world water day 2012 – PROTECT WHAT YOU LOVE
PARTNERS
Two-thirds of our planet is covered by ocean. It is what makes us who we are and what gives us so much joy. We aim to address like-minded people, who are awake and aware of the inmense value of our oceans and are deeply connected to surfing but also have a thirst for style and substance. More than just another green label we like to think of TWOTHIRDS as the blue company.
Our leitmotif: PROTECT WHAT YOU LOVE.
Bottom trawling, a destructive fishing method that pulverizes coral and sea floor, has been banned in Belizean waters. The destructive fishing gear is notorious for the amount of bycatch they haul in. Thousands of sea turtles, marine mammals and unwanted fish are caught in trawlers around the world every year.
A special victim of this fishing method has been the Belize Barrier Reef, which is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the second largest coral reef system in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
With this ban, Belize becomes one of the first countries in the world to institute a complete permanent ban on trawling in all its waters. A historic milestone for Belizean fishermen and the environmental community. Protect what you love!
What a way to end this week!
In a huge victory this morning for Chile’s marine health and Oceana, Chile’s president announced the creation of Sala y Gómez Marine Park, a no-take marine reserve of 150,000 square kilometers around Sala y Gómez island.
Sala y Gómez is an uninhabited island that’s part of a biodiverse chain of seamounts that are vulnerable to fishing activity. It has been described by specialists as “one of the last undisturbed and relatively pristine places left in the ocean.”
Thanks Oceana and Viva Chile!
© Oceana/Carlos Suarez
Our partner Oceana has appointed another victory on their mission to protect and preserve our oceans! Their intense campaigning has lead to the announcement that Turkey will stop using the destructive fishing gear next year.
Oceana estimates that more than 500 vessels have been operating illegally in the Mediterranean, some with nets up to 12 miles long! It’s estimated that thousands of creatures, including whales, dolphins, sharks and sea turtles, are trapped by the indiscriminate fishing gear each year.
Oceana is calling for a driftnet-free Mediterranean by 2013 — and this is another step in that direction
Thank you Turkey!
Our cooperation partner Oceana announced the start of the 2010 Expedition. A team of marine scientists, some of the most passionate people we’ve ever come accross, are on board of the Oceana Ranger with the mission of finding data that helps us protect marine species and habitats.
We wish them all the luck!
