Jono Ridler’s epic swim attempt is a call to end bottom trawling

By Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, Co-founders, Live Ocean

Today, Jono Ridler will push off from North Cape, at the tip of New Zealand and begin an incredible mission south. One man attempting to swim 1,000 miles down the east coast of the North Island. In shifts and with the tide, six hours on, six hours off, for close to three months. No wetsuit, just togs, goggles and a swim cap.

It’s one of the most ambitious endurance feats ever attempted. And he’s doing it for one reason: the health of the ocean and a clear call for the end of bottom trawling. 

Between the two of us, we’ve spent a lot of time on the ocean – training and racing in big conditions, strong winds and heavy seas, including racing around the world. Time like that teaches you what it takes to keep going when you’re tired, uncomfortable and being pushed to your limits.  

But even with all that behind us, it’s still hard to fully grasp what Jono is taking on – the sheer scale of it, the mental and physical effort it will require to get back in the water, day after day, for around 90 days. We have huge respect for what he’s about to attempt. 

His commitment reflects the urgency of the issue he’s swimming for.  

New Zealand is guardian to the fourth-largest ocean space on the planet and since we launched Live Ocean six years ago, we have called for New Zealand to step up and lead. Other nations are lifting their ambition to protect and restore the ocean, meanwhile, we’re still allowing one of the most destructive practices of all: bottom trawling. New Zealand is the only country in the world to still trawl seamounts in the South Pacific High Seas. There is no justification. 

Dragging heavy nets across the seafloor is a primitive practice. It destroys everything in its wake – habitat, biodiversity, and it also releases carbon. We wouldn’t stand for it on land – so why do we allow it in the ocean?  

The urgent priority is to end bottom trawling on the areas that are most important to ocean health, seamounts and other vulnerable marine habitats. Then to innovate and move away from the practice entirely. We must be better than this and we believe we can be. 

That’s why Jono is swimming and why Live Ocean will be behind him every stroke of the way. The mission – Swim4TheOcean – aims to bring our eyes below the waterline, because what happens out of sight can no longer be out of mind. 

Over the next three months, he’ll face conditions we know well: those moments where the ocean asks everything of you. But he’ll face them in a way we never have.  

When he’s out there, swimming through the night, or battling rough conditions, he needs to know he isn’t doing this alone. Let’s show him he isn’t. Track the swim, turn up at the beaches, share the message, and add your name to the call to end bottom trawling. 

Let’s make this count.  

Go Jono!