Marine Life & Conservation
SeaStraw sign up 100 Ocean Heroes
Ocean-lovers on a mission to rid Manchester (and beyond) of single-use plastic
SeaStraw is an environmental campaign focussed on helping bars and restaurants to reduce the amount of single-use plastic they use. The campaign was founded by an ocean-loving family, including Scubaverse team members Nick and Caroline, who had seen the plastic problem first hand and wanted to do their bit to help reduce the amount of disposable plastic. Over a beer in a local bar, SeaStraw was formed.
- Plastic can remain in the environment for over 2,000 years. It does not biodegrade, but instead breaks down into tiny pieces.
- Over 8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the ocean every year, and much of that plastic comes from our rivers.
- By 2050 it’s estimated there will be more plastic in the sea than fish.
SeaStraw works with pubs, bars, restaurants and other businesses to avoid single-use plastic and help businesses move to sustainable alternatives. The idea started by asking bars and restaurants to swap their plastic straws for sustainable alternatives like paper, but quickly grew to look at how we can reduce other kinds of single-use plastics for food and drinks.
Doug Robertson, co-founder of SeaStraw, says: “We came up with the idea of a pledge, where a bar, restaurant or takeaway promises to stop using single-use plastic straws, cups or takeaway containers. It’s a great way of starting a conversation around the quick and easy things to change, then we can go from there to look at the more complicated issues of other single-use plastic”.
SeaStraw are delighted that it has reached 100 bars and restaurants that have signed up to the pledge around Greater Manchester and are keen to hear from other businesses who want to join the cause.
Dr Luke Blazejewski, SeaStraw campaigner and wildlife photographer, says: “The impact of plastic on our oceans is a really hot topic at the moment, but what a lot of people don’t realise is the impact plastic is having on the wildlife of our cities. Urban rivers are being suffocated with plastic, and nesting birds are using plastic as nesting material more than ever before”. Luke volunteered to make a campaign video for SeaStraw and you can see his fantastic work below.
Doug says: “We have a dedicated and passionate team of volunteers who chat to the staff at bars and restaurants and raise the question of whether they would consider replacing their single-use plastics with sustainable alternatives. Cutting back on plastic can attract more customers and actually save money”.
To learn more about the SeaStraw campaign please visit their website by clicking here.
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.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- 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.
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