We all live in a yellow submarine... Dive 2012

The Sea Champions team and MCS staff had a fantastic weekend at Dive 2012. Not only did they welcome on board a record breaking 87 new members, 90 people pledged their support for Marine Protected Areas. You can show your support for marine protection too by pledging online here.

This years dive show was special because we had Bernard Eaton, Founder and Vice President of the Marine Conservation Society in our thoughts. Diver magazine raised an amazing £646.55 for us in his memory.



Explorer and presenter of BBC'S Oceans series, Paul Rose, paid a visit to our yellow submarine!

Inspiring the next generation!

Mini eco warrior chosen to front publicity campaign to encourage more people to pick up litter 

 

Eight year old Jack Bowes who attends Southdown Junior School in Sussex saw his school get overrun by giant inflatable marine creatures thanks to MCS and their school workshop. Here, Jack learned all about the impacts of marine litter to these creatures and was so inspired that he has taken to cleaning up the local beach himself.

He cleared 3 sacks of litter from the beach single handedly, and found quite a few unusual items including an assortment of footwear! Flipflops, shoes, socks, gloves, bottles, cans, fishing litter... all manner of things were collected. But Jack's work is not finished, he plans to return with classmates to help him clear the rest of the litter as soon as possible.

Not only was Jack moved by the workshop, he is an inspiration to others too. As a result of his hard work, he has been chosen to be the face of the Planet Whales Campaign on the lead up to Whalefest 2012 this weekend.

Inspiring the next generation is what the Cool Seas Roadshow is all about, and Sea Champions can really help by promoting the roadshow with primary schools in your area. Email Coolseasroadshow@mcsuk.org for more information. 

Mini eco warrior Jack cleans up Newhaven beach

 

Bexhill Beach Clean!

Family beach clean and education morning a great success

Sea Champions in South and South East England got to grips with a beach clean with the Bexhill Environmental Group (BEG) and Sussex Wildlife Trust - over sixty adults and children were there for the family event making it a great opportunity to teach the next generation all about the problems associated with beach litter.

BEG chairman, Michael Bernard, said, “Our event was a tremendous success and we are absolutely delighted. It was great to see so many children. The Raksha Cubs and pupils from St Richard’s were there in numbers and really enjoyed the whole thing.

If you'd like to get involved in a beach clean in your area this autumn, or even become a Beachwatch Organiser yourself, click here for more information.

 

 



Sea Champion Volunteer Coordinator Ed talks about the impacts of beach litter 

 

Beachwatch goes subaqua!

SCUBA diving Sea Champions found out just how much litter lies beneath the waves.

Dive clubs, divers and snorkellers took part in a litter clean-up… underwater!

Sea Champion Volunteer Coordinator for Wales, Rebecca O'Dowd, organised an underwater clean-up in collaboration with the Swansea Yacht and Sub Aqua Club as part of BSAC's Underwater Litterpick 2012.

Whilst SCUBA divers collected and surveyed litter underwater at Langland and Swansea Bay, volunteers who wanted to remain dry undertook a clean-up and survey of the litter on the beach.

Both the underwater and beach survey results will contribute to the Beachwatch summary report. By finding out where the litter comes from on UK beaches, we can run targeted litter campaigns to influence policy makers and change peoples’ behaviour to try to stop it getting there in the first place. 

"It was great fun! We were surprised that there wasn’t much litter on the sea bed but we did find quite a lot of fishing line and weights. It was a great activity to be involved with and we look forward to supporting MCS in other activities in the future” says Sea Champion Paul Nusinov from Swansea.

The BSAC Underwater Litterpick 2012 was timed to coincide with our annual Beachwatch Big Weekend, and will be running until the end of October so there is still chance to take part.

For more information and to register for the BSAC Underwater Litterpick 2012 go to www.bsac.com/litterpick or call 0500 947202. Don't forget to let you're coordinator know if you are keen to take part!

If you don't fancy getting wet but would like to get involved with Beachwatch, click here.

Sea Champion Paul Nusinov gets ready for the underwater clean-up!

Runners needed for the Brighton Marathon!

The MCS Brighton Marathon team had a great time this year and the runners raised nearly £6,000 in total! We have six places available for 2013 and it would be fantastic to have you join our team for the 30th Anniversary of the Marine Conservation Society! 

As an MCS runner you will receive an exclusive running t-shirt or vest, lots of fundraising support and a huge cheer from the MCS cheer points!  Find out more and apply for a charity place today

If you have applied for a ballot place and would like to join the MCS Marathon team, please get in touch with Tori Williams (fundraising@mcsuk.org).

The deadline for applications is Sunday 14th October and all the information (including the application form) can be found here.

Sea Champions have been running for us too! Katie Macer-Wright ran the Forest of Dean Half Marathon raising £571 for marine conservation. Thanks Katie!



Sea Champion Katie Macer-Wright running the Forest of Dean Half Marathon



Sea Champions hit 100!

 

100 Sea Champions are now representing MCS in their communities!

 

From Falmouth to Hastings, Swansea to Bangor and Edinburgh all the way up to Sutherland, our team of a hundred Sea Champions are out there raising a voice for our seas.

 

Sea Champions have been instrumental in gathering support for our campaigns, encouraging thousands of people to pledge for marine protection, getting public support for "Break the Bag Habit", and asking organisations to say 'No!' to balloon and lantern releases.

 

Some Sea Champions have been trained as Seasearch divers, have taken part in Beachwatch surveys and have got involved in marine wildlife reporting across the UK.

 

From dive shows, wildlife festivals and sustainable seafood events, to school assemblies, talks for SCUBA clubs and even co-hosting wildlife cruises with RSPB, you name it, Sea Champions have been there getting the public involved, engaging the next generation, and signing up new volunteers all over the UK.

 

Sea Champions have made a fantastic start to getting the MCS message out into their communities!

 

Whether you are retired, a student or a professional, anybody can get involved. Our Sea Champion recruitment goes on so do get in touch with the Volunteer Coordinator for your area to find out how, or visit www.mcsuk.org/seachampions.

 

 

Busy with beach art at St. Bees!

Beach lovers at St. Bees created a sand menagerie of marine wildlife to highlight just how amazing our seas are!

Sea Champion and MCS Trustee Kay Foster manned an MCS stand at the Wildlife Trust's Beached Art event to help spread the message about marine conservation.

From basking sharks, starfish, and minke whales to cuttlefish and turtle hatchlings, there were some truely amazing entries into the beach art competition. 

Kay focused on promoting our turtle projects by helping children make turtle hatchlings out of old egg boxes!  Hands on activities like this are a great way to engage familes allowing you to talk about what's out there and what anyone can do to help protect it. 

If you'd like to run this activity at an event near you, download our activity sheet.  



Turtle hatchlings on the beach at St. Bees!