New Zealand's SailGP team, the Black Foils, have been honoured with the Better Planet award in SailGP’s Impact League. This recognition comes for their environmental and social impact efforts, particularly their support for the Swim4TheOcean campaign.
The campaign featured ultramarathon swimmer Jono Ridler completing a 1,367km staged swim down New Zealand’s North Island. This effort culminated in a petition with 73,647 signatures delivered to parliament, calling for an end to bottom trawling in New Zealand.
Blair Tuke, co-chief executive of the Black Foils and co-founder of the Live Ocean marine conservation foundation, described Ridler’s swim as “one of the greatest endurance feats of all time.” Despite a recent permit renewal for bottom trawling, Live Ocean is advocating for a ban on new trawling permits on seamounts and full protection of New Zealand seamounts by 2027.
Tuke believes the upcoming general election in November will be significant for marine protection in New Zealand. The team remains committed to achieving policy change, stating, “You don’t want to just stop now with the work half done.”