
The campaign is designed to highlight the issue of thousands of marine mammals dying as bycatch in fishing nets each year.
Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster has thrown his weight behind a campaign calling to prevent the needless deaths of whales dying in fishing nets each year.
The ‘Not in our nets’ campaign is part of a wider initiative from global marine charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation. It is designed to highlight the issue – known as ‘bycatch’.
According to the charity, bycatch is the single biggest killer of dolphins and whales worldwide. Each year, hundreds of thousands of dolphins, porpoises and whales die in fishing nets across the world.
More than 1,000 per year die in UK waters alone – roughly one for every goal hitting the net in a Premier League season.
The goalkeeper is raising awareness for the campaign by using a specially designed and 100% sustainable towel during a number of Watford’s upcoming Premier League fixtures.
He has also recorded a special message for fans on his ‘The Cycling GK’ YouTube channel and has signed a number of the limited-edition dolphin towels, which will be given away to fans to help promote the campaign.
‘Use my platform for change’
“It’s my job to keep things out of nets – to make important saves,” Ben Foster speaking on his involvement in the campaign said.
“So I got involved with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation #NotInOurNets campaign to use my role in football as a platform for change, to help save whales and dolphins and keep them out of nets.”
‘Horrible way to die’
The charity hopes the campaign will put pressure on fisheries ministers to act upon the bycatch issue. According to the group, while the UK and devolved governments have a legal duty to prevent these deaths, too little has been done for too long.
It is therefore calling on the authorities to act urgently to set clear and ambitious goals to prevent bycatch and timelines for achieving the targets.
Danny Groves, the communications manager at WDC said: “Entanglement in fishing gear is the biggest killer of dolphins, porpoises, and whales globally, and it’s a major issue in UK seas.
“It’s a horrible way to die, fishers don’t want it to happen, and many people are unaware of the accidental suffering that takes place to catch the fish they eat.
“Ministers must commit to targets & deadlines in the Joint Fisheries Statement to meet the legal duty to end bycatch.”
WDC adds that “If we save whales and dolphins, we stop the suffering, create a healthier ocean to help fight the climate crisis and ultimately save our planet.”
Is Ben Foster vegan?
Despite speaking up for animal lives, Ben Foster, is not a vegan.
In fact, the goalie is a trained chef who prefers his steaks cooked rare.
While we appreciate Foster’s efforts, we’d like to point out to the 39-year-old that if really wants to help in ending the suffering of animals, the best option would be for him to go vegan.
Every person who goes vegan spares nearly 200 animals a year daily suffering and a terrifying death; reduces their carbon footprint, as the meat industry is a leading producer of the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change; and reduces their own risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Share this story: Goalkeeper Ben Foster leads ‘not in our nets’ campaign for whales and dolphins dying in UK waters.
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
Is Tobey Maguire vegan? Here’s what we know
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 17th August 2023
Tobey Maguire often speaks about veganism and animal issues. Tobey Maguire, the actor best known for playing Spider-Man in the Sam Raimi trilogy, is a vegan. He has been a vegetarian since 1992 and became a vegan in 2009. A lifelong commitment to animal rights Maguire’s decision to go vegan was motivated by his love …
Continue reading “Is Tobey Maguire vegan? Here’s what we know”
Plant-based food jobs surge with 32% growth in just 3 months
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 17th August 2023
The number of open jobs advertised in the plant-based industry increased by almost a third from April to July 2023, GlobalData reported. The plant-based food industry is booming, and this is reflected in the number of job openings in the sector. According to data from GlobalData, the number of open jobs advertised in the plant-based …
Continue reading “Plant-based food jobs surge with 32% growth in just 3 months”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …
Continue reading “QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert”
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a …
Continue reading “QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?”
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …