Marine Conservation Society Press Release
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SeaFrance Customers Raise £300,000 For The Marine Conservation Society
10th February 2010The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is delighted to report that customers of SeaFrance Dover-Calais Ferries have raised over £300,000 in voluntary contributions for the charity. The French ferry operator SeaFrance took on the role of lead sponsor for the MCS Beachwatch project in May 2008, and has seen customer donations to the charity’s work far exceed all expectations.
SeaFrance Managing Director, Robin Wilkins, commented, “We wanted to support an environmental project where both our customers and staff could make a positive and practical contribution to our marine environment. I am thrilled at the way our customers have responded so generously to the charity and also how our staff have really taken the environmental issues onboard in a practical way. Not only have we been able to raise a staggering £300,000 for the Beachwatch Project, our staff have also carried out 6 beach cleans at Kingsdown Beach so far, collecting a total of 159 bags of rubbish. We have also been able to fund a number of highly successful MCS Cool Seas educational roadshows at schools around Kent.”
Sam Fanshawe, MCS Director added, “SeaFrance’s sponsorship has made it possible for volunteers around the whole of the United Kingdom to get involved with the campaign against marine litter. Litter on beaches is a growing problem and can be harmful to wildlife and ourselves. MCS’s long term aim is to halve the amount of litter on UK beaches by 2015 and SeaFrance’s ongoing support will be vital in achieving this target.”
SeaFrance staff and local residents regularly meet to clean and monitor the beach at Kingsdown. The next beach clean will take place at the Oldstairs Road end of the beach on Sunday 7 March at 10am. Anyone is welcome to come along and join in. -ENDS-
For further press information contact:
Ruth Philpin / Sara Whines at bgb communications, www.bgb.co.uk
Tel: 0207 902 2990 or email rphilpin@bgb.co.uk / swhines@bgb.co.uk
Ends
For further details contact MCS on:
Tel: 01989 566017
Marine Conservation Society
Unit 3, Wolf Business Park
Alton Rd,
Ross-on-Wye
HR9 5NB
www.adoptabeach.org.uk
www.mcsuk.org
www.goodbeachguide.co.uk
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
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