This week, The Green Connection submitted its comments critiquing several aspects of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, particularly the lack of procedural fairness, as well as the conclusions reached – notwithstanding information gaps and scientific uncertainty – that should form part Tosaco Energy’s request to undertake various activities in Block 1, off the … [Read more...]
Extraction’s devastating impact on small-scale fishers
The Green Connection’s (GC) first ever Oceans Tribunal – which took place on 21-22 September 2021 – was marked by heart-wrenching stories and presentations from small-scale fishers and other communities whose livelihoods are being destroyed by extractive industries. Part of its ‘Who Stole Our Oceans’ campaign, the Tribunal – attended by more than 200 people – aims to … [Read more...]
African youth unifying for ocean protection
In the first-ever virtual event of its kind on the continent, a youth driven marine group called Youth4MPAs in partnership with WILDOCEANS, and supported by World Surf League PURE, The Pew Charitable Trusts and Oceans 5 has launched an African Youth Summit focusing on unifying youth across Africa, engaging with global marine experts and amplifying their young voices to advocate … [Read more...]
Plastic ocean waste NPO receives two global awards
Former Ballito resident, Clare Swithenbank-Bowman (main picture, on the left), founder of the non-profit organisation (NPO), Litter4Tokens, received two international Stevie Awards for Women in Business via a virtual awards’ ceremony held on Wednesday, 9 December 2020. The Stevie Awards, considered the world's premier business awards, were introduced in 2002 to honour and … [Read more...]
Eliminating marine pollution with innovative design
Finalists in the Commonwealth Litter Programme (CLIP) STOMP Awards have been announced. The STOMP (Stamp Out Marine Plastic Pollution) Awards made a call out in October for South Africans to enter ideas and solutions that could reduce, or eliminate plastic pollution, which ultimately ends up in the ocean destroying habitats, and endangering marine species. Over 60 entries … [Read more...]
IPCC report shows critical need for accelerated climate action
The launch of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report on the Ocean and Cryosphere today, highlights the need for governments to urgently scale up and accelerate efforts to address the climate emergency and protect the world’s oceans. Drawn from almost 7,000 papers by over 100 leading climate scientists, the IPCC report represents the most … [Read more...]
Octopus traps a threat to whales in False Bay
For many years now permits for trapping of octopus in the False Bay area have been issued to a local fishing company and during this period there have been numerous entanglements and deaths and it is now time to put an end to the suffering and deaths. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (which has recently been incorporated into Environmental Affairs) … [Read more...]
Youth-focused project strives for ocean protection
Climate change and pollution is a global issue and has a significant impact on the ocean. Conserving marine and coastal ecosystems is essential. Global issues tend to bring together like-minded projects spanning across continents. One such project is the Bremen-Durban Marine Environmental Education Network also known as Ocean Champs. This project is jointly implemented by … [Read more...]
Join thousands around the world for the Great Nurdle Hunt
Wild Oceans is excited to be taking part in what will see more than a thousand people spanning 6 continents joining in on a worldwide search for tiny plastic pellets (nurdles) in the first Great Nurdle Hunt taking place from the 8th till the 17th of February. The hunt is taking place on 6 continents in over 16 countries, with more than 60 organisations and 170 individual … [Read more...]
Shining a light on South Africa’s Marine Protected Areas
The youth shone a light on the importance of Marine Protected Areas with an evening of original poetry, inspiration and a spotlight performance at the WILDOCEANS Ocean Stewards’ Dinner on the Dock event held at Trawlers Wharf, Durban earlier this week, launching a week of mentorship and career guidance. With the launch of the annual four-day WILDOCEANS Ocean Stewards’ … [Read more...]
Television adverts highlight growing marine debris problem
Plastics|SA will be releasing a series of new radio and television adverts this week in which it addresses the issue of plastics litter found in the marine environment. “Never before has the issue of plastics in our oceans received so much attention on a global scale. Plastics|SA, the umbrella organisation representing the entire South African plastics value chain signed the … [Read more...]
Coral gardening initiative launched at Fiji resort
An iconic resort in Fiji recently launched a marine conservation initiative called 'Our Ocean Guardians.' With an increased focus on coral health and coral resilience, the Reef Safari team at the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa worked with resort guests to successfully plant over 50 corals in four months under the ‘Our Ocean Guardians Project’. This initiative … [Read more...]
Turning the tide on plastic waste at KZN beach clean-ups
Thousands of bags filled with litter were prevented from entering the sea off the KwaZulu-Natal coast this past month thanks to various beach-clean ups organized by the Plastics|SA Sustainability Division. According to Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director at Plastics|SA, a staggering amount of litter made its way down the Umgeni river recently after heavy rains and was … [Read more...]
