle caps and lids, cans, and glass or plastic bottles, are a common occurrence on the UK’s beaches. Over the last 5 years an average of 45 drinks containers were found on each 100 metres of beach cleaned by Marine Conservation Society volunteers.
A YouGov survey commissioned by the charity this month found that across England and Wales, the public are supportive of a DRS including not just plastic bottles (77% in England and 76% in Wales), but also glass (75%), cans (67% in England and 63% in Wales) and cartons (57% in England and 58% in Wales).
The Marine Conservation Society has seen the positive effects of pollution-busting policies in the past:
Dr Laura Foster continues: “Carrier bag charges gave a value to a throwaway item and as a result, we’ve seen consistently less plastic bags on beaches. Deposit Return Schemes would undoubtedly have the same effect. Giving bottles and cans a value, as little as a 20p deposit, would encourage everyone to not only think twice before throwing them away, but also consider picking up bottles and cans they see in the environment.”
Since the introduction of the 5p single-use carrier bag charges in 2010 in Wales, and 2015 in England, the Marine Conservation Society has seen a 55% drop in the number of bags found on UK beaches. The drastic drop in plastic bags on beaches shows the real impact policies have on the state of the UK’s seas and beaches.
A second consultation on a Deposit Return Scheme for England, Wales and Northern Ireland is set to close on Friday 4th June, 2021. The Marine Conservation Society wants to see more urgent action being taken and is asking the public to tweet their MP to let them know that our ocean counts and we need a Deposit Return Scheme, now, to save our seas.
For more information on how to respond to the consultation, and the Marine Conservation Society’s work on the Deposit Return Scheme, please visit the charity’s website: www.mcsuk.org
Photo: Catherine Gemmell – MCS
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.
-
- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
-
- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
-
- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
-
- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
-
- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
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
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.
-
News1 month agoIconic SS United States to become the World’s Largest Artificial Reef
-
Blogs3 months agoNovoScuba’s Game-Changing Approach for Dive Store Owners: WE PAY YOU!
-
News2 months agoBook Review – 52 Assignments: Underwater Photography
-
Gear News2 months agoDYNAMICNORD – New German diving brand enters the British market
-
News2 months agoExploring Cenote El Pit: A Diver’s Dream
-
Gear News2 months agoTry BARE drysuits (and maybe even win one!) this Friday with Sea & Sea at North West Dive Fest
-
News3 months agoComing Soon – 52 Assignments
-
News3 months agoSave £200 per person per week at Pole Pole Lodge with Dive Worldwide