Protecting our ocean

What we are doing

Our commitment to ocean recovery

We are the first Council in the North of England to declare a Ocean Recovery Declaration and support a global Motion for the Ocean campaign.

We have committed to doing all we can to recover the health of our ocean.

This is to:

  • protect our beautiful coast and precious wildlife
  • improve residents' health and wellbeing and reduce pressure on the NHS
  • boost the local economy and create new jobs for local people
  • reduce the inequality in who can access the ocean and support the most disadvantaged in our community
  • provide the best future we can for our children and grandchildren

What we have already done

Taking action to protect our ocean isn't new to the Council, though we have acknowledged that we want and need to do more.

We have already recognised the value of the ocean in helping us meet our commitment to being carbon neutral by 2030 and in protecting our beautiful coastline.

We are delivering action already through the Stronger Shores project, which we are leading on behalf of other local authorities in the North East.

We are founding partners of the SeaScapes scheme, the first of its kind in the UK, which is better connecting our local communities with the ocean.

Other activity includes the development of a South Tyneside Animal Protection Charter and beach water designation along our coastline.


What we will do

As a result of our Ocean Recovery Declaration, we will take the following actions:

  • develop an action plan to build on ocean recovery activity in South Tyneside
  • consider ocean recovery in everything we do, from our strategic decisions and budgets, to planning, economic growth, skills, and education
  • work with partners to develop a sustainable blue economy - an economy that creates new jobs without damaging the marine environment
  • give all schoolchildren the opportunity to experience the sea by the time they leave primary school, extending this offer to involve home-schooled children 

We are committed to playing our part, but local government can't solve the ocean crisis alone. 

80% of marine litter comes from the land and we all have a role to play to reduce this.