WNPS lecture on saving our oceans
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Sophika Kostyniuk
This month’s Wildlife and Nature Protection Society lecture is on ‘Oceans in peril: Plastic pollution and unsustainable fishing practices.’ Presented by Laura Hardman and Sophika Kostyniuk, it will be delivered on March 18 at 7.30 p.m. via Zoom.
Those interested could sign up on:https://forms.gle/rVtfzoZV41UzEGdNA
The High Commission of Canada is pleased to share experts from Ocean Wise – a globally recognized Canadian ocean conservation organization in the WNPS’ monthly lecture series.
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Laura Hardman
The lecture will address two key marine related issues: plastic pollution and unsustainable fishing practices. Plastic has infiltrated every part of our world. Researchers have found plastic just about everywhere they have looked – from deep sea sediment to the surface of the ocean, from coastal shorelines to summits of mountains, and in virtually all species, including zooplankton, fish and whales. More than 800 marine species are known to be negatively affected by plastic pollution, including all sea turtles. It is estimated that plastic pollution will more than double by 2040 if we don’t take action now.
The Plastic Free Oceans initiative focuses on radically reducing plastic production and consumption and stopping the leak of macro and microplastic from land into the oceans. Laura Hardman leads the Plastic Free Oceans initiative at Ocean Wise.
Overfishing is one of the biggest threats facing our oceans today with over one billion people around the globe depending on seafood as their primary source of protein. Roughly 90 per cent of the world’s fish stocks are now fully fished or overfished. Sophika Kostyniuk leads the Ocean Wise Fisheries and Seafood programme, which has been guiding the seafood industry and consumers to choose sustainably harvested seafood since 2005.