'The Ocean Stone' to be unveiled on Portland, Dorset today

The Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust (PSQT), working in partnership with Greenpeace will today (Thursday, February 16) reveal The Ocean Stone to raise awareness of the importance of ocean protection and the impact that extractive activities have on our oceans.

The Ocean Stone, will overlook Tout Quarry and was crafted by local artist Hannah Sofaer, as part of a 'Green Corridor Project'.

Each stone will have its own significance linking the historical culture, ecology and land use of Portland to the future.

Artist Hannah Sofaer in her workshop. Pic. Philip Hartley / Greenpeace (Image: Philip Hartley / Greenpeace)

Ms Sofaer said: "Here in Tout Quarry we have a long history of regenerating the land and believe art can bring people from different backgrounds and disciplines together to effect positive change.

“The Ocean Stone stands as a record of this and an invitation for visitors to look out to sea and contemplate our responsibility to protect the ocean for future generations.

"Unveiling this work now is significant because next week UN talks will resume to agree a strong global oceans treaty. It’s a crucial moment for us here in Portland and for the whole world.”

In September Greenpeace built an underwater barrier of 18 boulders in the English Channel’s South West Deeps Marine Protected Area to protect the seafloor from destructive industrial fishing.

The boulders were made of Portland limestone and artists from PSQT carved one of them into an ammonite sculpture.

Ammonite boulder Placement in the South West Deeps. Pic. Kristian Buus / Greenpeace (Image: Kristian Buus / Greenpeace)

The Ocean Stone faces out to sea in the direction the underwater boulders were placed and is inscribed as a marker of that collaboration.

The inscription reads: ‘Stand with your back to this stone and look out to sea. Imagine an underwater barrier of boulders like these protecting the ocean from destructive industrial fishing, and with it, all our futures…’

Will McCallum, co-executive director of Greenpeace UK, said: “The unveiling of this magnificent and beautiful stone is a powerful reminder of the importance of our oceans and the need for urgent action to safeguard them for future generations.

"Crafted from local Portland stone, it’s a poignant reminder that ocean protection is vital for coastal communities - people across the world who depend on the ocean for their livelihoods need politicians to act now.

“One simple step to ban industrial fishing in UK Marine Protected Areas would secure the future of our oceans at home and make the UK government truly world leaders in ocean protection.

"This stone is a symbol of hope that one day that vision will become a reality.”