David Gandy & EJF Save the Sea - new film footage!

Katharine Hamnett has designed a SAVE THE SEA slogan t-shirt made with organic cotton as EJF’s campaign t-shirt to highlight the consequences of pirate fishing and what needs to be done to stop it. Also helping spread the message is top British model David Gandy who has modelled the exclusive design.

Now on sale from EJF's online shop http://www.ejfoundation.org/shop) for men and women, the t-shirts cost £40 each and all proceeds go towards EJF's vital work.

At a time when world fish stocks are under unprecedented pressure, pirate fishing operations are stealing from our seas and oceans. Join EJF and help us Save the Sea

Illegal pirate fishing causes devastating damage to the marine environment and threatens poor coastal communities in many developing countries. The livelihoods and basic food security of the local people are threatened by unscrupulous pirate fishermen who steal the fish they depend on for food, income and employment.

The EU is the world’s largest market for seafood and consumer demand for cheap, exotic varieties can be directly linked to pirate and unsustainable fishing in Africa - costing Sub–Saharan Africa alone over a billion dollars a year - driven in part by a lack of awareness of the issue in Europe.

EJF are working to:

• Secure international support for developing countries to combat illegal fishing in their waters.
• Eliminate Flags of Convenience, which give a perfect cover for pirate fishermen.
• End the illegal use of driftnets in the Mediterranean, which continue to kill untold numbers of whales, dolphins, turtles and other marine life.
• Press governments to take concrete measures to close the loopholes that allow pirate fishing to happen.
• Engage consumers and retailers so they can make informed and positive choices on the seafood they buy and sell.

“The Environmental Justice Foundation is one of my favourite NGO’s, small but incredibly high profile, gets the job done with unparalleled efficiency, makes the most incredibly effective use of very small budgets and punches weigh above its weight. “ Katharine Hamnett

EJF’s campaign aims to directly improve the lives of poverty stricken fishing communities in the developing world while protecting fish stocks and fragile marine environments from illegal and unregulated pirate fishing operations.

Other celebrities who support EJF’s campaign include actor Bill Nighy and chefs Tom Aikens and Rick Stein and, later in the summer EJF will be releasing more stunning images of famous faces who are helping front the campaign.

For all media questions please contact: Larissa Clark, larissa.clark@ejfoundation.org or call +44 (0) 207 359 0440

EJF would like to thank all the people who donated their time and skills to support this campaign photo shoot, especially: Photographer Matthew Eades, David Gandy, Grooming: Heather White, Assistant Director at Daniel Sandler and Stylist: Jackie Dixon. Also Center Stage Studios and all at Katharine Hamnett's team!

T-shirt: Katharine Hamnett for EJF organic cotton and organic ink Unisex & Fitted Ladies’ styles £40 from http://www.ejfoundation.org/shop

• 75% of the world's fish stocks are fully exploited, over-exploited or depleted.
  
• 90% of the world's large ocean species like cod, halibut and swordfish have been lost since the 1950’s.
  
• An estimated 7.3 million tonnes of non-target and often endangered marine species are discarded annually by the world’s fisheries – these are known as ‘by-catch’.
  
• In one 8 month period 4 illegal, "pirate", Moroccan driftnet vessels caught 237 dolphins; 498 blue sharks; 542 short-fin mako; 464 thresher sharks; and 46 loggerhead turtles along with 2,990 swordfish - which was the target species.
  
• Sub-Saharan Africa loses over a billion dollars in stolen fish annually directly impacting on people’s livelihoods and basic food security.
  

1. When shopping for fish look on the label to ensure you are buying certified, sustainable fish, EJF recommends looking for the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) logo. Always ask your supermarket or fishmonger if they know where the fish they sell is legally and sustainably-caught.
   
2. Buy a Save The Sea t-shirt from http://www.ejfoundation.org/shop to support EJF's work against pirate fishing
   
3. Be more informed and tell your friends about the issues - sign online petitions, look at films and download reports from the EJF website http://www.ejfoundation.org/reports
   
   

   For all media questions please contact: Larissa Clark, larissa.clark@ejfoundation.org or call +44 (0) 207 359 0440