Visit Isle of Man has announced the launch of the ‘Big Blue Bag’ initiative in partnership with TV broadcaster and marine biologist, Monty Halls. To celebrate the launch, Visit Isle of Man is running a competition inviting people to nominate Isle of Man residents who are passionate about protecting the marine environment for a chance to win a free bag.
Over the next two weeks, nominations can be submitted via an online form to spotlight local ‘ocean heroes’ – people, groups or organisations on the Isle of Man who are actively working to protect and care for the marine environment. Nine winners will be selected by a judging panel to receive their own ‘Big Blue Bag’, enabling them to enhance their conservation efforts through structured data collection.
Each ‘Big Blue Bag’ contains equipment and step-by-step guidance for conducting simple but impactful marine health checks. Users submit data through a dedicated app where citizen scientists will contribute their findings to a global open-access database, helping to inform marine conservation efforts around the world.
Through this competition and wider initiative, Visit Isle of Man hopes to foster greater community involvement in environmental protection, particularly among young people. The initiative also reinforces the Island’s growing reputation as a sustainable destination, aligning with the Agency’s ten-year visitor economy strategy, ‘Our Island, Our Future’, which sets out to position the Isle of Man as a leading eco-tourism destination in the British Isles.
Deborah Heather, CEO of Visit Isle of Man, said, “This initiative exemplifies how tourism can be a force for good. By engaging both the Manx community and visitors, we’re empowering people to actively participate in safeguarding the Isle of Man’s environment. It’s a meaningful way to inspire environmental stewardship while highlighting the Island’s commitment to sustainability and its reputation as a leading, eco-conscious destination.’
The competition is open until Sunday 17 August, with the winners announced the following week.
Click here to nominate an individual or organisation for the chance to win a ‘Big Blue Bag’. For more information about the initiative visit: www.bigbluebag.org
