Happy World Earth Day! To celebrate we would like to share with you the news that at last destructive fishing is to be banned on Dogger Bank. Dogged Persistence Dear friend of Blue Marine Foundation, Happy World Earth Day! To celebrate we would like to share with you the news that at last destructive fishing is to be banned on Dogger Bank. Our perseverance has been rewarded: Dogger Bank and three other UK offshore marine protected areas have at last been afforded the protection they need from destructive bottom trawling and dredging. The news comes following campaigns by Blue Marine, Greenpeace, Marine Conservation Society and Oceana, with Blue Marine twice threatening to sue the Government. Damaging fishing activities will be banned in 12,331 square kilometres on the Dogger Bank, an area over half the size of Wales. This is a major victory, but our vital work continues as the UK’s other 60 offshore marine protected areas remain open to bottom towed gear. Our legal challenge has kickstarted the process of protecting these domestic offshore sites and we won’t rest until we secure the same success for these areas. We are also working to ensure that the Government does not make changes to ministers’ current legal responsibility to protect nature under the Nature Recovery Green Paper, published last month. Read the full article here. The four marine protected areas, where bottom towed fishing gear will be banned, are home to some of the UK’s best marine life including white-beaked dolphins, puffins, rare sponges and cold water corals. The Big Give’s Green Match Fund To mark Earth Day, the online match funding platform The Big Give is today launching its Green Match Fund campaign, where all environmental donations made are doubled. This year, Blue Marine is taking part to raise money for its Solent Seascape Project. Money raised will As an opportunity for Blue Marine donors to further their impact, from today until 29 April, every donation made will be doubled thanks to the generous support from The EQ Foundation. Make double the difference by donating here! So far, Blue Marine has restored 105,000 native oysters to the Solent. |