Under the waves on World Wildlife Day

The UN marks World Wildlife Day each year on 3 March. It is an opportunity to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants, and to encourage people around the globe to think about what they can do – big or small – to have a positive impact.

This year the theme for World Wildlife Day is “Life below water: for people and planet”. I’m really excited about this because it casts a spotlight on species we often forget about. When you ask someone to tell you about species which are threatened, they will usually mention the rhino, tiger, or perhaps the panda. Marine wildlife gets far less attention, but it’s estimated that there are more than 200,000 different lifeforms beneath the waves. Their environmental contribution to our ecosystems is invaluable, and it is estimated that half the world’s human population depends on marine and coastal biodiversity for their income.

In honour of World Wildlife Day this year, I…