1/4 of a million signatures to no. 10 October 2007
Supporters of MCS, WWF, RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts are calling for a Marine Act Now and signed over 1/4 million postcards and petitions, amounting to over 300,000. These were delivered to no. 10 Downing Street Wed 17/10/07 by 4 children representing future generations who want our seas protected. Isabel Carr, eight year old volunteer for the Marine Conservation Society said "I love dolphins, lobsters and starfish and think there should be a law to protect them. Also basking sharks or I may not have seen the one I did in Cornwall this summer."
The postcards MCS supporters signed said the following:
| Dear Prime Minister, Our seas are home to wonderful marine species from basking sharks and dolphins to cold water corals, but less than 0.001% are fully protected. As a maritime nation, they are also critical to the UK’s energy, transport, health and food needs. A Marine Bill is urgently needed to plan marine developments and ensure they are sustainable, to improve inshore fisheries management and to set aside zones for nature conservation. I want UK fish stocks to provide for future generations too. Please make space for the marine half of the UK and introduce the Marine Bill in the next parliamentary session. Yours sincerely |
165,000 signatures to no. 10 World Oceans Day 8th June 2005
165,000 pledges of support for new marine laws were delivered to 10, Downing Street by MCS and its partner organisations at Wildlife & Countryside Link on World Oceans Day 2005 calling for a Marine Bill. A big thank you to all who sent your postcards to Tony Blair, or completed our online petition page.
MCS is delighted that a draft Marine Bill has now been included in the Government's latest legislative programme which will introduce a new framework for managing the seas around the UK. Strong laws are urgently needed and MCS will use this petition to press the Government to progress rapidly and thoroughly in drawing up the new Bill. The Government must now get on and make it happen.
The 165,177 pledges of support were gathered from supporters of the Marine Conservation Society, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, The Wildlife Trusts, and WWF-UK.This presentation followed a lobby of Parliament by our members on the 9th of March 2005, when hundreds of wildlife campaigners spoke to their MPs about the importance of a new Marine Bill.
