By Minimal Wanders. The notion that plastic bottles can take up to 1000 years to completely degrade shouldn’t be news by now. Not only that, but bottles made from PET will never actually biodegrade. Over time, they decompose into smaller particles called microplastics, which are even more problematic for our ocean and aquatic life than…
3 steps to make your trip to the Azores more sustainable – even in times of COVID-19
Worldwide, as tourism industries continue to struggle during COVID-19 restrictions, coastal communities that are reliant on tourism are particularly affected by the crisis. That is also the case on the Azores Islands, the Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, located about 1,500 km west from Lisbon. Sustainability Change Maker Carolina Mendonça from the Azores…
The Important Link Between Industry and Conservation – The Firth of Forth Lobster Hatchery
By Duncan MacDougall. Too often, well-meaning conservation efforts conflict with local industry. There are many conservation projects which inadvertently involve trying to undermine huge swathes of local economies without considering the consequences of such reckless behaviour. Of course, successful conservation projects must have local people on their side. So, how can seemingly conflicting interests, conservation…
Aljoscha Wothke, CEO of the Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville (ERIC), on marine conservation in Trinidad and Tobago, COVID 19 and more
By Robyn Thomson. Based in the rural fishing village, Charlotteville, Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville (ERIC) is an organisation dedicated to promoting sustainability for the people and ecosystems around North East Tobago. Their mission is “to value and integrate diverse knowledge and experience to manifest a mutually beneficial relationship between the coastal communities and ecosystems of…
An Homage to Female Passion and Power in Ocean Conservation – The Sirene Project
By Leoni Dickerhoff. “Although women began to join oceanographic expeditions in the 60’s and female representation in academic research has increased since then, the ratio of women to men at higher ranks in ocean science still lags. New results revealed that female scientists make up for on average 38% of the researchers in ocean science,…
Interview with Sharon Livermore, International Fund for Animal Welfare
By Hannah Schartmann. A warm welcome and thank you very much for the interview. Can you tell me a bit more about you? What is your background? Thank you for the invitation to be interviewed! Ever since I was a small child, I’ve had a strong passion for animals and conservation, and a deep connection…
What is it like to live and work in the Antarctic?
By Hannah Schartmann. Julia Loftfield is working at the Alfred-Wegner Institute (AWI). Currently, she is overwintering in the Antarctic. The Neumayer Station III is the German Antarctic Research Centre. You are responsible for the air-chemistry observatory at the station. What does a typical day look like for you? Typically I get up around 7 / 7:30…
Sustainability Change Maker Carolina Mendonça about the Azores, Sustainable Tourism, COVID-19 and more
By Nuri Max Steinmann. Hi Carolina! You come from the beautiful Azores. How is the current coronavirus crisis affecting the daily life there? How are you dealing with the situation? Hello Nuri! This virus affected the entire world population, and in the Azores it was no different. Of the 9 islands in the Azores, the…
Luana Jungmann about her NGO CuriOcean educating students in Ireland
Luana Jungmann is a Marine Conservationist and Environmental Educator, who travelled the world to discover different cultures and dealt with a variety of marine conservation topics. Her marine biology and teaching background inspired the creation of a concept that could meet the increasing demand to pass on the information collected by scientists to the public in a pedagogical and…
Interview with Thilo Maack, Oceans Campaigner at Greenpeace Germany
By Hannah Schartmann. Thilo Maack is a graduate biologist with a focus on marine biology. Since 1999, he has been working for Greenpeace, primarily on fisheries and whale protection campaigns. On several occasions, he led the Greenpeace delegation to the meeting of the International Whaling Commission and represents Greenpeace in fisheries-related political forums. A warm…
