A Greenpeace volunteer in front of an Icelandic whaler
Commercial whaling during the last century decimated most of the world's whale populations. Estimates suggest that between 1925, when the first whaling factory ship was introduced, and 1975, more than 1.5 million whales were killed in total.
Most fishing gear is not selective. This means that as well as the 'target' species of fish it catches, any number of 'non-target' species may also be hauled in. This 'incidental' catch of other species is referred to as 'bycatch'.
Globally, it's estimated that a quarter of what is caught is wasted - thrown back into the sea dead because it has no commercial value. Fishing quotas mean that fishermen targeting a particular species or size of fish will throw back any 'non-target' or 'too small' fish that they catch.
The oceans and their inhabitants will be irreversibly affected by the impacts of climate change, which include higher sea temperatures, rising sea levels, and changing currents.
The sea temperature has already increased and it will continue to rise. Scientists are beginning to predict that the world's coral reefs, which are showing signs of bleaching, have no chance of surviving the change.
Many marine ecologists think that the biggest single threat to marine ecosystems today is overfishing. Our appetite for fish is exceeding the oceans' ecological limits with devastating impacts - and there is now estimated to be four times more global fishing capacity than there are fish left to catch.
Video: Stephen Appelby imagines the fate of the oceans without marine reserves
Greenpeace blocking heavy metal pollution into the Irish Sea
Chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides, industrial compounds (including PCBs) and other toxins pollute the oceans via a direct result of a range of human activities. Once released, pollutants accumulate in the marine food chain.
Greenpeace today expressed strong support for Islington MP Emily Thornberry, one of very few MPs prepared to stand up for our seas. An Islington Tribune article supports some bizarre accusations, made on separate occasions by the SNP and Liberal Democrats, following a speech by Ms Thornberry at the Commons fisheries debate last year, that because Islington is not by the sea, she has no right to defend our oceans.
Posted by jossc — 9 January 2007 at 1:38pm
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Ace underwater photographer and videographer Gavin Newman has been a regular guest onboard our ship the Esperanza as it travelled the globe in 2006 "Defending Our Oceans ". Gavin has put together some of his favorite images and talks about his experiences over the last year in this flash piece: From behind the lens: Defending Our Oceans in 2006.
Posted by jossc — 18 December 2006 at 9:00am
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On Monday we staged a 'funeral' for the 'last cod' at the Defra (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) office in Westminster. This was to coincide with the EU Environment Council meeting where our minister Ben Bradshaw, together with his European counterparts, was again failing to protect our oceans.
Steer the Greenpeace inflatable boat around the seas and intercept the dangerous harpoons from the whaling ship. To make the whaling ship stop whaling, you must try and get your activists on board the whaling ship. Good luck!
On land, the UK contains 14 national parks but none in the surrounding seas. We have identified seven marine reserves in the North Sea - find out more about these proposed areas and some of its inhabitants with this interactive map.
