On 15th October, I attended the Ocean Conservation APPG to discuss a review of their own and the Surfers Against Sewages’ (SAS) activities this coming year. Surfers Against Sewage is a marine conservation and campaigning charity working alongside the APPG to help protect the oceans, beaches and their wildlife.
The discussion aimed to organise the SAS’ biggest ever Autumn Beach and River Clean, which has more than 460 locations across the UK. This is running from 20th – 28th October and will be led by over 20,000 volunteers. You can join your nearest Beach or River Clean by visiting www.sas.org.uk/region/north-west/
This year, SAS will be collecting data from the Autumn Beach and River Cleans of beverage containers, litter materials and sizes as evidence to bring to the Government. Furthermore, SAS are putting pressure on the Treasury to avoid the endorsement of single use of plastics in the upcoming Budget.
There was also improved awareness for classifying the release of balloons and lanterns as littering, which would allow fines. Furthermore, the group aims to set and enforce targets for the government to aim to reduce plastic packaging produced and used as well as to increase the amount being recycled.
The name change from ‘Protect our Waves APPG’ to ‘Ocean Conservation APPG’ was also agreed as more reflective of the groups aims as the ‘voice of the ocean in Westminster’.
Please support this inspiring initiative by attending one of the Beach or River Cleans. You can find out more about what the SAS and Ocean Conservation APPG do by visiting https://www.sas.org.uk/
Barry Sheerman 