Kingston charity Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation is encouraging school children to help celebrate the oceans with its 'Big Brew for the Blue' fundraising get-together on World Oceans Day, Saturday 8 June.

The organisation, that turned 20 earlier this year, hopes the nationwide event will create an opportunity for individuals, schools and groups to chat with others about the oceans and prompt a conversation about conservation.

Campaign director for Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: "People's fear of sharks has made fundraising for our work difficult, so we love the idea that this event will foster a greater admiration for the oceans, address some misconceptions about sharks, and encourage support for our campaigns."

The charity hopes its upcoming fundraiser and brand new school's programme, created with the help of Steve Backshall, will help it bring an end to the UK's trade in shark products.

Steve Backshall, presenter of wildlife programmes like Deadly 60, is a patron of Bite-Back. (Photo: Bite-Back)

According to Bite-Back, 200,000 sharks are slaughtered each day globally – roughly two every second – with a number of shark and fish species at risk of being wiped out by overfishing in the next 24 years.

Mr Buckingham added: "Big Brew for the Blue is a brilliant chance for young people to have fun with friends, talk about the oceans and raise some money at the same time. Best of all, who can say no to a cuppa and a slice of cake with friends?"

Some of Bite-Back's supporters say they are raising money with marine-themed cake and biscuit sales, with the charity adding great white and hammerhead shark cookie cutters to its online shop in response.

Bite-Back is also offering a teacher pack, Shout Out For Sharks, for use in schools to help lead discussions of marine conservation with students.

If you would like to get involved with Big Brew for the Blue and need some inspiration, the charity is providing some fundraising ideas on its website here, along with its donation page.