Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am supporting Blue Marine Foundation for the visionary and practical work they do to help fishing communities deliver tangible projects that result in protection of our precious oceans and ocean life.

Between 18 - 27 September 2016, I completed a 1,500km cycle ride from London to Monaco to help raise much needed funds for the work of Blue Marine Foundation.

For the 10-day cycle ride 23 riders each completed 1,500km and climbed a total of 16,000 metres with terrain ranging from the hills of Kent and the French Alps. In all, 72 riders took part in various stages of the event.

This event was ambitious and the funds raised will go towards two projects that will contribute significantly to ocean protection.

To find out more please visit the website http://www.bluemarinefoundation.com

charles.barber@bluewin.ch

Special projects supported through this event include:

Aeolian Islands
The beautiful Aeolian Islands to the north of Sicily are being threatened by overfishing and irresponsible tourism. 

Funds raised from the London to Monaco ride will help BLUE and our local partners build eco-moorings for sailing vessels so they don’t damage the sea grass beds when they anchor, engage local scientists to monitor and protect endangered marine species such as sperm whales and dolphins and introduce programmes to reduce the number of ‘ghost’ nets (discarded nets which trap species such as loggerhead turtles).

Ascension Island
The remote island of Ascension in the tropical Atlantic is home to some of the biggest fish in the world, sharks, turtles and rare sea birds, but was being plundered by long-line fishing. The UK government has just declared half Ascension’s waters protected from fishing, but the Ascension islanders rely on income from fishing licences.

Your support will help BLUE’s work to open up other sources of income on the island, particularly science and eco-tourism so that 100% of the island’s waters (nearly twice the size of the UK) can become a marine protected area.