BLUE SEAS PROTECTION (BSP) ACTIVITY REPORT FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2022/23
JULY 2022
BSP AT NOEL TURNER SCIENCE FESTIVAL
UKOG DROPS THE ISLE OF WIGHT PEDL
We are delighted to confirm that UKOG has formally dropped the entire PEDL for half of the Isle of Wight, which means they can no longer submit an application to drill on any other areas of the licence.
MONTHLY BEACH CLEAN
LOBBYING IN LONDON TO STOP THE GRIND AND CEASE ALL TRADE WITH FAROE ISLANDS
BSP SHARE SOLIDARITY WITH WHITBY FISHERMEN
“This is our buddy George. He grew up in Cowes Isle of wight and always wanted to go to sea and be a fisherman. Life's twists and turns 30 years later find him now in Whitby, a responsible, sustainable lobster fisherman, where disaster struck last October. Instead of spending time hauling up lobsters he is now busy recording all the dead and dying creatures along that coastline:.. "At ravenscar there’s a seal colony of 40 pups born last year 2 are left" “
COLLECTING SEAGRASS SEEDS WITH PROJECT SEAGRASS
- “Had a great time chatting with our buddies from Project Seagrass getting wet and learning how to harvest seeds at Ryde yesterday”
SHARK SNAPSHOT WEEK
AUGUST 2022
BSP MEET ROLL OUT THE BARREL
Meet the enigmatic Adrian Brewer from Roll out the Barrel Trust 1147062, who generously donated over 30 lifejackets to Blue Seas Protection in the spirit of Ubuntu. Adrian is based on the Isle of wight but works throughout Africa bringing aid to various areas in poverty. Part of this aid includes the water carrying barrels so that women and children have an easier task carrying water to their families. https://rolloutthebarrel.org/
BSP AT VENTNOR FRINGE
BSP AT COWES WEEK
Out on the water aboard Coastal Protector with Lobby n Crew at Cowes Week to Stop Ecocide International #stopthegrind ! Please boycott any whitefish products in your local supermarket imported from the faroe islands
BSP AT CHALE SHOW
BSP AT SANDOWN REGATTA
SEPTEMBER 2022
4TH SANDTONA FUNDRAISING EVENT AT BROWNS GOLF
BEACH CLEAN SEPTEMBER 2022
LOBBY AND JACK SPARROW SAY “STOP THE GRIND” AT CHARITY FUNDRAISING EVENT
BSP & INTERTEK COLLABORATE IN MICROPLASTIC SURVEY
“Update from the SharkLab Isle of Wight. A Citizen Science page by Blue Seas Protection crew:
"Intertek, yesterday we've partially completed The Microplastic Survey 2 (which was the biggest section). V.interestingly the total was as follows: 1hr Strandline Hunt x12 people = 609 Microplastics found Divide by 12= 50.75 pieces per person found Divided by 6 (60 mins/10mins) = 8 pieces found every 10 mins!!! Nurdle Total: 319 Biobeads Total: 136 Microplastic Fragments: 154... We've bagged them, tagged and imaged them ready for upload either by Intertek or by us. We just need to finish Survey 1 micro survey this morning and then we are going to do the BIG Beach Clean Survey breakdown out in our drive. Hopefully the weather will stay good as it was too windy yesterday!"
BSP AT HULLABALLOO 2022 INCORPORATING THE ANNUAL GREAT GLOBAL NURDLE HUNT
NOVEMBER 2022
BSP COLLABORATE WITH BEMBRIDGE SUSTAINABILITY GROUP TO DO EGGCASE SURVEY
“Very excited to report Sharklab volunteers collected over 300 eggcases with our friends from @bembridge sustainability group at their beach clean! Analysis to follow but early signs are suggesting we have an undulate nursery in the MCZ there! ”
BSP VISIT IW SHIPWRECK CENTRE
“Great Day today with Polly at Isle of Wight Shipwreck Centre & Maritime Museum sharing anecdotes and information about our undersea world and history from around the isle of wight #marineconservation
DECEMBER 2022
BSP LAUNCHES “OPERATION OUTREACH” TO SUPPORT FISHERMEN IN KENYA
JANUARY 2023
PICK UP 8 CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED
NEW YEAR NEW CAMPAIGN FROM Blue Seas Protection group: Whenever you go to the beach, pick up 8 pieces of microplastic of any size smaller than your hand, take a photo and upload it to our page giving your name and where you found your pieces of 8! Supported by Sea-Changers #marineconservation
EGGCASE SURVEY WITH BEMBRIDGE SUSTAINABILITY GROUP
“From our last Bembridge Eggcase Survey in December. We found a total of 626 eggcases. 12 of these were small spotted catsharks, 48 were undulate skate, 274 were spotted skate and 292 were Thornback skate. Many thanks to Gary, Sue, Jan and Neeve, the team at Blue Seas Protection and Sharklab for all their support and advice. Especially to Neeve for spending three hours with me teaching me how to classify them!
We will be doing another survey soon. The team at Blue Seas Protection and Sharklab think we may have a local nursery sight for these sharks and skate, very exciting. Looking forward to working with you more in 2023 to protect our amazing seas and the wildlife within it.”
–Lindsey Newberry, Bembridge Sustainability Group
BSP PROCURE DOLPHINS FROM SANDOWN CARNIVAL
PICKUP 8 PICTURES START COMING IN FROM ALL OVER THE ISLE OF WIGHT AND UK
FEBRUARY 2023
BEACH CLEAN/EGGCASE SURVEY & PICK UP 8 COMBO!
“Thanks Everyone who came to our beach clean today from as far afield as Guernsey and Durban South Africa!
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31 spotted
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8 thornback
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2 catshark
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8 microplastics x 19 attendees = 152 microplastics
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1 blacksack General litter”
BSP REPORT INLAND WATERWAY POLLUTION TO LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
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BSP DiveLive TEAM TRAINING AT UKSA
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PAINTING OUR BOAT COASTAL PROTECTOR AT ISLAND HARBOUR
RESULTS OF BSP POLL AS TO WHY DOG OWNERS LEAVE THEIR DOG POOP ON THE BEACH:
Ive picked it up so the poop is contained-job done 57%
I don’t realize the bag will not decompose 1%
Someone else will pick it up 0%
Im just leaving it there while I walk and will pick it up on the way back 28%
Im worried about hygiene 0%
BSP JUNIOR AMBASSADOR MILES FINDS UNDULATE EGGCASE AT YAVERLAND
PROMOTING THE NEW BSP PETITION ON FACEBOOK: SUSPEND TRADE WITH ALL NATIONS WHO
HUNT WHALES OR DOLPHINS
FEBRUARY EGGCASE HUNT RESULTS:
Hi folks, Just to let you know the results of our shark/ray/ skate egg-case survey for February, we had an amazing find: 360 Thornback skate cases 397 Spotted skates 80 Cat-shark 44 Undulate rays 10 Blond rays 1 Nurse-hound shark
This was done jointly with Bembridge Sustainability Group, Blue Seas Protection and Sharklab Live. The results will be sent to and logged by The Shark Trust and iRecord app.
EXCHANGES AND CORRESPONDENCE FROM OUR BSP COLLEAGUE JONATHAN POYNER IN AUSTRALIA
“As requested by Susan Jane, a few recent pictures taken around the little coastal town of Narooma (Australia). I lived on the IOW for around 30yrs fishing, diving, surfing etc.
I included a couple of pic's of the snow as so many don't realise how big Oz is and how diverse the climate. We've been involved with various research projects over the years and spend hundreds of hours on and under the water. Encounters with various whales, dolphins, sharks and many fish species. Being under water with the fish is our happy place. We do hunt and catch fish which greatly helps when working with both fishing and green groups.”
BEACH CLEAN MARCH 23
Thanks @everyone who came along to the beach clean today including Shanklin Green Town @Bembridge SustainabilityGroup volunteers and
Community Police Team!
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8 freezer bags full of microplastics collected at the beach clean yesterday.
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Didn't have time to count the number of individual pieces but a helluva lot of cigarette butts and nylon fishing line in there which won't now be inadvertently eaten or caught around marine creatures or end up in your fish n chips!
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Also found was a fisherman's filleting knife which the police came and collected.
FISHERMEN: "Watch your Tackle" SMOKERS: "Mind your Butts"
APRIL 2023
MONTHLY BEACH CLEAN
Veronica picks up 8, Myles counts 207 nurdles, Blake picks up 8
EASTER EGGCASE HUNTS:
Sat 08APR 3pm-5pm Meet at: Small Hope Beach carpark Sun 09APR 5.30-7.30pm Meet at: Sandown Pier Tues 11APR 6-8pm Meet at: Yaverland carpark to Sandown Pier Wed 12APR 11-1pm Meet at: East Beach Cafe, beside Hope Hill carpark Shanklin Adults Only surveys are on: Mon 10APR 6-8.30pm Meet at: Yaverland car park Survey Area: Yav carpark to Culver Cliffs Sat 15APR 1-4pm Meet at: Lazy Wave Cafe near Chine entrance
PICK UP 8 GOES GLOBAL!
BSP Members send in their photos from Western Australia & Goa India
MAY 2023
DEAD DOLPHIN WASHES UP ON THE BEACH AFTER SUPERTRAWLER REPORTED IN SANDOWN MCZ
BSP AT THE SAS DEMONSTRATION OPPOSING EFFLUENT BEING DUMPED INTO OUR SEAS
BSP REPORTS 1428 DOLPHINS KILLED IN LATEST FAROES GRIND
JUNE 2023
BSP AT ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL
Promoting our Sharkfin and Cease Trade petitions, PickUp8 Campaign and more!...
THE SHARKFIN ACT IS PASSED
“A win for the ocean
The Shark Fin Act has been passed into UK law.
On 29th June 2023 this historic Act will promote shark conservation via the banning of imported and exported detached shark fins – including products containing fins like tinned shark fin soup.
This legislation represents a key step in shark conservation both within the UK whilst setting an example globally as leaders in shark conservation. We are marking a major step in cementing the UK as a global leader in shark conservation.
SHARKLAB WIXSITE IS LAUNCHED