To mark United Nations World Oceans Day on Tuesday 8th June, SEA LIFE London Aquarium has today unveiled its most shocking display to date which brings to life the truly horrific states our oceans are currently in.
Created by SEA LIFE London Aquarium’s team of expert Aquarists, the 15,000 litre tank has been filled with fishing nets and waste plastic to raise awareness of the disastrous effects that we as humans are having on our oceans and sea life across the globe. The display also features a number of faux fish to highlight the volume of marine life that are being harmed and often killed due to the pollution found in our oceans.
Oceans make up 70% of our planet and are a vital part of the ecosystems that support all life on Earth, producing 50% of the oxygen we breathe *. However, they are being polluted with lost and abandoned fishing gear, household products, cigarette butts, single-use nappies and plastic bags and bottles. Just one single use plastic bottle takes a staggering 450 years to fully decompose.**
It is believed that around 10% of plastic in our oceans is abandoned fishing gear, making it the most dangerous plastic polluter and indiscriminately continues to catch marine animals once left in the marine environment. Plastic bags can be confused by turtles with jellyfish which leads to choking and often death***. It is also estimated that just under two thirds of all seabird species have eaten pieces of plastic, with that number predicted to increase to 99% by 2050.****
Catherine Pritchard, General Manager at SEA LIFE London Aquarium said, “Whilst the stats are truly shocking, they unfortunately aren’t surprising. You only need to head to your local beach or river to see the amount of plastic that has been left behind and which washes up on our shores.
“At SEA LIFE London Aquarium, we are proud to be supporting United Nations World Oceans Day. We hope that through our exhibit we’re able to highlight and raise awareness of the dangers plastics are having on our oceans and sea life and encourage everyone to take care when visiting these places of beauty.”
World Ocean Day has been celebrated by the UN annually for more than 20 years. The aim of the international day is to inform the public of the impact of human actions on the ocean and mobilise the world’s population to play an active role in the protection and sustainable use of marine resources. This year’s theme is The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods and will focus specifically on the ways the oceans support humanity and every other organism on Earth.
To help raise further awareness of plastic pollution in our oceans, SEA LIFE London Aquarium has partnered with CBeebies’ Octonauts to create an immersive trail through the Aquarium that takes families on a journey filled with the ocean’s most weird and wonderful activities. Visitors can take part in the trail from 12th June – 11th July.
SEA LIFE London Aquarium joins other SEA LIFE attractions across the UK and Ireland in marking World Ocean Day, with similar displays in Birmingham, Manchester, Loch Lomond and Bray.
