Dive into National Marine Week

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National Marine Week is back, and there are loads of activities and events to dive into. The annual occasion is a celebration of the sea and the wonders within it. From 25th July to 9th August The Wildlife Trusts are holding a series of events across Britain, that encourage us to celebrate and protect the sea.

“Everyone can get involved, whether you live by the sea or further inland – from exploring your local wildlife and joining events, to simply learning more about the seas around us,” says Inka Cresswell, Marine Biologist, Wildlife Filmmaker and Ambassador for The Wildlife Trusts. “Together, we can help protect our precious waters and the species that depend on them.”

Over an action-packed 16 days, you can take part in everything from Breakfast with a Bottlenose to Rockpool Rummaging and find out more about the incredible journeys creatures take through our waters. The organisation is also giving away free activity sheets showing marine species and their journeys, for nature lovers young and old to enjoy.

Arctic tern

Protect the sea with a pledge

This year saw the global High Seas Treaty – a landmark legal framework to establish protected areas in international waters – come into being, making this a pivotal moment to protect the sea and its marine life.

The sea faces increasing pressures, from climate change, fishing, habitat loss, pollution and unsustainable development. Actions at every scale can make a difference – from securing the protection of international waters, to safeguarding coastal and marine habitats, and restoring rivers.

Grey seal

The Wildlife Trusts are inviting you to make a pledge for the sea, by taking small actions that can have a big impact on marine wildlife:

  • Being mindful about what you wash down your sink, as household products can harm marine life and pollute waterways
  • Cutting plastic use to stop plastic pollution in rivers and the sea
  • Eating sustainable seafood to safeguard fragile ecosystems and fish populations

Your pledge will be added to others on an online map, highlighting growing commitment from the British public to protect our waters from source to sea.

Basking shark

Epic journeys

Every year, many species pass through or return to British waters, using routes that are thousands of years old to breed and feed. Some go on incredible feats of endurance, travelling across oceans, while others make smaller but equally important journeys. National Marine Week celebrates all the wildlife embarking on these epic journeys, from whales crossing the Atlantic to fish travelling from sea to stream.

Daniele Clifford, Marine Conservation Officer at The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“This National Marine Week, we’re encouraging everyone to responsibly explore the wildlife on their doorstep, get involved in local events and join us in restoring and protecting the UK’s connected waters.”

Discover more about National Marine Week

Image credits
Image 1 leaping bottlenose dolphin credit John MacPherson/2020VISION
Image 2 Arctic tern credit Richard Steel/2020VISION
Image 3 Grey seal beneath cliffs credit Alexander Mustard/2020VISION
Image 4 feeding basking shark credit Alexander Mustard/2020VISION

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