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Minister calls for urgent action to protect planet’s oceans
"Those of us who can help must step up to support the ocean to adapt to climate change." - Rebecca Pow

Government pressing for marine protection targets to be tripled

Environment minister Rebecca Pow is urging governments around the globe to join the 30by30 initiative. This initiative, led by the UK, aims to protect at least 30 per cent of the planet’s oceans by 2030.

Speaking at the launch of an animated film created by Greenpeace, which depicts endangered marine life, the minister spoke passionately about the affects of climate change on the world’s oceans, stating that “those of us who can help must step up to support the ocean to adapt to climate change.”

The minister continued: “Our government is already rolling out nature-based solutions to tackle it, for example our work to maintain and enhance 20,000 hectares of mighty mangroves in Madagascar, Indonesia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

But change requires collective effort. That’s why we’re calling for at least 30 per cent of the world’s ocean to be safeguarded by Marine Protected Areas in the course of this decade.”

The government has asserted that increasing the range of Marine Protected Areas is crucial to reducing the impact of climate change, adding that marine protection targets need to be higher, as the current ten per cent targets do not provide adequate protection against biodiversity loss.

At the forefront of marine protection, the UK has recently designated 41 new Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs), covering 12,000 square kilometres, for a total of 91 MCZs. This means that now more than 40 per cent of English waters are designated as marine protection areas.

The UK is encouraging all countries to join the Global Alliance announced by the Prime Minister last year, in support of the 30by30 target as part of a new global biodiversity framework in October 2020.

Defra has also released a new video on the urgent need for global action on ocean protection, narrated by musician and activist Sting and screened at the Greenpeace event.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.