The Power of Protest: Recent Wins for Ocean Activists

All too often, the news headlines depict a bleak future for our oceans as new studies reveal the extent of the damage plastic pollution is causing whilst others write about the failed international talks surrounding ocean protection. Sometimes it seems like we are putting in so much hard work but not making any headway. Thankfully however, this is not always the case and we have multiple examples of successful protests and campaigns to prove it. Despite what it often feels like, the collective power of individual people working together is truly making a difference for the future our blue planet and here are just a few examples to celebrate the great wins the power of protest has achieved over the last few years.

Whilst it may feel like environmental protests swarmed in popularity during 2018 as thousands joined Greta Thunberg in her strikes for climate change, these rallies actually began on a large scale in the 1970s. The 22nd April 1970 was the first official Earth Day and an astonishing 20 million people gathered together on streets across America to protest after a string of environmental catastrophes, such as the Santa Barbara oil spill and the widespread poisoning of birds with the toxic chemical DDT. This was the first time that environmental issues became important in the vote winning process in congress. Fast forward to the current decade and people are still full of passion for our environment, marching on the streets to tackle our host of modern problems.

One of the most famous recent demonstrations took place in South Africa in December 2021, forming one of the largest post-apartheid protests the country has seen. During the course of the month, thousands of South Africans, including indigenous communities, joined together on the streets and beaches to protest against a global oil company’s plans for seismic surveys off their eastern Wild Coast. This region is one of the least developed in the country and its waters are home to carbon-absorbing kelp forests, multiple species of shark and migrating whales, such as the southern right whale whose population was rescued and rebuilt from the brink of extinction. This area is also incredibly important for indigenous communities, such as the Xhosa, who rely on the ocean not only for their livelihood of fishing but also for their cultural practices which see healers perform rituals out at sea to connect with their ancestors who are seen as guides and protectors.

Their argument was formed around the belief that the government could not make decisions without talking to the people who would be affected and as no consultations had taken place before the licence was granted, this was seen as an unfair and undemocratic move. In their court applications, they also cited that the seismic surveys, which hoped to find oil and gas, would breach their constitutional right to a safe and healthy environment. These fears were well founded as the company had already operated in Nigeria for many years and during this time, been responsible for multiple oil spills which had polluted the local environment, including drinking water sources and soil, leading to human health implications. In addition, these seismic surveys would have had an enormous impact on local marine wildlife. The surveys were due to cover 6,000 square kilometres of ocean and last for 12 months, sending out shockwaves similar to explosions every 10 seconds, 24 hours a day. This has an enormous negative impact on many of our marine species, particularly mammals such as dolphins and whales which use sound to help them navigate, find prey and communicate with each other. If the surveys had been successful in their search for oil and gas, extraction would have then begun, creating even more noise, ocean traffic and seabed destruction as well as carrying the risk of oil leaks and spills. The protests across South Africa grew and even spread to London and Amsterdam where protests were held outside the company’s HQ. Finally, in summer 2022, the South African courts revoked their right to carry out exploratory testing, forming a massive victory for the ocean ecosystem, local communities and environmental organisations. This case is now believed to set an important precedent for any other similar cases which are brought to the courts. One individual working for Greenpeace Africa made this statement: “The decision to protect the Wild Coast is proof that the world is moving into an era of social and environmental justice, where the voices of people are put before the profits of toxic fossil fuel companies”.

This isn’t the only patch of ocean to be successfully protected by the power of protest either. Dogger Bank is a shallow patch of ocean 100 kilometres off the coast England and covers a piece of land that was once known as Doggerland which connected the UK to Europe. Today, the shallow waters are the perfect home for phytoplankton and these microscopic plants create a productive ecosystem which attracts a wide variety of other creatures including basking sharks, puffins, seahorses and even the oddly named fried egg sea slug. The high levels of productivity mean this is a popular fishing spot, with industrial fishing allowing hundreds of tonnes of fish to be removed every day. However, this site is a marine protected area but the UK government allowed fishing to continue in this and almost all of its other protected areas, meaning these bustling patches of ocean and their rare inhabitants barely receive any protection at all. Alongside a petition and campaigns run on land by a vast number of people, Greenpeace decided that change was not coming fast enough so they headed out to Dogger Bank where they placed large rocks on the seabed, creating a 47 square mile boulder barrier which would prevent fishing boats from trawling, a destructive style of fishing which damages the seabed and leads to high levels of bycatch. In April 2022, the UK government announced that bottom trawling would be banned at Dogger Bank and a further three protected areas. They also pledged to introduce this new regulation in 36 other offshore protected areas by 2024. Now that the law has been established, it should be relatively quick to apply to other areas but we still have some way to go to before all our marine reserves are properly protected.

Along the same lines, English and French fishermen have met in the middle of the English Channel, a protected area, to join forces in their protest against supertrawlers and fly shooting which is decimating local fish populations. Vessels from Dover to Boulogne-Sur-Mer bobbed alongside each other as fishermen held banners as part of their demonstration. At the end of 2022, fishing licences for all vessels come under review, providing the perfect opportunity to tighten the laws and put an end to overfishing. These individuals have clearly shown the government what direction they want them to take and with the support of more communities, it is hoped they will have no choice but to listen.

Already, the Great British public have forced the government to implement modern laws which will benefit our oceans with resounding success. In 2018, a petition with 350,000 signatures was delivered to Parliament urging them to ban the use of plastic microbeads in rinse off cosmetics and toiletries; the largest environment petition they had ever received. These microbeads are found in toothpastes, shower gels and facial scrubs as well as cleaning products and get washed down our drains and out into rivers and oceans where wildlife inadvertently eats these teeny toxic particles. The production of products containing microbeads and the sale of these products is now banned in the UK, which is all down to individuals recognising the environmental damage these tiny particles can do and deciding to take action before it was too late.

Surfers Against Sewage are arguably one the UK’s most influential marine conservation charities when it comes to mustering public support and putting pressure on politicians. After many tireless years of campaigning for better water quality, their work alongside that of local communities, ocean lovers, journalists and legal experts has helped make crucial changes to the UK Environment Act, the legislation which dictates how the environment will be protected and restored. The amendments to the Act include laws which force water companies to provide real time information on sewage overflow discharges whilst also reporting on the impact this has on water quality. Water companies now also have a legal duty to reduce the effects of sewage discharges on our oceans and rivers. This has been an enormous step in the right direction but history shows that many of these companies have a tendency to avoid heavy fines and so the campaign continues to ensure proper enforcement of the Act. Most recently, in October 2022, hundreds of protestors gathered on 45 beaches across the UK to protest against the dramatic increase in sewage discharges this summer. In Saltburn-By-The-Sea, 300 people poignantly stood in a line on the water’s edge whilst in Falmouth, the community gathered with placards, made speeches and took to the water with slogans written on bodyboards to protest against the 11 local sewage spills which occurred within the first eight days of September. Even one lone woman showed her support from a distant beach on the Isle of Harris. This is a campaign that is far from over but the ball is certainly rolling and gathering speed quickly.

No matter how small your own actions may feel, when put together with everyone else’s, we really can make an enormous difference to both our future and the environment’s future. We are increasingly finding more innovative ways of protesting, such as using art sculptures to turn an issue which is often factual into an emotive and relatable one. It seems the tide is turning and we, the people, have the power to create change and mould our future.

By Neve McCracken-Heywood