East Coast Radio

Singing Fashion label The Rodnik Band lead the way with art and music in support of Save the Sea, the Environmental Justice Foundation’s (EJF) creative charity campaign to end illegal ‘pirate’ fishing.

‘Pirate’ fishing operations cause huge amounts of damage, not only to the livelihoods of poor coastal communities in developing countries, but also to our marine ecosystems. EJF’s Save the Sea campaign is focused on bringing an end to these operations in Sierra Leone, one of the world’s poorest countries.

The Rodnik Band is supporting EJF by fueling the campaign with positivity, art and fun. A pop charity single has hit the charts this December. The song by The Rodnik Band, entitled ‘Cod Save the Sea’ and inspired by the campaign, is accompanied by a lively music video and is available to download on iTunes for £0.79. All sales will support EJF’s work in Sierra Leone.

Buy the single here: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/cod-save-the-sea-single/id477924607

Alongside raising essential funds, the collaboration between EJF and The Rodnik Band aims to inspire public interest and action about the issues concerning illegal ‘pirate’ fishing through the mixed use of artistic genres in an inspired and positive campaign.

EJF Director Steve Trent says “This creative and dynamic project by The Rodnik Band is connecting consumers to the plight of coastal communities in West Africa, showing their support for international action to protect our shared oceans and the lives and livelihoods of some of the poorest people on the planet.”

Fashion credentials: The Rodnik Band http://www.therodnikband.com/ Philip Colbert’s designs walk a satirical line between art and fashion, and play on the idea of wearable art. The brand is presented as an Ironic pop band, with Philip performing a vocal wrap, accompanied by models wearing the collection and playing in the band – the label represents a unique amalgamation of music, art and fashion. By associating these three genres, The Rodnik Band creates a modern fashion concept. Philip has a distinct approach to the industry and has carved out an individual position, mixing these media to create a different and meaningful brand identity. The label has gained a celebrity following such as Lily Cole, Sienna Miller and Liv Tyler. Philip has been supported by leading industry figures such as Andre Leon Talley, Karl Lagerfeld and Anna Piaggi.

Charity credentials: The Environmental Justice Foundation www.ejfoundation.org Environmental Justice Foundation is a UK registered charity (no. 1088128) working internationally to defend the natural environment and basic human rights. EJF has been investigating, documenting and exposing IUU – ‘pirate’ – fishing since 2004 internationally with a current focus on the negative environmental, social and economic impacts in West Africa, particularly Sierra Leone and Liberia. A donation of £10 from the sale of each t-shirt goes to the EJF

Illegal Pirate Fishing – more information

In Sierra Leone EJF operates a community surveillance patrol to document evidence of illegal trawler activity within the Inshore Exclusion Zone reserved for artisanal fishers. Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing is the term given to any fishing activity that contravenes national or international laws, such as using banned fishing gears; targeting protected species; operating in protected or reserved areas or at times when fishing is prohibited; not reporting or misreporting catches; or operating without any sort of permit or license to fish.

IUU fishing is a global concern and recent studies estimate that illicit catches are worth between US$10 and US$23 billion annually. IUU fishing undermines sustainable fisheries management, devastates marine environments and jeopardises the livelihood and food security of some of the world’s poorest people.

Illegal foreign-owned industrial ‘pirate’ fishing vessels often target developing countries that have little capacity to address the problem. Countries across sub-Saharan Africa are estimated to lose nearly $1 billion US dollars a year from IUU fishing.

Over 80 per cent of fish stocks are over exploited, fully exploited or depleted according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) most recent assessments. Scientists have estimated that at current levels of exploitation most commercial fish stocks will have collapsed by the year 2048.