Lucy Luck

“Relocating to Cornwall was the biggest inspiration for my interest in Marine conservation. The deep connection that coastal communities have for their Marine environment and wildlife sparked a passion I didn’t know was there, it changed something inside of me and I’ve never looked back! Mounts Bay in particular is an absolute haven for wildlife and Marine conservation, with local volunteers dedicating their time to clean beaches and be a voice for the ocean. To having the benefits of being so close to the sea and witnessing the incredible wildlife we have around Cornwall. “I joined SAS in April 2024 as Campaigns and Policy Coordinator, my role is to support the delivery of campaigns and activations on all four of our main campaign areas – water quality, the ocean and climate emergency, plastic pollution, and ocean recovery!” “Cornwall is home to some of Britain’s most fascinating wildlife species, yet so many people in Cornwall don’t have access to the Marine world or it’s natural history.” With future aspirations to become a scientific Communicator to raise awareness on the threats our marine ecosystems face and solutions to protecting the Marine world. While continuing to contribute to vital scientific research through Citizen Science programs and local volunteer marine conservation work.”

What is the best thing about working in the Marine sector?

“Working in the Marine sector never has a dull day, there is always something happening and it is so diverse in what it provides. For me that is the Marine conservation side of the sector, working with local communities, taking part in projects and campaigns to make a real difference in our little corner of the world. By being part of coastal communities here in Cornwall, we are on the front line to tackling climate change and environmental issues. We see the impacts of plastic pollution, we see the sewage spills, the stranding’s etc. It’s seeing these things that inspires the Marine conservation sector to continue the work, to push for change because we see the benefits it can have on our marine ecosystems and environment for both wildlife and humans.”

What is the best thing about living in Cornwall?

“It’s the power of people in our communities, it is unlike anything I have experienced before. Coastal communities come together in full force to create a better place to live, with our Marine environment and wildlife as a top priority. Penzance was the first town in the UK to be awarded Plastic Free status by Surfers Against Sewage, because of how people came together to make a sustainable change. Cornwall has the incredibly unique Your Shore Network, which connects 17 volunteer led Marine groups across the county, through the work of Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Local people want to protect their local Marine environments and contribute to citizen science projects to their local area, out of pure passion and dedication for the natural world. Cornwall has a power in it’s communities.”

What advice would you give to young people?

“Advice I would give to young people would be to simply follow your passions, follow that enthusiasm it’s totally unique to you and will take you down the paths you want to be. Be willing to learn new things every day, find your niche and become an expert in it through self taught research, academia or being surrounded by like-minded people by volunteering for your local Marine group. Most of my knowledge and experiences has come from being around others who share the same passion for the natural world as I do, by volunteering and attending events and networking to meet new people. Also, having a support system, it can be a challenging sector to navigate at the start, finding and landing your first few jobs can be hard. Having a support system to be there for you will truly support your journey, professionally and personally.”

Why you are interested in working as an Ambassador for CMA?

“I want to share my passion and enthusiasm for the Marine world to others, to share the work I do as a volunteer for Mounts Bay Marine Group and Plastic Free Penzance for my local community. As an individual, to show the power one person can have to make a positive difference. Finally, as part of Grampus Campus to showcase the incredible natural history of Cornish Wildlife and raising awareness on how to protect our Marine environments for future generations.”