We are so excited to tell you about a major victory that our supporters helped achieve. Yesterday at the UN Ocean Conference, the Colombian government announced it will create four new official marine reserves, including one expanding the fully protected Malpelo Sanctuary of Fauna and Flora. Colombia will now surpass the goal of protecting 30% of its waters eight years before the 2030 deadline! The initiative to protect 30% of the global ocean by the year 2030, referred to as 30x30, is a target that scientists have indicated is necessary in order to prevent irreversible loss of marine life. A huge thank you to everyone who made their voice heard on the petition to protect the Eastern Tropical Pacific marine corridor. And, of course, this win would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Colombia’s environmental, fishing, and maritime authorities, along with scientists, the private fishing sector, nonprofits, and the people of Colombia. With this remarkable action, Colombia will strengthen local fisheries, sustainable livelihoods, and the protection of marine biodiversity in its native waters and throughout the Eastern Tropical Pacific marine corridor. If you’d like to move another campaign to create sanctuaries close to victory, consider adding your name to the brand-new petition to expand the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument 🌎 ⛵️
Positive news
Back in 2018, more than 50,000 metric tons of sewage-smelling sargassum seaweed overran the coast of Mexico, reportedly stemming from high levels of nitrogen in the sea — the result of agricultural runoff and deforestation. Instead of focusing only on a shoreline in crisis, local gardener Omar de Jesús Vazquez Sánchez saw the opportunity for an innovative solution, grinding fine, dried sargassum into resilient construction bricks, or “sargablocks”. Since 2014, over 40 homes have been built with these bricks! 🧱 | Source: Insider Business
