BSAC marine partner and co-founder of the Motion for the Ocean initiative, Emily Cunningham MBE, has announced her first-ever book, Our Ocean to Save.
Written in response to a growing call for practical, everyday ways to help protect our seas and oceans, marine biologist Emily hopes that her new book will help to fill the gap between ‘interest’ and action.
Timed to coincide with World Oceans Day (8 June), Our Ocean to Save is now available for pre-order. It will be published in October, around the much-anticipated TV release of the BBC’s Blue Planet III.
Our Ocean to Save is, says Emily, her way of trying to answer the questions she is regularly asked by people wanting to know how they can help the marine environment:
I am asked on an almost daily basis ‘how can I help our ocean?’, by people from all walks of life, but I never really had anywhere to signpost people to. Our Ocean to Save is a hopeful, helpful book that offers readers a plethora of practical ways anyone, anywhere can help the ocean. It's not a list of what you can't do - it's an inspiring exploration of what we all can do.
Informed by Emily’s fifteen years of experience at the frontline of ocean conservation, the book is also packed with tales of her adventures across our blue planet – from diving in a submersible in Antarctica to her first scuba dives in North Wales.
[L]: Emily diving in a submersible, Antarctica; [R] Collecting her MBE
Emily, who learnt to dive with Bangor University SAC in 2008, has worked with BSAC since 2025 on the ground-breaking local action initiative Motion for the Ocean. Designed to encourage local councils to take positive action for our seas and waterways, the campaign has seen over 40 local councils commit to support ocean recovery and health.
With the countdown now on to the publication of her book on 29 October, Emily believes that this is a practical pledge we can all make. Emily said:
Whether you live by the coast or are miles inland, there are lots of ways that anyone can help our ocean.
I hope that this book will help others find the enjoyment and fulfilment that comes with helping the ocean. Because helping the ocean isn't just altruistic, it's our way of protecting our life-support system. It's a win-win!
- Our Ocean to Save by Emily Cunningham can be pre-ordered online
- For more information on Motion for the Ocean, go to bsac.com/MT4O
- To learn more about Emily, visit emilycunningham.co.uk
