Butterfield Marine Watch Touch Tank returns to raise awareness of World Wetlands Day

Butterfield’s interactive Marine Watch Touch Tank will be a key attraction at the Marine Mission for World Wetlands Day on February 2 and 3 at the Radisson Blu Hotel. The Touch Tank is an eco-system which replicates a natural rock pool, allowing attendees to get up close with Jersey’s marine life.

The two-day Marine Mission event is hosted by Jersey Marine Conservation to mark World Wetlands Day, a global celebration of the richness and biodiversity of wetland habitats. Jersey has four designated wetland sites―areas that are flooded with water either permanently or seasonally. They play a critical role in our natural environment, providing a home to a dense variety of plant and animal species. 

Jersey’s Environment Minister, Deputy John Young will open the Marine Mission on Sunday, 2 February at 12 noon. Members of the public are invited to attend a selection of free presentations by marine conservation experts throughout the afternoon including:

• Archaeology of the wetlands
• Birds and our marine environment
• Managing marine resources
• Ramsar Management Authority
• Wildlife Safe (WiSe) – ticketed event please register on Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/marine-mission-wise-talk-tickets-86481084251?aff=ebdssbeac
  
  

On Monday, 3 February the event will be open exclusively to schools to encourage students to take a greater interest in Jersey’s marine environment. Ahead of the event, Butterfield is running a competition for the island’s Year 6 and Year 9 pupils. Teams of six have been invited to produce a creative submission outlining what marine conservation means to them and why it is important for Jersey. These will be unveiled on Sunday, 2 February and displayed at the Radisson Blu Hotel for one week.

Kevin Mcllwee, Chairman at Jersey Marine Conservation, said: “This event is a great opportunity to raise awareness about marine conservation and engage the next generation of marine scientists. Butterfield’s support puts us in a unique position to increase knowledge in the island and to develop our marine watch strategy.”

Noel McLaughlin, Managing Director at Butterfield Bank (Jersey) Limited, said: “We are extremely proud to support Jersey Marine Conservation. This partnership is a great fit for Butterfield; living on an island we understand the importance of protecting our ocean and marine habitats, and we are passionate about raising their profile. This event is the perfect opportunity to inspire students and the public to learn more about our local wetland creatures.”