Latest news with #oceanConservation
Travel Daily News
5 days ago
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Novotel celebrates one year of ocean sustainable partnership with WWF
Novotel launches sustainable seafood principles with WWF and announces new plant-forward ambition ahead of World Ocean Day. PARIS – Ahead of World Ocean Day (8 June), Novotel marks the first anniversary of its transformative three-year partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), reaffirming its commitment to protecting the wellbeing and longevity of the ocean with the launch of two new food policies: Novotel's Sustainable Seafood Principles in partnership with WWF France and the launch of a pioneering global Plant Forward food ambition across 600 hotels. 'At Novotel, we are taking decisive action to protect our oceans, and the partnership with WWF is a driving force of this commitment,' said Jean-Yves Minet, Novotel Global Brand President. 'Through their guidance and expertise, we can drive change at scale across our 600 hotels and more widely across the industry and communities we reach. At Novotel, we're committed to making it easier to make choices that have a positive impact on the longevity of the planet, on marine life, and on future generations. From responsible sourcing to a Plant-Forward approach, our ocean impact strategy is designed to drive real change. Together, we can lead the way toward a healthier, more sustainable future – one positive choice at a time.' Delicious, healthier, more sustainble food The new Sustainable Seafood Principles were created in partnership with WWF and led by the fisheries experts at WWF France. The new guidelines, launched globally across Novotel's 600 hotels, include banning of 350 species of endangered seafood species, and promoting responsible fishing by 2027, serving only MSC-certified wild-caught species or responsibly sourced local fish, and use ASC- or organic-certified farmed seafood for salmon and shrimp, fostering supplier collaboration where needed. WWF France has created Sustainable Seafood Training, a comprehensive global training programme for Novotel chefs, food and procurement teams, and is working alongside Novotel and Accor to improve traceability. Furthermore, Novotel has pioneered a Plant-Forward1 ambition, targeting all its 600 hotels to have a minimum of 25% plant-based menus by 2026. Today 39% of hotels dedicate at least 25% of their menus to plant-forward options. Novotel is committed to offering market leading, tasty, sustainable, and Plant-Forward philosophy at scale, guided by a leading culinary institute. Education and awareness for the next generation Novotel welcomes more than two million family stays a year and this summer families at Novotel will experience two new edutainment games designed by WWF France and Novotel to inspire and empower children to be ambassadors for the ocean. 'Guardians of the Mediterranean' is an interactive card and digital game inspired by the WWF Blue Panda boat, created to educate families about ocean conservation in a fun, engaging way. 'Sea Turtle' is a lively digital quiz that helps children learn about the threats faced during turtle migration, including ghost gear, plastic and pollution. 'Inspiring and educating the next generation is key to protecting our ocean,' added Jean-Yves. 'By engaging young minds through play, we plant the seeds of awareness, empathy, and action for a healthier, more sustainable marine future. As a leading family-friendly hotel brand, Novotel is perfectly placed to champion this vital mission.' A year of progress: Strengthening Novotels's commitmnent to the oceans Since its launch in June 2024, Novotel has made significant strides to deliver upon its ocean preservation and sustainable impact plan: Reduce impact Novotel's commitment to reducing its impact aligns with Accor's industry-leading mission towards positive hospitality, including: Phasing out single-use plastics across Novotel hotel operations Installing large-format and refillable dispensers in hotels Minimizing food waste through innovative solutions and guest engagement Launched microplastic filter pilots in two Novotel hotels2 in France to reduce impact from hotel laundry Deliucious, healthier and more sustainable food choices In addition to the new Plant-Forward ambition and Sustainable Seafood Principles, Novotel has implemented significant actions: A globally managed Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) was launched in Q1 2025 in collaboration with WWF, including support of the Indian Squid FIP in Kerala, India Launched a partnership with Seafood Souq to ensure all seafood suppliers and products are onboarded to SFS Trace and meet required traceability standards, including an 18-hotel pilot in the Middle East3. A Seafood Taskforce procurement project has been launched in Europe in collaboration with WWF France, working directly with five suppliers to improve traceability as part of the brand's commitment to support WWF's ambition for sector-wide change throughout the supply chain. Enhance education and ocean awareness Novotel is committed to raising awareness of the importance of the ocean to modern life, inspiring hotel teams, guests and communities to positively contribute to a more balanced life with the ocean. New global Ocean Awareness Training for all Novotel teams in all 600 hotels, enhancing their knowledge and inspiring their action and commitment. The training has been developed in partnership with AXA Climate. New WWF Sustainable Seafood Training: for all chef, F&B and procurement teams, including the impact of overfishing, sustainable seafood sourcing and best-in-class sustainability practices in restaurants. Edutainment in-hotel events, programming and games to inspire positive action amongst the Novotel community. Contribute to reasearvh and innovation Novotel is supporting essential WWF France conservation projects around the world, investing to support ocean impact, research and action through critical projects. 1. The protection of Posidonia in the Mediterranean Where: Europe Europe Why: Per hectare, the Posidonia meadow sequesters five to seven times more carbon than the tropical forest Status: Action plans underway in 9 coastal cities; 8 mooring fields in project; and 73 buoy conversions completed in 2024 and 41 planned in 2025. 2. The identification and removal of 'ghost gear' Where: Mediterranean Sea Why: Lost, abandoned and otherwise discarded fishing gear are a major threat to marine life Status: Over 1,000 hectares prospected in Bonifacio; several4 nets identified; pilot retrieval with underwater robots scheduled for 2025–2026; new prospection missions in Calanques and Ajaccio planned. 3. Supporting the WWF France's Blue Panda boat Where: Europe – France, Greece, Türkiye, Italy and Croatia Why: The Blue Panda sails across the Mediterranean conducting missions to develop science-based solutions and recommendations to protect Mediterranean marine life, to raise public awareness, and leading lobbying missions with countries and communities. Status: 2024 campaign completed across France, Greece, Turkey, Italy and Croatia; educational visits reached 550+ children in France; Cap Cétacés anti-collision system tested; ghost gear prospection and Marine Protection Areas studies conducted; Blue Panda to be in Nice 8–14 June for UNOC with stakeholder events. 4. Tracking and tracing marine turtles Where: Global, with a specific focus on Asia-Pacific Why: Six of seven species of marine turtles remained threatened by harvesting, illegal trade, being caught by commercial fisheries and the loss of nesting beaches. Mapping nesting beaches, migratory corridors and foraging grounds for critical turtle populations. Status: 'Blue Corridors' initiative launched October 2024; over 12,600 turtles tracked globally; data gathering and connectivity analysis ongoing in 2025; update to be published by WWF at UNOC 2025. 5. Protecting the sea turtles of the Western Atlantic Where: Guiana Shield Why: Mobilising civic society and fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing will help protect leatherback turtles breeding on coastal areas of the Guianas, and green and olive ridley turtles from Brazil to Venezuela. Status: Youth ambassador programme launched; regional delegation to attend UNOC in June 2025; field projects including eco-guide training, citizen science, and advocacy actions ongoing through 2025-2026. Ludovic Frère Escoffier, Ocean Program Manager, WWF France, said: 'Protecting the ocean also means protecting our common future. Faced with the growing threats of overfishing, pollution and loss of biodiversity, economic players have a key role to play. We welcome Novotel's commitment to integrating the preservation of marine ecosystems into its strategy. By collaborating with influential companies in the tourism sector, together we are accelerating the transition to more sustainable, responsible practices that are compatible with ocean resilience.' 'The ocean is our planet's greatest source of balance – the 'lungs of the world',' added Jean-Yves Minet. 'It regulates climate, supports livelihoods, and protects ecosystems. But that balance is at risk. To secure a sustainable future, we must rebalance our relationship with the oceans, reducing our impact and ensuring marine health. Our wellbeing is deeply tied to the health of the ocean. Protecting the ocean isn't just about the environment, it's about supporting human health and longevity too.' What's next for Novotel? Positive steps to impact ocean longevity Looking ahead, Novotel remains committed to amplifying its impact by: Collaborating with industry leaders at UN Ocean Conference in Nice to drive meaningful change WWF Sustainable Seafood Training – launching summer 2025 Ocean Awareness Training in partnership with AXA Climate – launching summer 2025 Expanding sustainable seafood practices across all hotels Embedding a new Plant-Forward menu strategy in all hotels Introducing new guest engagement programs focused on ocean preservation Continuing to support critical WWF France ocean preservation projects around the world 6. Plant-based dishes at Novotel hotels Azzurra Kitchen @ Novotel Monte Carlo: Beetroot and Chickpea Hummus with Tahini, Fresh Herbs, spring vegetables and purslane shoots. MOKU @ Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort: Green Paw Paw Salad with green paw paw & carrot, avocado, soft herbs, edamame, nam jim dressing, cassava crackers & charred lime Novotel Melbourne Airport – Boccata Restaurant & Bar: Rigatoni with Confit Tomatoes, Stracciatella and Pangrattato Bokan @ Novotel London Canary Wharf: Black Lime Tofu, Dashi Broth with an Onion and Spinach Marmalade – part of the vegan tasting experience and vegan bottomless brunch Flying Elephant @ Novotel Dubai Al Barsha: Zameen Ke Kebab, honey glazed beet, spicy mascarpone, Masala plum coilee Ici&là @ Novotel Strasbourg Centre Halles: Quinoa Lover Burger with quinoa-chili galette, Alsacian cheddar, pesto rosso, aubergine, courgette and green salad
CTV News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Swimmer circumnavigates Martha's Vineyard ahead of `Jaws' 50th anniversary
VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass. — A British-South African endurance athlete crossed the finish line of his 62-mile (100-kilometer) multi-day swim around Martha's Vineyard on Monday, becoming the first person to swim all the way around the island. Lewis Pugh, 55, began swimming multiple hours a day in the 47 degree (8 degrees Celsius) water on May 15 to raise awareness about the plight of sharks as the film 'Jaws' nears its 50th birthday. He wants to change public perceptions and encourage protections for the at-risk animals -- which he said the film maligned as 'villains, as cold-blooded killers.' 'We've been fighting sharks for 50 years,' he said after completing the last 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) of the swim before exiting the ocean at the Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse, near where 'Jaws' was filmed. 'Now, we need to make peace with them.' In total, Pugh swam for about 24 hours over 12 days. His first stop in Edgartown after greeting cheering fans on the beach was at an ice cream shop, where he enjoyed a cone of salted caramel and berry brownie. Rough waters made a cold swim harder Pugh said this was among his most difficult endurance swims in an almost 40-year career, which says a lot for someone who has swum near glaciers and volcanoes, and among hippos, crocodiles and polar bears. Pugh was the first athlete to swim across the North Pole and complete a long-distance swim in every one of the world's oceans. He said he expected the swim to be difficult because of the water temperature, the distance and the fact that it was happening during the start of shark migration season. But the weather proved the most challenging element of all. 'It's been a long journey, it really has -- 12 days, cold water, constant wind, waves, and then always thinking of what may be beneath me. It's been a big swim. A very big swim,' he said. 'When you swim for 12 days, you leave as one person and I think you come back as a different person with a new reflection on what you've been through.' Day after day, Pugh entered the island's frigid waters wearing just trunks, a cap and goggles, enduring foul weather as a nor'easter dumped 7 inches (18 centimeters) of rain on parts of New England and flooded streets on Martha's Vineyard. Some days, he was only able to make it a little over half a mile (1 kilometer) before wind and waves made it impossible to see beyond an arm's length ahead. In some cases, he had to make up lost distance by swimming multiple legs in a day. 'I was just getting really cold and swallowing a lot of sea water, not making headway and then you're constantly thinking, `Are we taking the right route here? Should we go further out to sea? Should we get closer in?'' he said. 'And meanwhile you're fighting currents.' Endurance swimmer's latest feat is meant to help protect sharks But Pugh -- who has been named a United Nations Patron of the Oceans and often swims to raise awareness for environmental causes -- said no swim is without risk, and that drastic measures are needed to get his message across: About 274,000 sharks are killed globally each day, a rate of nearly 100 million every year, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. On Monday, Pugh called the decimation of sharks an 'ecocide.' 'I think protecting sharks is the most important part of the jigsaw puzzle of protecting the oceans,' he said. 'Jaws,' which was filmed in Edgartown, and called Amity Island for the movie, created Hollywood's blockbuster culture when it was released in summer 1975, setting new box office records and earning three Academy Awards. The movie would shape views of the ocean for decades to come. Both director Steven Spielberg and author Peter Benchley expressed regret that viewers of the film became so afraid of sharks, and both later contributed to conservation efforts as their populations declined, largely due to commercial fishing. Pugh's endeavor also coincided with the New England Aquarium's first confirmed sighting this season of a white shark, off the nearby island of Nantucket. As a precaution, Pugh was accompanied on his swim by safety personnel in a boat and a kayak, whose paddler is using a 'Shark Shield' device to create a low-intensity electric field in the water to deter sharks without harming them. There were no shark sightings along Pugh's journey, but he said he saw sun fish, seals and terns. He now plans to travel to New York for a few days to do interviews about the swim and discuss shark conservation before returning to his home of Plymouth, England. 'Now the real hard work starts, which is getting this message to policy makers,' Pugh said. Leah Willingham, The Associated Press
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Endurance swimmer completes circumnavigation of Martha's Vineyard ahead of ‘Jaws' 50th
VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass. — A British-South African endurance athlete crossed the finish line of his 62-mile (100-kilometer) multi-day swim around Martha's Vineyard on Monday, becoming the first person to swim all the way around the island. Lewis Pugh, 55, began swimming multiple hours a day in the 47 degree (8 degrees Celsius) water on May 15 to raise awareness about the plight of sharks as the film 'Jaws' nears its 50th birthday. He wants to change public perceptions and encourage protections for the at-risk animals — which he said the film maligned as 'villains, as cold-blooded killers.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Endurance swimmer closes in circumnavigation of Martha's Vineyard ahead of ‘Jaws' 50th
VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass. (AP) — A British-South African endurance athlete is closing in on the finish line of his 62-mile (100-kilometer) multi-day swim around Martha's Vineyard on Monday, aiming to become the first becoming the first person to swim all the way around the island. Lewis Pugh began swimming multiple hours a day in the 47-degree (8-degree Celsius) water on May 15 to raise awareness about the plight of sharks as the film 'Jaws' nears its 50th birthday. He wants to change public perceptions and encourage protections for the at-risk animals — which he said the film maligned as 'villains, as cold-blooded killers.' 'It was a film about sharks attacking humans and for 50 years, we have been attacking sharks,' he said before plunging into the ocean near the Edgartown Lighthouse. 'It's completely unsustainable. It's madness. We need to respect them.' Pugh, 55, said this would be among his most difficult endurance swims, which says a lot for someone who has swum near glaciers and volcanoes, and among hippos, crocodiles and polar bears. Pugh was the first athlete to swim across the North Pole and complete a long-distance swim in every one of the world's oceans. But Pugh, who often swims to raise awareness for environmental causes — he's been named a United Nations Patron of the Oceans — said no swim is without risk, and that drastic measures are needed to get his message across: Around 274,000 sharks are killed globally each day — a rate of nearly 100 million every year, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 'Jaws,' which was filmed in Edgartown, renamed Amity Island for the movie, created Hollywood's blockbuster culture when it was released in summer 1975, setting new box office records and earning three Academy Awards. The movie would shape views of the ocean for decades to come. Both director Steven Spielberg and author Peter Benchley expressed regret that viewers of the film became so afraid of sharks, and both later contributed to conservation efforts as their populations declined, largely due to commercial fishing. Day after day, Pugh has entered the island's frigid waters wearing just trunks, a cap and goggles, enduring foul weather as a nor'easter dumped 7 inches (18 centimeters) of rain on parts of New England and flooded streets on Martha's Vineyard. Pugh's endeavor also coincides with the New England Aquarium's first confirmed sighting this season of a white shark, off the nearby island of Nantucket. Just in case, he's accompanied by safety personnel in a boat and a kayak, whose paddler is using a 'Shark Shield' device to create a low-intensity electric field in the water to deter sharks without harming them. ___ See an AP photo gallery from around Martha's Vineyard and the start of Pugh's swim here.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Endurance swimmer closes in circumnavigation of Martha's Vineyard ahead of ‘Jaws' 50th
A British- South African endurance athlete is closing in on the finish line of his 62-mile (100-kilometer) multi-day swim around Martha's Vineyard on Monday, aiming to become the first becoming the first person to swim all the way around the island. Lewis Pugh began swimming multiple hours a day in the 47-degree (8-degree Celsius) water on May 15 to raise awareness about the plight of sharks as the film 'Jaws' nears its 50th birthday. He wants to change public perceptions and encourage protections for the at-risk animals — which he said the film maligned as 'villains, as cold-blooded killers.' 'It was a film about sharks attacking humans and for 50 years, we have been attacking sharks,' he said before plunging into the ocean near the Edgartown Lighthouse. 'It's completely unsustainable. It's madness. We need to respect them.' Pugh, 55, said this would be among his most difficult endurance swims, which says a lot for someone who has swum near glaciers and volcanoes, and among hippos, crocodiles and polar bears. Pugh was the first athlete to swim across the North Pole and complete a long-distance swim in every one of the world's oceans. But Pugh, who often swims to raise awareness for environmental causes — he's been named a United Nations Patron of the Oceans — said no swim is without risk, and that drastic measures are needed to get his message across: Around 274,000 sharks are killed globally each day — a rate of nearly 100 million every year, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 'Jaws,' which was filmed in Edgartown, renamed Amity Island for the movie, created Hollywood's blockbuster culture when it was released in summer 1975, setting new box office records and earning three Academy Awards. The movie would shape views of the ocean for decades to come. Both director Steven Spielberg and author Peter Benchley expressed regret that viewers of the film became so afraid of sharks, and both later contributed to conservation efforts as their populations declined, largely due to commercial fishing. Day after day, Pugh has entered the island's frigid waters wearing just trunks, a cap and goggles, enduring foul weather as a nor'easter dumped 7 inches (18 centimeters) of rain on parts of New England and flooded streets on Martha's Vineyard. Pugh's endeavor also coincides with the New England Aquarium's first confirmed sighting this season of a white shark, off the nearby island of Nantucket. Just in case, he's accompanied by safety personnel in a boat and a kayak, whose paddler is using a 'Shark Shield' device to create a low-intensity electric field in the water to deter sharks without harming them. ___ See an AP photo gallery from around Martha's Vineyard and the start of Pugh's swim here.
