The Marine Conservation Society (MCS), the UK charity dedicated to protecting our seas, shores and wildlife, today launches the exciting Cool Seas Scotland project at Largs Sailing Club, followed by an intrepid seashore safari on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Cool Seas is a spectacular educational initiative, run by MCS to raise awareness of the wonderful life in Scotland's seas.

Speakers at the event include Scottish Environment Minister Michael Russell MSP, and Lady Isabel Glasgow, Chair of the Firth of Clyde Forum. Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park rangers will be among fifty invited guests and avid supporters of the project.

Anne Saunders, MCS Scottish Projects Officer, said “From basking sharks to coral reefs, leaping dolphins to colourful jellyfish, Scotland’s seas really are cool, and we don’t just mean the temperature! However, pollution of our seas and beaches, over-fishing and damage to fragile wildlife are still a problem. This project will help redress the balance by educating children, families and the wider community about our seas, the wonderful wildlife that depends on them and how to help in their protection.”

The MCS Cool Seas Scotland programme will expand on an already successful programme of marine conservation activities in Scotland. By combining education, awareness raising and community activities to connect people with the rich biodiversity of Scotland’s seas and shores, the Cool Seas project will help in the conservation of our precious marine natural heritage. Unveiled at the event will be an exciting Cool Seas Scotland activity booklet, Go Wild in the Clyde action leaflet, stunning colour banners raising awareness of Scottish sea life and other new MCS materials for use in Scotland. These will complement the fun learning activities on the colourful Cool Seas web-pages (see www.mcsuk.org/coolseas/home).

MCS is grateful to the Scottish Government, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), and the Underwood Trust for helping to fund the MCS Cool Seas Scotland programme. We are also grateful to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) for supporting the Largs launch event and to rangers from the Clyde Muirshiel Regional and Eglinton Country Park for their assistance during the seashore safari.

Minister for Environment Michael Russell said:
“Cool Seas Scotland is a stimulating and engaging project which will reconnect people with the wonders of our seas through education and community action. I am delighted to support this programme and offer funding to ensure its success.

Our seas and the stunning biodiversity they support are among Scotland’s greatest assets.  That’s why we are committed to introducing a Scottish Marine Bill to ensure the sustainable use, enjoyment and protection of our seas for all the people of Scotland and for the generations to come.”  

Dr Fiona Manson, SNH Marine Advisor at the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Unit, said “SNH is proud to be part of the Cool Seas project which will help to promote the importance of the seas around Scotland and highlight the threats they face. It's exciting and informative, and we hope it will help children and communities make the most of their local marine environment.”
 
Mark Wells, Campaigns and Education Manager for SEPA, commented: "One of SEPA's tasks is to protect Scotland’s seas from pollution. The Cool Seas campaign will support that work by showing people the links between their activities and the threats facing the marine environment today. Raising awareness of the importance of healthy seas is a challenging job but the Cool Seas project provides lots of simple information and activities to help parents and teachers get the message across."

Charlie Woodward, Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park Manager said “The Firth of Clyde is important to Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park and we welcome this initiative.  It dovetails with the work our staff do, particularly the Countryside Rangers.  Exploration of the seashore in the magnificent setting of the Clyde is something we want to encourage and this new programme will do just that.  We look forward to promoting the MCS Cool Seas project and utilising the educational materials with young people.”
With the publication of a draft Scottish Marine Bill, 2008 will be a big year for Scotland’s seas. The MCS Cool Seas project has a vital role to play at the grassroots level in helping raise awareness and encourage active conservation of this priceless resource, in turn helping toward a greener Scotland.

Photocall opportunities:
1. Largs Sailing Club - with Michael Russell, Lady Glasgow and MCS staff and materials at Largs Sailing Club at 3pm
2. Seamill beach and rockpools - with MCS staff, Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park rangers and launch attendees at Seamill beach between 4 and 4.40pm

ENDS
For further information about MCS Cool Seas Scotland contact:
Anne Saunders, MCS Scottish Projects Officer – Tel: 0131 226 2391 / 07894 566 624
Calum Duncan, MCS Scottish Conservation Manager – Tel: 0131 226 6360 / 07841 985 595

Editors Notes
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to the protection of our seas, shores and wildlife.  MCS campaigns for clean seas and beaches, sustainable fisheries, protection of marine life and their habitats, and the sensitive use of our marine resources for future generations. Through education, community involvement and collaboration, MCS raises awareness of the many threats that face our seas and promotes individual, industry and government action to protect the marine environment. MCS provides information and guidance on many aspects of marine conservation and produces the annual Good Beach Guide (www.goodbeachguide.co.uk), the Good Fish Guide and www.fishonline.org on sustainable seafood, as well as promoting public participation in volunteer projects and surveys such as Beachwatch, Adopt-a-Beach and Basking Shark Watch.www.mcsuk.org

MCS Silver Jubilee
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is celebrating 25 years of protecting our precious seas, shores and wildlife this year. MCS will be running a series of events and initiatives in 2008 to highlight the need for better protection of our seas, celebrate the wildlife they support and give opportunities for people to take an active part - on land or at sea.

MCS in Scotland
Funding for the Cool Seas Scotland outreach programme provided by Scottish Natural Heritage, The Scottish Government and the Underwood trust has enabled MCS to expand activity in Scotland with MCS Scottish Projects Officer Anne Saunders in post to assist the ongoing MCS campaign for Seas fit for Scotland. The post will develop exciting educational, interpretative and web-based resources and deliver talks and events focused on southwest Scotland to raise awareness of marine conservation; and promote community involvement in MCS Basking Shark & Turtle Watch, MCS Jellyfish surveys and the MCS Adopt-a-Beach & Beachwatch project throughout Scotland. Now employed at the MCS offices in Scotland are Calum Duncan (MCS Scottish Conservation Manager), Anne Saunders (MCS Scottish Projects Officer) and Dawn Purchase (MCS Mariculture Officer).

MCS is also grateful to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) for helping support the launch of the Cool Seas Scotland project at Largs Sailing Club and the Ernest Cook Trust for funding to help print the Cool Seas Scotland Action booklets.

Scottish Marine Bill campaign
MCS chairs and supports Scottish Environment LINK's campaign for a Scottish Marine Bill that includes: Proper protection for Scotland's marine wildlife, including identification, designation and protection for Nationally Important Marine Areas • An effective new planning system for Scotland's seas • A Scottish Marine Management Organisation to take charge of planning, licensing and enforcement at sea • Clear targets to measure the recovery of our seas. The Scottish Marine Bill must be integrated with the UK Marine Bill, see www.savescottishseas.org for details.

Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park
Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park is Scotland’s largest Regional Park located just 30 minutes west of Glasgow. See http://www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk/ for further details or contact Fiona Carswell, Development and Marketing Officer tel 01505 614 791 email fiona.carswell@clydemuirshiel.co.uk.

Scottish Government Greener Scotland
To view the Scottish Government’s strategy toward delivering a Greener Scotland see http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/SustainableDevelopment.