Remember that saying about time and time waiting for nobody? The meaning of it, of course, is that we all need to remember that we can’t stop the passage of time. It is the humbling reminder that the world will carry on, and we have no influence. Well, to some extent, that is no longer true, because we, the human race, can affect the world around us in ways never before thought possible. While we may not be able to change the tides yet, we can have a positive, or sadly, a negative, effect on the amazing creatures that live in the sea.
As you probably know, SEA LIFE Trust works to preserve our oceans. They do this with animal sanctuaries, project funding and conservation campaigns, and it’s important to Octopaye that we raise awareness of their work. If we are to make efforts to reverse some of the damage being done to our planet, we need to act, and the team at SEA LIFE Trust are dedicated to protecting our oceans and amazing marine life now and for the future. SEA LIFE Trust works tirelessly at this monumental task, and here are just a couple of the things they are involved in.
The Plastic Pollution Problem
I am sure we are all aware of the problems plastic can cause in our seas. The numbers around the problem are staggering. To give you an idea how big the problem actually is – annually, it is estimated that 8 million tons of plastic waste end up in the ocean each year, and it’s almost impossible to imagine what that looks like! It’s no wonder we are seeing phenomena like the so-called trash vortexes – giant, swirling collections of plastic gathering in our oceans, and the largest of them is now considered to be twice the size of Texas.
Staggering though the scope of that is, the small things cause problems as well. Plastic, unlike some pollutants, breaks down to microscopic levels, and then, rather than being dispersed, it is eaten by plankton and filter feeders. These microplastics have often absorbed dangerous levels of chemicals. The tiny creatures that feed on them form part of the food chain, and soon those dangerous chemicals are passed up the chain ultimately reaching even sharks and whales.
For us, though, the most startling part of this is where this plastic all comes from. The answer is that around 80% of it comes directly from, well, you and me. The vast majority of plastic in the oceans is there due to being carried into the sea from the shore. The SEA LIFE Trust works to send a simple message that if we do simple things (see the link below), we can all do a little bit to help alleviate this giant problem. Small things may not seem much, but when added together, they have a huge impact.
Seals in Cornwall
Not all the SEA LIFE Trust’s work is tackling global issues though. They also operate sanctuaries and smaller activities globally. The Cornish Seal Sanctuary is based in Gweek, near Truro, and every year, they rescue abandoned, sick and injured seals. Many are treated and then rehabilitated into the sea. Some also remain as permanent guests. The centre is open to visitors and is well worth a visit to not only see the work the SEA LIFE Trust do there, but also spend some time with these wonderful, intelligent creatures. Tickets cost just a few pounds but if you want the ultimate experience, try having breakfast with the seals.
When you read these two examples of the work they do, there is no need to explain further why we chose to support SEA LIFE Trust as our charity of choice. The environment is important to us. In fact, one of the most compelling reasons for using a cloud-based system is that it reduces your carbon footprint.
SEA LIFE Trust deserves a lot more recognition, and we are proud to support them… Besides which Ollie, the Octopaye Octopus wouldn’t have us support anything else.
How to help reduce plastic litter
https://www.sealifetrust.org/en/what-we-do/reduce-plastic-litter/
Cornish seal sanctuary
https://sealsanctuary.sealifetrust.org/en/about-the-sanctuary/
