In the first of a series of occasional reports, SCUBA introduces Katherine Knight, Chair of BSAC’ s Environment Committee
ENVIRONMENT
Dive in- litter out
In the first of a series of occasional reports, SCUBA introduces Katherine Knight, Chair of BSAC’ s Environment Committee
You let us know that the mission to remove plastic from our seas is the number one way that you would like to help the ocean on your dives. The statistics on ocean plastics are shocking; 100,000 marine animals killed every year by entanglement. Baby turtles with plastic in their stomachs.
This isn’ t simply an overseas problem, Britain contributes an estimated 1.7 million tons of plastic annually, with each mile of UK beaches strewn with an average of 5,000 pieces of plastic. We have the skills to be part of the solution, removing and recording underwater litter as well as beach cleaning our favourite dive sites. It is an ambitious target, but together I believe we can remove more than 1 million pieces of litter.
Some say that if it doesn’ t go online, it doesn’ t count. I’ m not sure I agree with this for every aspect of life, but for litter picking the more we can show and celebrate positive action the better. To support and showcase your litter removal efforts, we are currently developing a litter logging system and interactive map. The map will showcase litter picks and log each club’ s contribution. There will even be prizes for the most active clubs! So do watch this space, as we hope to launch the interactive map by the end of the year.
Rather than simply collecting litter and
BSAC volunteers collecting seagrass seeds
Surveying seagrass
leaving it in a pile on the beach, burning it or sending it to landfill, we are also developing partnerships to enable the litter that you collect to be recycled into ocean-related products such as fins, kayaks and paddle boards. Ultimately we want a circular solution that removes litter from the ocean, provides a second life for marine plastics, and reduces the amount of new plastic. Imagine going on a dive with fins made from plastic removed from the ocean by divers like you.
Welcoming Katherine
“ I am delighted that we have Katherine Knight as our Chair for the Environmental Committee. We are all fully supportive of Katherine as she drives all of this work forward and engages with members and our clubs encouraging participation. Creating a role in clubs for Marine Champions is a great idea and will help us to move faster.” BSAC CEO Mary Tetley
How to get involved
Crucial to protecting our underwater world is understanding it. This is where you will be able to use your diving skills for science. I got hooked on citizen science when I photographed a nudibranch which was thought to be extinct in the area. I love the fact that underwater you truly are making new discoveries.
Starting with two of BSAC’ s flagship citizen science projects, Operation Oyster and the Great Seagrass Survey, we are encouraging clubs to get involved by completing their own surveys. These projects in particular have been chosen because both species are declining, and scientists need the valuable information that you can collect in order to save what is left.
Data can be collected by divers, snorkellers and even on the beach, meaning that anyone can get involved. Find out more about these two important survey initiatives at bsac. com / protectourseas Key to enabling as many people as possible to get involved will be our band of Marine Champions. These volunteers will be the environmental movers and shakers within their clubs, getting folks together and making environmental initiatives happen. The diving itself will still be led by the Diving Officers, but the Marine Champions will help organise surveys and litter picks, log your results and share stories of your activities. Could you be a Marine Champion? Go to bsac. com / marinechampions for information on how to apply.
This feels like casting off on an exciting voyage. I am looking forward to seeing how things develop and hearing about your experiences diving with a purpose. I do know that now is a fantastic time for the diving community to focus their skills and passion on saving the ocean, and that by taking action together we have the power to make meaningful change. So, let’ s dive in, and make a difference.
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