WWF-Canada’s Post

Breaking 📢: UK becomes first country to map and estimate carbon stored in seabed habitats. 244 million tonnes of organic carbon are stored in just the top 10 centimetres of UK seabed habitats, with 98% stored in seabed sediments such as mud and silt. Blue carbon is captured and/or stored in coastal and marine habitats including salt marshes, seagrass meadows, kelp forests, biogenic reefs and in sediments such as mud on the seabed, as well as microscopic algae in our seas. Protecting blue carbon habitats from damage can prevent the release of carbon into the atmosphere, helping to limit climate change, as well as safeguard vital areas for wildlife. These habitats are also important for the future of UK fisheries and coastal communities. Blue carbon must be considered in planning activities at sea (e.g. fishing and developments), to avoid and minimise damage to these special habitats. Marine Protected Areas must be protected from destructive activities. If properly protected, these areas could help safeguard blue carbon and marine.

Europe’s largest fully protected marine reserve is at risk.   In 2021, the Selvagens Islands Nature Reserve in Madeira was expanded to 2,677 km2, encompassing only 0.6% of Madeira's waters in an area roughly larger than Luxembourg.   Fully protected areas in Europe are almost non-existent. The reserve protects one of the last untouched wild places in the North Atlantic, becoming a beacon of hope for marine conservation on the path towards protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030.   However, regional authorities are facing pressure to downgrade the protection of the reserve for commercial fishing purposes, and are using a rule intended for the exceptional collection of biological samples for scientific purposes to authorize tuna fishing in the reserve.   Tuna migrate across the Atlantic and need sanctuaries where they can grow and reproduce, contributing to a thriving ocean and sustainable fisheries. They should not be caught within marine protected areas such as the Selvagens Islands. Friends of Ocean Action supports Oceano Azul Foundation in urging local authorities to honour their commitments to ban fishing inside the reserve, and to continue the path towards leadership in protecting the marine environment.   Peter Thomson Emanuel Gonçalves Tiago. Pitta e Cunha Alfredo Giron Nava Enric Sala   #MarineProtectedAreas #30x30 #Madeira #SelvagensIslands #OceanAction #SDG14+

A striking effect of the Covid19 pandemic is how it revealed the fragility of ranger patrol systems across the world's marine protected areas. In many areas around the world, ranger patrol budgets suffered heavily as tourism revenue declined & many have still not recovered. Here in Palau's UNESCO Rock Islands Southern Lagoon #WorldHeritage site, rangers secure environmental compliance, raise awareness, monitor fisheries & tourism activity, track poaching & fine illegal use, organise navigational & demarcation buoys, maintain the site & provide rescue services. Rangers everywhere are central to avoiding MPAs from being mere paper parks. Investing in their operations is critical to reach the 2030 goals for ocean conservation. UNESCO Ocean

Milestone Moments: Anguilla|🚤💫 After five years of operations without a boat, the Anguilla National Trust has commissioned a brand-new fisheries vessel, allowing the team to more easily manage Anguilla’s marine parks. These parks and protected spaces house some of the island’s critical underwater habitats and ecosystems. Their effective and sustainable management will promote marine biodiversity and support livelihoods. The boat was made available through the ‘Transforming Anguilla’s Marine Parks’ project. The project is designed to advance the protection and sustainable use of Anguilla’s coastal and marine habitats and biodiversity through an integrated, collaborative management approach. Government of Anguilla #MarineConservation #MarineBiodiversity #Anguilla.  - Expertise France European Commission

OCEANS ALIVE CONSERVATION TRUST OUR OCEANS • OUR FUTURE Let's love, respect, appreciate and protect our oceans, nature, wildlife, and our amazing planet. MARINE PROTECTED AREA DAY 2024 Marine Protected Area (MPA) Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of MPAs in conserving marine biodiversity and promoting the sustainable use of all ocean resources. It highlights the role of MPAs in preserving critical habitats, protecting endangered species, and supporting the overall health of marine ecosystems. South Africa has 42 MPA’s, or Marine Protected Areas, which are legally designated regions of the ocean where human activities are required to be policed, managed, and regulated, to protect marine ecosystems and biodiversity. These areas play a crucial role in conserving marine life, preserving marine and coastal habitats, and supporting sustainable fisheries. South Africa’s 42 designated MPA’s, cover a variety of important marine environments, coastal waters, estuaries, and offshore locations. Unfortunately, it is a problem in Africa, and globally, that MPA’s are simply “Paper Parks” and they are not adequately policed, managed, respected, or regulated! Humans simply cannot be trusted, and all MPA’s need to be respected, adequately policed, and protected as a matter of extreme urgency! OUR PLANET • OUR FUTURE “Caring for our Oceans” “Stronger Together” “Changing Lives” WITH THE PEOPLE • FOR THE PEOPLE www.oceans-alive.org #marineprotectedareaday #wildlife #endangeredspecies #marinewildlife #respect #appreciation #ocean #animals #nature #saveouroceans #saveourwildlife #saveourplanet #future #protection #conservation #today #follow

The landmark Blue Carbon reports reveal that UK and Isle of Man seabed habitats store a whopping 244 million tonnes of carbon in just the top 10cm of the seabed! 🌊 💙Produced in partnership with the Scottish Association for Marine Science, WWF-UK and RSPB, these reports contain the first comprehensive estimate of #bluecarbon in the UK and Isle of Man’s seas and Marine Protected Areas. 🐟 With 98% of UK blue carbon being stored in seabed sediments, our seas are vital for wildlife. Protecting them from damaging activities prevents carbon from being released and worsening climate change. 🌊 Protecting blue carbon habitats will not only help our climate but will safeguard important areas for the future of UK fisheries and coastal communities. They should be safeguarded in Marine Protected Areas and considered when planning activities at sea. 🌟The UK is the first nation to map its seabed carbon both inside and outside of protected areas. This groundbreaking research could be world-leading in helping to protect #bluecarbon 🌟 Find out more 👉https://lnkd.in/eU-y5jqJ

OCEANS ALIVE CONSERVATION TRUST OUR OCEANS • OUR FUTURE Let's love, respect, appreciate and protect our oceans, nature, wildlife, and our amazing planet. MARINE PROTECTED AREA DAY 2024 Marine Protected Area (MPA) Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of MPAs in conserving marine biodiversity and promoting the sustainable use of all ocean resources. It highlights the role of MPAs in preserving critical habitats, protecting endangered species, and supporting the overall health of marine ecosystems. South Africa has 42 MPA’s, or Marine Protected Areas, which are legally designated regions of the ocean where human activities are required to be policed, managed, and regulated, to protect marine ecosystems and biodiversity. These areas play a crucial role in conserving marine life, preserving marine and coastal habitats, and supporting sustainable fisheries. South Africa’s 42 designated MPA’s, cover a variety of important marine environments, coastal waters, estuaries, and offshore locations. Unfortunately, it is a problem in Africa, and globally, that MPA’s are simply “Paper Parks” and they are not adequately policed, managed, respected, or regulated! Humans simply cannot be trusted, and all MPA’s need to be respected, adequately policed, and protected as a matter of extreme urgency! OUR PLANET • OUR FUTURE “Caring for our Oceans” “Stronger Together” “Changing Lives” WITH THE PEOPLE • FOR THE PEOPLE www.oceans-alive.org www.lionmountain.tv YouTube Video Link: https://lnkd.in/dZ2VcGMN #marineprotectedareaday #wildlife #endangeredspecies #marinewildlife #respect #appreciation #ocean #animals #nature #saveouroceans #saveourwildlife #saveourplanet #future #protection #conservation #today #follow

MPA day 2024!! Let's love, respect, protect, and act in every way possible to help all aspects of our oceans! MPAs don't work well if exploitive activities are allowed, if they aren't enforced and if the local community isn't participating in all of this from the start to the continued stewardship. They should be well supported as we ALL benefit from healthy oceans! Remember each day too to: - reduce your use of single use plastics and advocate to reduce it at the source. -reduce your use of toxic chemicals and advocate for a reduction at the source. -use ocean and reef friendly sunscreen and/or wear sun protection clothing and swim gear. -never eat shark fin soup or whale and voice your concern if you see it on the menu! - only eat sustainable seafood. -support groups trying to stop deep-sea mining, overfishing, shark finning, illegal fishing, deep sea mining, agricultural runoff, toxic chemicals and more financially, by signing petitions, by writing letters, by joining protests. #oceans #marinelife #MPA #MPAs #deepseamining #sustainableseafood #stopsharkfinning #future

Marine Protected Areas are crucial for the sustainable conservation of our blue planet. That's why we've started a series of posts that will focus on some of the Mediterranean MPAs and (hopefully) bring you closer to them. Today, we're staring with Gökova Bay and its success story 🌊 📍 Location: Aegean-Levantine Sea 📐 Extent: 820.23 km² 🌿 Habitats: Posidonia oceanica meadows, muddy sands, hard beds, rocks 🐟 Species: Monk seals, dolphins, whales, seabirds, marine turtles, sharks, rays 🚫Threats: Illegal fishing Habitat degradation Overfishing Invasive species 💡 Solutions: No Fishing Zones (NFZs): Six zones established with better enforcement Marine Rangers: Tackled illegal fishing Community Engagement: Stakeholder meetings built trust and cooperation Co-Management: Local fishery cooperatives and government collaboration 🔑 Key Takeaways: Collaboration among fishers, NGOs, academics, and government is crucial Community-based initiatives like NFZs and marine rangers can rebuild fish stocks Education and awareness are essential for sustainable practices 🌟 Opportunities: Pescatourism Sustainable fishing Eco-friendly tourism Success in Gökova Bay serves as a model for –its co-management approach– in sustainable fisheries management across the Mediterranean! 🌍 Stay tuned for more spotlights on Mediterranean MPAs! #MarineConservation #SustainableFishing #OceanHealth #CommunityEngagement #GökovaBay #OceanResponsibility #MPAs

The Devastating Impact of Illegal Fishing Bombs A Looming Environmental Crisis Illegal fishing methods, particularly the use of explosives or fishing bombs, inflict catastrophic damage on marine ecosystems, endangering aquatic life and jeopardizing the balance of our oceans. This ruthless practice, driven by greed and exploitation, wreaks havoc on our planet's fragile aquatic habitats and poses a looming environmental crisis that demands immediate attention. The detonation of fishing bombs annihilates marine biodiversity on a colossal scale. These explosives not only obliterate targeted fish but also decimate coral reefs, disrupt natural habitats, and cause irreversible harm to various marine species. Beyond the immediate destruction, the shockwaves from these explosions devastate underwater ecosystems, leading to long-term repercussions, including loss of habitat, reduced fish populations, and diminished biodiversity. Apart from the ecological devastation, illegal fishing bombs pose a severe threat to human livelihoods and food security. By decimating marine life, they undermine the sustainability of fisheries, impacting local communities dependent on these resources for their survival and economic well-being. Combating this environmental menace requires a multifaceted approach. Strengthened law enforcement, stringent regulations, and increased surveillance are imperative to curb these illegal practices. Equally crucial is raising awareness among communities, empowering them to report and reject these destructive methods. The fight against illegal fishing bombs isn't just an environmental battle; it's a global call for responsible stewardship of our oceans. The urgent need for concerted efforts from governments, international organizations, and individuals cannot be overstated. Preserving our marine ecosystems from the perilous consequences of illegal fishing bombs is pivotal for safeguarding our planet's biodiversity and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come. #IllegalFishingBombs #MarineEcosystems #EnvironmentalCrisis #BiodiversityLoss #EcosystemDestruction #OceanConservation #LawEnforcement #CommunityAwareness #SustainableFisheries #GlobalStewardship