CORNWALL JOINS #PROTECTOURBEDS

to the #ProtectOurBeds campaign run by Cornwallbased not-for-profit Clean Sailors, the Ocean Conservation Trust and boating navigation app avvy navvy.

Cornwall has become the first county to contribute data to global seagrass initiative, #ProtectOurBeds, a campaign digitally mapping sensitive seabed locations for marine users in the savvy navvy app.

Cornwall Council, Cornwall Wildlife Trust and LIFE Recreation ReMEDIES are among three major contributors

READER COMMENT:

“I can remember reading an account of a scientist discovering microplastics in the sand of every beach he visited over a nine month voyage a decade ago. He surmised that microplastics were entering the food chain from simple organisms living in the sand and being eaten by creatures inhabiting this environment. It is obvious from The Ocean Race (All at Sea July 2023) that the world’s oceans are polluted with microplastics to the same extent as particulates permeate our urban environments polluting the very air we breathe. What the long-term effect on marine life breathing and filtering these microplastics through their gills will be does not bare thinking about. As for these microplastics being stored in the flesh of the fish, shellfish and molluscs we consume can only be a growing long-term concern...

James Robert-Poulain

As reported last month, microplastics were found in every sample of water taken during The Ocean Race. It is very concerning that we are finding microplastics even in the most remote regions of the ocean. Share your thoughts too… editor@allatsea.co.uk

In the last two years, one of the largest seagrass beds in the UK, home to seahorses, pipefish and scallops, has been identified off the south coast of Cornwall in St Austell Bay, with other significant beds in the Fal and Helford and Mounts Bay areas.

Holly Manvell, founder of Clean Sailors, said: “There is lots of work already going on in Cornish waters to protect sensitive seabeds, so we are very proud to have Cornwall recognise the importance of our campaign and share key data with #ProtectOurBeds. Falmouth, too, was one of the first Town Councils to declare a Motion for the Ocean, committing to put the ecological health of our sea central to decision-making.

“It is a natural extension of our county’s oceanmindedness, and we look forward to inspiring marine-users across key boating areas, such as Falmouth and the Helford, as conservationists as well as water-users.”

#ProtectOurBeds

Seagrass Markers

Renewable energy company Ørsted and marine charity Ocean Conservation Trust have joined forces on an innovative scheme to help people avoid damaging precious seagrass meadows.

The Blue Meadows marker buoy initiative aims to address a principal problem of seagrass conservation –identifying the location of seagrass beds to swimmers, fishers and others using the water. The scheme will also raise awareness with as many people as possible about the existence and importance of seagrass.

Seagrass is a valuable solution to climate change, due to its huge