It’s safe to say that summer is once again in full swing.
And right in time to celebrate yet another of Mother Nature’s jewels – seas and oceans – with the special event known as National Marine Week.
Our planet doesn’t really get any holiday, so with all the fun we tend to have during summer, it’s also important to keep one thing in mind – it’s awareness.
And that’s exactly what this special event was designed to do.
In a way, it inspired our own line of products – natural bathroom mats and eco towels were both created with marine conservation in mind.
Marine Week
Let’s start with a little backstory and some context. The first surprise is that Marine Week doesn’t actually last a week but over two weeks. The idea is to promote awareness, help understand the importance and role of the oceans in our ecosystem, and give an actionable plan to take some pressure off the marine environments.
It involves a series of special events, initiatives, and activities that anybody who wants to volunteer their time can join.
Wildlife Trusts started all of this back in the early 1970s in the UK. This charity has a long-standing tradition of environmental protection through various initiatives, ideas, and events, dating back to 1912.
This is when the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts was founded. It’s actually a whole federation of charities – 47 in total, with a joint name of the Wildlife Trusts.
Conservation is at the very heart of their activities, and as a maritime nation, all things marine have always been very important to the people of the United Kingdom. That’s why they wanted to educate the public about issues related to this life and livelihood-giving force. And it has to deal with a lot – overfishing, pollution, habitat destruction.
Years went by, and what started off as a small awareness campaign blossomed into a nationwide event – still informative but we all know that actions speak louder than words. That’s why with these expansions, they started organising actual events for people who were willing to volunteer and participate.
Fast forward to today, and it’s a fun celebration that both educates and has a real impact.
When is Marine Week?
This year it actually starts (or rather already started) on the 27th of July and ends on the 11th of August, so we’re already well in the festivities. But it doesn’t mean it’s too late to learn a bit more about this whole initiative.
The theme is “Sea the Connection” and the main idea is to understand how an island nation such as ourselves depends and has always depended on surrounding seas as well as the ocean. When they’re healthy – so are we.
What's on the Menu This Year?
Marine Week is a great chance to hear some truly inspiring stories from people who have lived their lives at sea, and perhaps, grow to appreciate their beauty.
You can also learn about things you can do to help – whether you live near the coast or not. It’s always about small things.
You can join special events, just find the closest Wildlife Trust your location, and sign up for:
- Beach cleanups,
- Seashore safaris and picnics,
- Sea-themed art workshops,
- Educational workshops,
- Guided tours and walks,
- And more!
If you’d like to find an event near you, see the programme, join or learn more, or perhaps share a story of your own personal connection to the sea, here’s a full schedule of Marine Week events.
Ocean Impact
You can learn a ton just by participating in a single event, but we have to explain what the big deal is. And in case you’re wondering – it is indeed a big deal.
Apart from the fact that water takes up about 70% of the earth's surface, and there’s still so much we don’t know about the great depths of seas and oceans, they’re home to our stunning coral reefs, countless plants, fish, and other living creatures.
But let’s look at our own backyard – wherever you are in the UK, you’re basically never more than around 70 miles from the sea, home to more than half of our wildlife, with over 30,000 species. That alone is a good enough reason to help protect it.
Nevertheless, the implications are much more serious. What’s the worst that can happen? As it turns out, it may get pretty bad, to say the least. Because we need healthy oceans and seas to survive.
Earth's Lungs & Climate Regulation
This is something we often forget about, and the data clearly indicates the crucial role oceans have in both aspects:
- They absorb 25% of all carbon emissions, helping to reduce pollution from non-renewable industries;
- Generate 50% of the oxygen we need to survive, so it’s basically acting as our planet’s lungs;
- They absorb more than 90% of the excess heat in the climate system, helping to regulate temperatures on land.
Full Plate
As we know, there are plenty of various species living in the oceans – and we need them to survive. Oceans quite literally feed us:
- 15% of all animal protein we consume on a global scale comes from the oceans;
- For less developed countries, seafood is a primary source of protein and food in general, providing them with much-needed food security.
Backbone of the Global Economy
Yes, that’s true – it helps sustain the overall global balance, and we depend on it whether we know it or not. It’s not just the coastal communities, although they are definitely affected more:
- The ocean is a major driver of global economic growth, valued at $3 trillion annually, or 5% of the global GDP.
- Coastal and marine resources attract foreign investments and support industry growth, especially in developing countries.
- Coastal tourism accounts for 80% of all tourism and grows by $134 billion annually.
What Are We Up Against?
The value is clear, but what about the issues? What’s happening to our oceans and seas specifically? It’s a very complex matter, but we’ll just keep it very brief:
-
Plastic pollution - about 8 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year, harming marine wildlife. Reducing plastic use, recycling more and avoiding single use plastics can help prevent this massive problem.
- Overfishing depletes fish populations in some areas, upsetting the balance of marine ecosystems and ocean habitats. We need sustainable fishing practices to ensure fish stocks can recover and thrive - over 10 million tons of fish go to waste annually.
- Climate change is warming ocean waters, leading to severe coral bleaching and disrupting marine habitats, which according to estimates, generates around $12 billion annually in total for tourism across the world. Cutting carbon emissions is crucial to protect these vital ecosystems and to try and halt ocean warming in its tracks.
Misona Pledge
This inspired us to create and supply products that answer Mother Nature’s call. Products that are as stylish as they are sustainable.
Our line of organic towels is made from GOTS-certified 100% organic cotton of the highest quality, while our flagship diatomite bath mat uses the incredible properties of naturally occurring and sustainable rock, known as diatomaceous earth.
But we’re committed to ocean conservation, reducing plastic waste, and protecting marine life in more ways than one. This is exactly why we partnered with CleanHub – to help their efforts in restoring the balance and tackling the growing issue of plastic pollution.
This means that every order you place equals 1 lb of plastic less in our oceans.
So far, through collective efforts, they’ve managed to collect over 6,000,000 kgs of plastic waste from the world's oceans, improving the marine environment.
A sustainable future - it’s a fight worth fighting.
