10.05.21
Mediterranean crisis
Most of us have been to the Mediterranean at some point in our lives. After all, it is the world’s most popular tourist destination. With crystal clear waters and pristine sandy beaches, it is easy to see why it’s the first choice for tourists.
What travel sites don’t tell us is that the Mediterranean Sea is one of the most polluted bodies of water in the world, at risk of major threats like global warming and overfishing. This may come as a shock to people, but unfortunately, it is the harsh reality that we just don’t see because it is either hidden from the public eye or happening far from the coast.
By far, the worst threat and the driving factor behind local extinctions and marine litter is the commercial fishing industry. Old nets will regularly get discarded out at sea once they are beyond repair, where they will continue to trap and kill marine life for hundreds of years. Since living and travelling around the Mediterranean I have too often heard the same story of how 50 years ago the sea was brimming with marine life. Unless you visit marine protected areas, the sea can now seem barren and devoid of life.
Luckily there are some great organisations out there fighting for the Mediterranean and its creatures. So, for the release of our latest book Life in the Mediterranean Sea, King Cockerel Co have decided to team up with Save the Med foundation, a non-profit charity based in Mallorca. Save the Med are dedicated to protecting the delicate Mediterranean ecosystem and educating the next generation on how to care for our oceans. We are donating £2 of every book order, which will go towards funding important marine research and setting up the vital marine protective zones that act as sanctuaries for life to flourish, undisturbed.
The sea is at the centre of our hearts here at King Cockerel Co and we have many other projects planned for the near future. These will be focused on raising awareness of critical marine issues and ways we can utilise plastic waste pulled from the ocean. Until then, head over to our goods store and pick up Life in the Mediterranean Sea to learn all about the history of our favourite holiday destination and some of its local inhabitants.
Use less plastic and properly recycle what you use.
Only 9% of the plastic we use is actually recycled, the rest ends up in landfill or gets swept out to sea. We understand that it’s not easy to know what can and can’t be recycled and this confusion, unfortunately, leads to ‘wishful recyclers’. These are people that mean well but don’t realise they are doing more harm than good, by trying to recycle the wrong materials or not properly cleaning the material before it gets thrown out. If you want to learn more about recycling, or even want to set up a local recycling business, then check out the Precious Plastic website where you can find out about all the different types of plastics and how to properly recycle them. They also offer free information on how you can turn your waste into a successful business.
Stop eating untraceable seafood or consider quitting fish for good.
This really depends on what’s available to you, as people living in remote or poorer countries may rely on seafood as their only food source. For the rest of the world, there is the luxury of being able to choose what’s on your plate. Most of the fish that is consumed comes from commercial fishing, a destructive industry that not only indiscriminately wipes out species, but also destroys marine habitats. Instead of buying fish from the supermarket, consider visiting your local fishmongers and ask about where and how the fish was caught before buying. The recent documentary Seaspiracy uncovered many of the dark secrets of the commercial fishing industry and director Ali Tabrizi believes that the only way to save the oceans is to stop eating fish altogether. The documentary may be uncomfortable to watch at times, but the fact of the matter is, by turning a blind eye you are allowing these evil practices to continue. Choose to be part of the change, no matter how painful the truth is.
