The Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE), a UK-registered charity dedicated to tackling the acute problem of over-fishing in the world’s oceans, is today announced as the official race charity of The Transat, 2016.
The charity was set up in 2010 by some of the team behind the award-winning film “The End of The Line” that dramatically set out the crisis facing the world’s oceans. BLUE’s goal is to achieve protected status for at least 10% of the world’s oceans by 2020, with an ultimate goal of 30%, by establishing marine reserves and practical models of sustainable fishing.
Clare Brook, chief executive officer of BLUE, views the race as a perfect vehicle to highlight the work the team at BLUE is doing. “Sailors and marine conservationists have something in common: we both have huge love and respect for the sea,” she said. “We understand its power, but we also understand that it is not a limitless resource.
“We at Blue Marine are thrilled to be named as official charity of The Transat because we hope that the very people who care most about the ocean will learn about the work Blue Marine is doing to protect it.
“The Atlantic is facing the same problems as the rest of the world’s oceans: we’ve become too good at fishing,” she added. “Technology is so advanced now that fishers can track down the very last fish. One of the best ways to reverse the decline is by placing large tracts of ocean under protection from the ravages of over-fishing.”
BLUE is currently focusing its work in the Atlantic on a protected zone in the waters around Ascension Island, which have extraordinary biodiversity. On January 3rd this year, BLUE was delighted to announce that the UK government had declared a “no-take zone” almost the size of the UK around Ascension. But the charity is also working to encourage the British government to protect more of its overseas territories elsewhere in the Atlantic, including around Bermuda, St Helena and Tristan da Cunha.
Hervé Favre, Event Director for The Transat, is delighted that BLUE is coming on board for the race. “The Transat crosses some of the oldest fishing grounds in the world and, as sailors, we know just how fragile these ecosystems are. Having BLUE alongside us can help to raise awareness of the crisis facing the world’s oceans,” he said.
BLUE’s relationship with The Transat builds on its wider partnership with race organisers OC Sport. The company, which owns and organises a portfolio of professional sailing and amateur running and cycling events, has entered into a partnership with BLUE across all its events.
