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NEWS

Northern Ireland plastic bag levy set for 2013

News Item imageMCS applauds decision by NI Government to introduce 5p levy on plastic bags. Now it's all eyes on Westminster >>More 

Votes close for Welsh marine protection today

News Item imageWe are closing the voting for our recommended marine protected sites in Wales today. Vote now! >>More

MCS calls for ban on Chinese lanterns

News Item imageMCS is urging UK authorities to follow Spain's lead and ban the sale of environmentally damaging sky lanterns >>More  

Alarming new CSO figures

New information reveals the full extent of the problem of discharges of raw sewage to the environment. >>More

MCS calls for Welsh seas to be high on political agenda

News Item imageMCS is among green groups demanding more resources to protect Welsh seas >> More

Action plan for marine litter on the agenda in Rio

News Item imageAt the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development  marine litter and pollution is up for debate >> More   

Island scallop fisheries under the spotlight

News Item imageMCS is part of Isle of Man meeting bringing together science and industry to seek common ground >> More 

Untangling Grassholm's gannets

News Item imageMCS crew helps free gannets and chicks caught up in dangerous plastic >> More

Seasearch divers spot prawn and blenny spreading west

News Item imageDivers have recorded two speciesof prawn and blenny in Devon and Cornwall for the first time >> More   

MCS team returns from World Conference on Marine Biodiversity

News Item imageThey return with the message that the incredible research in the field must be used as a basis for change and improvement. >> More

Our precious cool seas

Sea life around the coast of the British Isles is just as colourful, fascinating and beautiful as that found anywhere else in the world. Our underwater landscapes are teeming with life and amazingly varied, from rocky reefs and muddy bottoms, to deep-water channels and sea-grass meadows.

They support everything from valuable fish stocks to delicate jewel-like anemones and giant basking sharks, leatherback turtles and seals. The wealth of our seas lies in their diversity.

What is the problem?

Sadly, decades of industrial exploitation have taken their toll, and now all UK seas and their delicate marine habitats are under immense pressure. Only a tiny fraction of our seas are protected from damaging activities, and only eight of a total of 47 fish stocks are known to be in a healthy state and 22 of our marine vertebrates are now considered to be threatened with extinction.

What needs to be done?

The UK needs to better understand, respect and protect its marine wildlife. We must ensure that vulnerable species and habitats are properly protected and that fisheries targeting commercially important species are better managed. We need to allow areas of our sea to recover from the relentless, damaging fishing activities that have scoured much of the seabed habitats and the wildlife that depends on them.  

MCS Action

For over 25 years MCS has campaigned for better protection of our marine wildlife. We have successfully lobbied for the protection of spectacular species such as the basking shark, and are at the forefront of the movement calling for Marine Acts from the UK and Scottish Governments.

We are now pushing for establishment of a network of marine protected areas in UK waters, while we carry out national surveys of vulnerable marine species and habitats.

MCS also runs the Cool Seas Roadshow, which tours primary schools and public events inspiring young and old about the importance of looking after ours seas. We have so much to lose, please help us protect our amazing marine wildlife.  

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