Visit Isle of Man has announce the official destination launch of the ‘Big Blue Bag’ initiative in partnership with renowned 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.
The ‘Big Blue Bag’ initiative is a hands-on citizen science project designed to empower people of all ages, particularly younger generations, to engage with and safeguard their local coastlines and shallow seas. Monty Halls, best known for his marine conservation work on BBC’s ‘Great Escapes’ and Channel 4’s ‘My Family and the Galapagos’ developed the bag as a simple way for anyone to become a marine scientist and ocean advocate in their own community.
Over the next two weeks, people can submit nominations via an online form to spotlight local ‘ocean heroes’ – people, groups or organisations in 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.
The initiative focuses on four main protocols:
- Microplastic Pollution – sampling sand and water for microplastics
- Sea Surface Temperature – recording local sea temperatures
- Coastal Debris – tracking and collecting litter and waste along beaches and shorelines
- Biodiversity Monitoring – observing and recording key species such as seabirds to assess ecosystem health
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.
Local partners have also embraced the ‘Big Blue Bag’ initiative. Manx Wildlife Trust piloted the bags last year, helping to tailor and refine the protocols for the Island’s unique coastal ecosystems. Three bags will be available for public use at their visitor centres in Scarlett and the Ayres, and in their Peel shop. Island Escapes will place ten bags in select coastal holiday properties, giving guests the opportunity to take part in meaningful marine conservation during their stay.
Monty Halls, founder of the ‘Big Blue Bag’ initiative, commented: “The ‘Big Blue Bag’ is designed to become the largest citizen science initiative on the planet within five years. It empowers anyone, regardless of age, background, location or education, to gather vital data on ocean health. As the first whole nation Biosphere reserve in the world, the Isle of Man is uniquely positioned to lead by example and will become the first island destination to have its coastline monitored by its own people and visitors, working together to protect its extraordinary marine life.
“The Isle of Man holds a special place in my heart with its deep-rooted connection to the sea and rich maritime heritage. It’s a place where conservation and sustainability are at the forefront, and I’m proud to have worked alongside such a forward-thinking destination to promote the protection of our natural world.’
Deborah Heather, CEO of Visit Isle of Man, added: “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.”
You can nominate an individual or organisation for the chance to win a ‘Big Blue Bag’ here.
Main picture: Monty Halls, Founder of the ‘Big Blue Bag’ initiative
