The Two Oceans Aquarium has joined the European Commission’s global campaign “World Aquariums Against Marine Litter”.
“We are proud to stand with aquariums around the world and to show what we are doing to raise awareness about the problem of plastic pollution. The more voices out there raising the alarm the better,” says Two Oceans Aquarium Communications and Sustainability Manager Helen Lockhart.
The campaign will be officially launched on 27 July in Monaco by the European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella, together with HSH Albert II Prince of Monaco, and in the presence of UN Environment Executive Director Erik Solheim and World Association of Zoos and Aquariums CEO Doug Cress.
The campaign will disseminate various pieces of collateral that aquariums from around the world will use to highlight the shocking impact of litter on the marine environment to their visitors and followers. The campaign, while designed to shock, will also offer concrete solutions to prevent and fight marine litter.
Marine Pollution is one of the six main themes of the forthcoming Our Ocean, An Ocean for Life conference (happening in Malta on 5 and 6 October). During this high-level event, global ocean leaders will put forward their commitments to protect the oceans.
"Aquariums are windows on the ocean, showcasing the beauty and diversity of life beneath the waves,” says Helen. “However, the oceans are under threat as a result of human activities and one of the major threats is plastic pollution. It is our responsibility to inspire and empower people to see the connections between their actions and the health of the oceans, and to provide practical actions to lighten their footprint, including leading by example.”
Estimates are that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean, by weight, than fish. From the tiniest organism to the largest ocean behemoths, plastic poses a threat to all organisms in the ocean. Over a million seabirds are killed each year due to plastic pollution and with over 51 trillion pieces of micro plastics in the ocean, microscopic plankton are feeding on plastic which causes the plastic to enter the food chain.
- The Two Oceans Aquarium has campaigned against ocean litter for many years. We run six environmental campaigns, all aimed at reducing litter and therefore reducing the amount of litter that finds its way into the ocean. From Rethink the Bag, which aims to have single-use plastic shopping bags banned in South Africa, to Straws Suck, which campaigns against the use of single-use plastic straws, the Aquarium’s campaigns focus on single-use and easily discarded items.
- In 2011, the Two Oceans Aquarium banned single-use plastic bags.
- We devote a large part of wall space to signage outlining the findings of the 5 Gyres Institute.
- Every year on International Coastal Cleanup Day (16 September 2017) the Aquarium organises a large-scale cleanup of a local beach. This year the cleanup will take place at Milnerton Lighthouse.
- We co-hosted the 5FM Big Cape Town Cleanup in February this year.
- We take part in local and international awareness campaigns, including Plastic Free July.
- We network with like-minded organisations and regularly feature their stories on our blog, e.g.:
- Our website features information and guidance on how to make simple everyday choices that could have a positive impact on the marine environment and the environment as a whole. By taking these steps everyone can join the Two Oceans Aquarium and more than 60 other aquariums from around the world in the fight against marine litter and pollution.
#OurOcean
So, that's what we're doing to take action for the ocean. We would like to encourage you to make ocean-minded promises in your own life; small or big changes that will, collectively, make a huge difference. Make your ocean promise by using the hashtag #OurOcean, and feel free to tag us on Twitter or Instagram (@2oceansaquarium) to let us know that you've taken the step.
