ENGAGING THE NEXT GENERATION THROUGH MARINE EDUCATION


As an island, conservation issues affect us directly. Overfishing, agriculture lifestyles, population growth and pollution pose ever-increasing threats to our sea creatures and their habitats. Children of the future will experience a substantially different environment from today’s.


By Kevin McIlwee, Chairman, Jersey Marine Conservation.


Weather will be more extreme caused by the accelerating effects of climate change. Oceans, contaminated by plastics, will have diminished ability to hold harmful greenhouse gasses. About 8 million metric tonnes of plastic are thrown into the ocean annually, according to a 2015 study in Science magazine. Scientists at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation predict that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the oceans than there are fish (by weight).


For Butterfield, Jersey’s newest bank, marine conservation is a central focus. With the majority of Butterfield’s offices situated in island jurisdictions, the ocean forms an important part of daily life in their communities. Jersey is no exception and as such, they are dedicated to assisting with the preservation and improvement of island and maritime eco-systems and supporting the community we call home.


Butterfield recognise that children and adults don’t always interact directly with the marine environment, despite its proximity,


Page 24 Beyond 20/20 - Philanthropy


Jersey. At that time, the island had little evidence to support marine protection proposals; certainly nothing that would stand up to scientific scrutiny.


Since then, Jersey Marine Conservation has gone from strength to strength. As well as completing marine surveys, with support from Butterfield, we have been educating the next generation of environmentalists through the use of their revolutionary Butterfield Marine Watch Touch Tank.


and are seeking to address this by partnering with us at Jersey Marine Conservation to create programmes that educate and engage our community.


Conservation not conversation Jersey Marine Conservation formed in 2011 and our first Sea Search Recruits undertook the challenge of establishing a data set of marine habitats and species in


The Touch Tank educates islanders about the importance of healthy marine habitats and their decline, which involves learning about marine animal behaviour through an exciting and tactile learning opportunity. The Touch Tank is an innovative tool, which provides an interactive learning experience for children and adults alike, and opens up conversations around reusing, recycling and reduction.


Mobile Mother Nature The eco-system in a touch tank is as close


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100