This roundtable will highlight the often-overlooked connections between the lives and livelihoods of Small-Scale Fishers, their role and risks as environmental human rights defenders, and the needs and opportunities to work with Small-Scale Fishers as crucial partners in the conservation, sustainable use and restoration of marine biodiversity in the face of a changing climate.
The event will share cutting-edge research carried out with Small-Scale Fishers in South Africa, Ghana and Namibia on the challenges to their lives and livelihoods arising from blue economy initiatives, non-inclusive top-down conservation, and other pressures on ocean use. The event will also share insights into the recognition and protection of Small-Scale Fishers as environmental human rights defenders, processes for building alliances between small scale fishers and others working for ocean well-being, and responses to their needs for access to fisheries resources and markets (SDG 14.b) through the lens of customary sustainable use and protection of marine biodiversity.
Image Credit: https://www.facebook.com/OneOceanHub/photos/a.784301835263177/1423425048017516/
Last week we had the privilege of hosting a screening of ‘My Octopus Teacher’ by @seachangeproject at the Labia cinema, to celebrate #WorldOceanDay 🌊
Our goal in telling the story of one of the seas’ most magical creatures was to inspire people to take better care of our oceans – by understanding what goes on beneath the waves.
Image Credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQdWRnbKdfQ/
To celebrate World Ocean Day on 8 June, SST staff led by example by picking up litter in their adopted spot surrounding the SST Walmer Main Road offices as part of Operation Clean Spot.
It is estimated that approximately 80% of marine litter is originally from land-based sources. This means that while litter threatens our oceans, it is important that we tackle the threat at source: on land.
Litter in the marine environment can have negative impacts on marine ecosystems, the species which inhabit this environment, and the many livelihoods dependent on the blue economy.
So, with the knowledge that our oceans need to be protected from the threat of litter, when was the last time you cleaned your adopted spot? If you’re not yet part of Operation Clean Spot, what better way to celebrate our oceans than signing up? Head over to https://sst.org.za/maps/operation-clean-spot/ to adopt your spot now!
Join Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Pawan Patil, Mr. Craig Foster and Ms. Shweta Naik in making a pledge to nurture nature so nature can nurture us.
Join the movement to protect and defend our oceans this oceans day by pledging to ACT for our oceans.
Take a year-long pledge to Advocate for the ocean through education and activism to Create awareness and solutions, or to Transform your life and community to be sustainable and ocean-friendly.
ACT (Advocate, Create, Transform) For Oceans is a youth-powered digital campaign proudly brought to you by www.oceanlocation.org
Today we celebrate the ocean, a shared resource that covers more than two-thirds of the Earth’s surface, produces 70% of the oxygen we breathe and regulates our climate. Sadly, only about 7% of the ocean is currently under some form of protection and human activities are threatening oceanic health through marine pollution, over fishing and global warming. But a global movement, supported by more than 70 nations, is calling for the protection of 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030, conserving this critical resource for future generations. African Parks is contributing to this goal through the management and protection of @bazaruto_national_park in Mozambique – one of Africa’s oldest and most important marine sanctuaries. The park spans 1,360 km2 with five islands, three of which are inhabited by 5,000 people, and provides refuge for a diverse array of marine species, including the region’s last viable population of dugongs. Together with @anacconservacao, we have implemented effective law enforcement, community development and tourism strategies to help secure a more sustainable future for this incredible park, its people and marine life.
Image Credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CP2w-_uDqgE/
In celebration of World Ocean Day, the Youth4MPAs South Africa will be hosting an event titled, “OUR OCEAN, OUR MESSAGE” – taking ownership of our ocean. The Youth4MPAs have teamed up with many amazing conservation organizations in and around South Africa to make this event possible, including Wildoceans, The Future Kids Club, IAIAsa student branch KZN, Ocean Research Mossel Bay and the Helderberg Ocean Awareness Movement. We have even connected with our inland families and representatives.
The event will consist of beach and inland clean-ups, educational sessions, and fun activities, which will take place in four provinces, namely, KwaZulu-Natal, Gqeberha, Gauteng and Western Cape. As part of the clean-up, the public will be invited to pledge their message for our ocean. A giant white cloth will serve as our messaging tool and will be placed at each location. This will be a great photo collage opportunity that connects all the individual groups across the different provinces together. We believe this coming together reflects on this year’s decision to drop the ‘s’ in “World Ocean(s) Day ” and reinstates the reality of one ocean connects us all.
The clean-up we aim to host has both fun and educational elements to it. We have added a twist to the traditional beach clean-up and called it a trash hunt, where members of the public will join us and team up to collect common trash items found on our beaches and inland parks spaces, using the “dirty dozen” as their reference. Prizes will be awarded to the teams with the most collection and items checked of their dirty dozen list. The Youth4MPAs pride themselves on their first inland clean-up, this event is meant to reach out to the communities that reside in inland areas. These clean-ups will occur in parts of Pietermaritzburg (KwaZulu-Natal) and Eldorado Park (Gauteng). The purpose of the inland clean-up is to connect with communities residing in those areas through educational sessions where we discuss how they are connected to the ocean and why they should care about the ocean, amongst other topics.
We believe in connectivity through diversity.
We as scuba divers have a responsibility to enrich our diving and non diving community. Blacktip Life – a social club by scuba divers, for scuba divers, have committed to contribute to the global drive to clean up our oceans, beached and our water bio-systems in general. We challenge scuba divers across our beautiful country to take part in this clean-up.
Join us to celebrate World Environment Day and World Oceans Day🌊
Saturday, 5th June 2021
Time: 8h00 to 10h00
Venue: Amanzimtoti Lagoon
What to Bring:
Gloves
Shoes
Water
Sunscreen
Bin bags will be supplied.
NB: Please wear your mask and ensure social distancing.
Image Credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPqjLFqnRcG/
We will join forces to celebrate the work and partnerships that help keep our rivers and oceans cleaner.
To get involved, contact Janet 083-288-0091
Image Credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPog3JdJ931/
By choosing green listed seafood, you are helping to restore our oceans. The SASSI app is here to help you do this. Download the free SASSI app, and tag us a screenshot of the app, for a chance to win one of these ocean lover prizes!
Online cooking classes for 2 lucky winners from @chef_zana
2 beautiful framed ocean photographs taken by an underwater diver
A sea urchin-inspired ceramic planter from @joanadamsceramicartist
What are you waiting for? Get snapping and posting ocean champs!
1. Winners will be chosen in a random draw
2. 30 June is the closing date of the competition
3. Winners will be notified via Facebook & Instagram.
3. Prizes will be couriered to the winners anywhere in South Africa only.
Image Credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPnjdappdfo/
Oceans Research Foundation has partnered with Y4MPAs in creating the biggest collaboration with youth across South Africa.
We will be writing messages and pledges towards the 30×30 action and protection of our ocean.
Join us at Daiz Beach on 5 June at 10AM and help us protect our blue planet!