Source: FishNewsEU
The Postcode Lottery has launched a new £6.1m funding initiative, Project Oceans, aimed at increasing consumer awareness about the challenges the oceans are facing, and to support the work of organisations that focus on protection of the oceans and sustainable seafood solutions.
Among the beneficiaries of the project are the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), WWF and Greenpeace.
The MSC said the support will significantly enhance its operations in three key areas:
· Increasing outreach to tuna fisheries in the Western and Central Pacific where more than half of the world’s tuna catch originates;
· Supporting MSC’s operations in China where there are already more than 120 companies certified to process MSC-certified seafood;
· Increasing the number of sustainable seafood promotions the MSC carries out jointly with seafood brands and retailers to improve public awareness.
WWF said the funding would help it to make an extra effort in its fight to protect bluefin tuna and marine turtles, while Greenpeace will use it to further its efforts to expose illegal or destructive fishing, as well as promoting its bid to establish a global network of marine reserves.
As part of the initiative, Postcode Lottery have created a website, where competitions and other activities will be used to engage the public, generate interest in the oceans, and explain how visitors to the site can make a difference.
Project Oceans has also begun work on the creation of a television documentary, which will be filmed by Mattias Klum.
Mr. Klum is a renowned natural history photographer and film producer whose work has been featured in numerous exhibitions around the world and on the cover of National Geographic magazine.
Rupert Howes, chief executive of the MSC, said: “We are delighted to have received this support from the Postcode Lottery. Not only will the funding enable the acceleration of MSC activity in very critical areas, it will also give a significant boost to the growing levels of consumer awareness around the world.
“It is wonderful to see such a high level of support focused on the world’s oceans and very encouraging to see so much activity highlighting the solutions that enable everyone to take part and make a very real difference.â€
The mission of the Postcode Lotteries in Europe is to raise funds for charities and to increase awareness for their work by organizing lotteries.