There was much celebration in 2019 when the South African Marine Protected Area (MPA) network expanded to 41 MPAs encompassing 5.4% of its mainland waters, and the hope is that our country will celebrate again soon with a shift of our MPA footprint to 10%. A key step in this conservation planning process is the production of the Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBA) Map, not a … [Read more...]
There’s no time for more oil and gas
With little more than seven (7) years till 2030 – by which time the world should have dramatically curbed its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as part of a global effort to keep global warming below 1.5°C – The Green Connection says that it will continue to oppose government’s worrying offshore oil and gas aspirations. In its comments on the Draft Scoping Report (DSR) sent … [Read more...]
Mitigating plastic waste’s negative impact on the environment
The South African plastics industry is taking solid steps forward to mitigate the negative impact of plastic waste on the environment and society. This is evidenced by the amount of recycling of plastic waste that is already being undertaken in the country and initiatives geared at keeping our water-catchment areas free of plastic litter. Plastics are affordable, practical … [Read more...]
Campaign aims to save SA sharks and rays
Last week welcomed significant news and positive movement for marine conservation in South Africa - a country that sits in the top five as a global hotspot for shark and ray diversity – as the WILDTRUST announced the launch of its newest marine campaign. On The Brink is a campaign underwriting a 3-year project called ‘Sanctuary for Sharks & Rays’ driven by WILDTRUST, in … [Read more...]
Anchovies: a tiny fish with a big impact
Anchovies - a tiny salty fish, that appears to barely be recognised at all. There are many contributing factors that allow the Ocean to thrive but what we need to acknowledge is the importance of these nutrient-rich fish. Anchovies play a vital role in the oceans ecosystem as they are a crucial food source for other sea creatures. Water is the life of our Planet. Without … [Read more...]
Fishermen unite for Africa’s first Plastic Fishing Tournament
Over 100 fishermen headed out to sea off Cape Town recently to reel in some of the ocean’s greatest scourge – plastic. In recognition of World Ocean Day, 20 boats took part in Africa’s first Plastic Fishing Tournament, covering over 30-square kilometres of the Atlantic Ocean and retrieving 300kg of plastic debris within three hours. The tournament and the impact of marine … [Read more...]
Island nations get new lifeline to beat pollution
Thirty-three Small Island Developing States (SIDS) took significant steps towards a cleaner environment earlier this week, with the global launch of a half-billion-dollar initiative to avoid marine litter and sustainably manage hazardous chemicals and waste. Because of many islands’ small size, limited disposal capacity, and prohibitive export costs, over 80 per cent of … [Read more...]
Clean up coming to Blue Lagoon Beach
As nature-lovers get ready to celebrate World Ocean Day on Wednesday 8 June, Green Corridors, the Durban-based NPO that looks after green spaces in the City, employing a team of ecotourism and nature guides, clean-up co-ordinators, agroecologists, and recycling experts, call on citizens to be mindful, that the ocean is one of the City’s (and the world’s) most important … [Read more...]
Mining threatens fisheries in the West Coast
Coastal mining along the West Coast is expanding at an alarming rate, increasingly threatening the environment and livelihoods of small-scale fisheries and coastal communities. Currently there are many different companies that have applied for or been allocated permits and right for oil and gas exploration as well as prospecting or mining on coastal land, the beaches, in the … [Read more...]
Big Tobacco, clean up your mess!
Protect our Next advocacy organisations have launched a campaign calling for Big Tobacco to clean up its mess called ‘Susa Udoti Wakho - #yourbuttsstink.’ The 2022 World Health Organisation (WHO) theme - “Tobacco: Threat to our environment” - focuses on the damaging impact tobacco has on the planet throughout its lifecycle, including deforestation, erosion, water pollution … [Read more...]
Beach clean up coming to Milnerton
Plastic Free Mzansi 2022 kicks off on World Environment Day with a beach clean up at Sunset Beach, Milnerton on Sunday, 5 June. Meet the team there at 9am. The beach needs you! With the winter rains arriving, plastic is carried down rivers onto the beach where it escapes into the ocean. The north-wester winds also bring in pollution from the ocean, often thrown overboard … [Read more...]
Protecting SA’s oceans from offshore oil and gas
Yesterday, The Green Connection launched its public awareness and information sharing campaign – which is part of a bigger initiative, called Who Stole Our Oceans – in a bid to stop further government investment in fossil fuels, particularly offshore oil, and gas. According to The Green Connection’s Strategic Lead Liziwe McDaid, the goal of the public campaign is to … [Read more...]
Shark finning on MSC-certified vessels ‘ignored’
A new Shark Guardian investigation has revealed that fishery observer reports of shark finning and other malpractices on MSC-certified vessels in the Western Central Pacific Ocean have been routinely ignored. A total of 24 incidents of shark finning were identified, all of which took place on MSC certified vessels, 19 of them during MSC trips and sets classified as MSC … [Read more...]
