Healthy Seas’ Post

How do we teach water safety in communities where water is not part of everyday life?  That question sat at the centre of the Western Sydney Water Safety Fest in Cumberland in late March, where AUSTSWIM joined Swim Australia, Royal Life Saving Australia and other sector leaders to explore how water safety education can be more inclusive, accessible and culturally relevant. AUSTSWIM’s NSW State Manager Charlene Easton shared a clear message: if we want to reduce drowning risk, we need to better understand different cultural relationships with water, work alongside communities to co-design programs, remove barriers to participation, and build stronger pathways into swim teaching and beyond. This is the work that matters. Not just teaching skills, but building confidence, connection and opportunity.  Thank you to Impowerful, Cumberland City Council and all supporting partners for helping bring this important event to life.  Impowerfull, Belgravia Leisure, Cumberland City Council, SWIM Coaches & Teachers Australia (SWIM), Royal Life Saving – Australia, and the @National Centre for Indigenous Excellence.  Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gbEexwFW Pictured: Nancy Shaw, Swim Australia; Charlene Easton, AUSTSWIM; and Nancy Ying, Royal Life Saving Australia.  #AUSTSWIM #WaterSafety #DrowningPrevention #SwimTeaching #CulturalInclusion #AquaticIndustry 

Press Release - 08/05/2026 Healthy Seas Lluis Saura i Soldevilla UltraEbre Swim Marathon 2026 partners with Healthy Seas Foundation to promote ocean awareness As Environmental Partner of the UltraEbre Swim Marathon, the Healthy Seas Foundation joins the event to highlight the essential connection between sport and the natural environments it depends on. Open-water swimming takes place in ecosystems increasingly under pressure from pollution and changing environmental conditions, making their protection an integral part of the sport itself. Healthy Seas works to remove marine litter such as ghost fishing nets from seas and waterways, while preventing future waste through education, awareness initiatives, and community engagement. This year, the collaboration begins with a simple but meaningful step: swimmers will receive educational materials in their race packs designed to inspire reflection, creativity, and action around protecting aquatic environments. The organisers of the UltraEbre Swim Marathon work closely with local environmental authorities and regional partners to ensure the event supports the protection and appreciation of the River Ebro’s ecosystem. In collaboration with initiatives monitoring river health since 2015, the event promotes awareness of the river’s improving water quality and biodiversity, including the return of species such as the European sturgeon, while encouraging sustainable river-based activity and responsible tourism. Through engagement with schools, communities, and conservation stakeholders across the Terres de l’Ebre, UltraEbre helps strengthen long-term stewardship of the river as both a sporting venue and a vital natural asset. By partnering with Healthy Seas, UltraEbre 2026 also reinforces its commitment to environmental awareness and responsible open-water sport — connecting athletic achievement with stewardship of the waters swimmers rely on. For more information about Healthy Seas and its initiatives, visit: https://healthyseas.org

As a keen swimmer and environmentalist, it's so upsetting to read that the majority of officially monitored inland bathing sites now rated “poor” for water quality. They were discussing wild swimming this morning on BBC News but this issue extends far beyond wild swimming. This is about the health of entire ecosystems that depend on clean, living waterways. England’s rivers are sending us a warning we can no longer ignore. Rivers are the arteries of our environment - supporting biodiversity, agriculture, tourism, and community wellbeing. Yet sewage discharges, agricultural run-off, and chronic underinvestment are placing enormous pressure on already fragile habitats. What’s perhaps most concerning is that communities are having to campaign for bathing water status simply to trigger testing, transparency, and action. Clean rivers should be the baseline, not something achieved only after public pressure. The reality is simple: when rivers are polluted, ecosystems collapse quietly: fish populations decline; wildlife habitats deteriorate, and the long-term environmental and economic costs continue to grow. And when there's so much amazing work being done to reintroduce a range of species to our rivers, it seems crazy that water quality doesn't seem to be a priority. Protecting river health isn’t just an environmental issue - it’s a public health, infrastructure, and sustainability priority. The question is no longer whether we can afford to invest in our waterways, but whether we can afford not to. I'm not planning on swimming in any rivers this weekend...as usual, I'll be sat in the stands watching my daughter's compete in a swim meet! 🏊

🌊 Healthy Seas – April 2026 Wrap-Up 🌊 April was a month of strong community engagement, impactful cleanups, and continued collaboration across Europe. Have a look back: 🇬🇷 Greece – “Our Andros, Our Ocean” Schools Programme Our team brought ocean literacy directly into classrooms across Andros island, engaging over 500 students and over 100 teachers from 10 schools. The sessions covered marine litter, ghost gear, and sustainability. This initiative also sets the stage for ongoing impact, as schools will soon carry out their own cleanups and track collected data to measure environmental progress. 🇬🇷 Greece – Andros Community Beach Cleanup At Mylos Beach in Korthi, a community project brought together around 50 people of all ages, from young children to families and local residents. Together, we removed approximately half a tonne of waste across a 10,000 m² area, including plastics, ropes, and bottles. The event was part of the Andros Challenge & Festival and highlighted how local action and awareness can go hand in hand, especially when even the youngest participants take their first steps in protecting the ocean. 🇭🇷 Croatia – Deep Dive Cleanup at Ravni & Vela Vrata We carried out together with Ghost Diving Adriatic a technical operation reaching depths of up to 62 meters, removing 250 meters of gill nets and a cage from the seabed. 🇭🇷 Croatia In a collaborative effort near Rabac and the east coast of Cres island, we completed together with Ghost Diving Adriatic and Ghost Diving Poland multiple dives, recovering 50 kg of gill nets. 💙 From classrooms to coastlines and deep underwater sites, April showed the power of combining education, community action, and technical expertise. Every cleanup, every student reached, and every collaboration brings us closer to healthier seas. #HealthySeas #GhostDiving #MarineConservation #OceanProtection #EnvironmentalEducation #GhostNets #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #UnderwaterCleanup

The commitment of the Fife Golf Trust to make their seven public golf courses more environmentally sustainable (while preserving the quality and accessibility of the golfing experience) is a great example of how it's possible for golf courses to serve several positive purposes at the same time. "The aim was creating, enhancing and connecting habitat on the courses to improve biodiversity, strengthen ecological resilience, and create nature-rich landscapes that deliver tangible benefits for wildlife, golfers, and local communities alike." https://lnkd.in/eMF-G5jn

🚨 NOW LAUNCHED 🚨 We’re excited to officially launch two new nationally recognised aquatic training units alongside updates to the Swim Teacher Skill Set! 🌊 SISCAQU027 – Promote development of infants and toddlers in an aquatic environment 🌊 SISCAQU028 – Assist participants with disability during aquatic activities The updated Swim Teacher Skill Set reflects the evolving needs of the aquatic industry and supports more inclusive, specialised and participant-focused swim education. ✅ Nationally recognised training ✅ Industry-relevant skills ✅ Inclusive aquatic education pathways ✅ Designed for modern swim teachers and aquatic professionals Now is the perfect time to expand your aquatic training opportunities and stay ahead in the industry. RTO2299

The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is inviting organisations to become ‘Friends of First Green’. 🤝🌱 This new initiative supports the continued growth of First Green, an innovative environmental STEM outreach programme that transforms golf courses into hands-on outdoor classrooms. Find out how to get involved in today's update. 📰 https://lnkd.in/e97kVkC8 #BIGGA #FirstGreen #STEMEducation #GolfIndustry  #EducationOutreach

As part of the National Cycle Network, greenways and traffic-free routes underpin sustainable access to nature across the UK, and it's great to see the Nature, Towns and Cities programme recognise this. With input from Chester Zoo this case study explores how place-based partnerships can can enable the development, delivery and maintenance of walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure. Traffic-free paths and greenways aren't just corridors for the movement of people, but are also for nature: https://lnkd.in/e47_Wr2i

The recent report from the Independent Advisory Committee on Nature Restoration found that 90% of protected habitats in Ireland are in an unfavourable conservation condition. One of the recommendations in the report focuses on the need to educate, engage, and empower society - supporting the work of individuals and communities across the country to transform our capacity to protect our lands and seas. Priority 1 of Leave No Trace Ireland’s new Strategic Plan is to Educate and Inspire people to enjoy the outdoors responsibly and to understand how to conserve and protect it. The post below outlines how the organisation has been delivering education, sustainability and responsible outdoor recreation initiatives across Ireland – and that’s just for the month of April!

With pool closures, long travel times and delayed projects having direct consequences for swimming and water safety education, AUSTSWIM is supporting the growing national calls for urgent investment in Australia’s ageing aquatic infrastructure. https://lnkd.in/gVK4uMvg