NEWS
MCS CEO receives top environmental award
Sam Fanshawe picks up the Rachel Carson Prize in Norway. The first British woman to be honoured >>More
MCS broadly welcomes CFP reforms
Another late sitting in the European Parliament has resulted in crucial reforms to the Common Fisheries Policy >>More
State of Nature report reveals shocking species decline
UK nature is in trouble says groundbreaking report from leading conservation groups including MCS >>More
Latest Beachwatch Report out today
Results of our annual Beachwatch Big Weekend published today show our passion for plastic is leaving a legacy of litter. >> More
MCS at Holyrood to hand in marine pledges
MCS' Calum Duncan hands in thousands of pledges supporting MPAs in Scotland to Environment Minister >>More
Register now: Big Beach Clean-up 2013
This year's Big Beach Clean-up with M&S is taking place between 22nd-28th April. Join the fight against marine litter - find out how you can take part here >> More
Last year`s wet summer was bad news for beaches
MCS publishes latest Good Beach Guide revealing drop in 'Recomended' beaches after summer washout >> More
MCS urges communities to ban releases
Balloon and lantern releases on the rise so MCS develops new pack to help communities find alternatives>>More
Register now! Big Beach Clean-up 2013
MCS welcomes Scottish MPA proposals
MCS in Scotland says proposals must be seen as work in progress with all 33 sites taken to public consualtion>>More
Scottish MPA network worth £10 billion
MCS part of new report that says marine protection will safeguard range of hidden benefits >> More
Chippies shortlisted for sustainable award
Three fish and chip shops will fight it out for the Good Catch Award next year in recognition of sustainability efforts >> More
Meet Kat Skater, the 'not so common' skate
MCS is introducing a range of comedic characters to highlight the serious need for 127 Marine Conservation Zones in English seas. >> More
Plans for EU's largest marine protected area
MCS commends proposals for five new offshore Special Areas of Conservation. Read More >>
MCS partner with Bank Machine
Opportunity to donate via Scottish cash points via Bank Machine's new ATM giving initiative. More >>
Save Scottish Seas
MCS in Scotland is co-ordinating this exciting joint campaign in support of a network of Scottish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). >>More
Plastic bag levy in Scotland
The Scottish Government are currently consulting on whether to introduce a plastic bag levy. Take part in the consultation and tell them why this is so important here
Standby for jellyfish swarms
There's been a slow start to jelly spotting season but numbers are increasing as temperatures hot up >> More
Beachwatch goes sub aqua!
Divers and snorkelers will find out just how much litter lies beneath the waves More >>
HRH The Prince of Wales at Bamburgh beach clean
HRH Prince Charles, President of MCS, met with volunteers and staff at a beach clean at Bamburgh Beach in Northumberland yesterday. Check out our photos on Facebook
Search for Sea Champions in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Sea Champions kicked off in Edinburgh and the Lothians with a beach clean-up at South Queensferry, which saw 33 volunteers bag up one of the largest amounts of rubbish ever collected during a beach clean in Scotland. More >>
Beachwatch Big Weekend: 15th-16th September 2012
We are looking for volunteers to join us on the beach for 'Beachwatch Big Weekend' More >>
Excellent bathing beaches at all time high
The MCS Good Beach Guide 2012 is out today and recommends the highest number of beaches in 25 years >> More
Student Aquaculture Research Project
MCS needs aquaculture graduate for research project in our aquaculture programme >> More
Plastic wrapped poo is threat to beach cleanliness
The MCS Beachwatch Big Weekend Report launched today reveals a rise in poop scoop bags on beaches >> More
Big Beach Clean-up May 11-13th
Register to take part, and get a £5 M&S voucher on the day, as part of our joint Forever Fish campaign >>More
MCS calms fears over Barra protection
Support for Sound of Barra as Special Area of Conservation will not result in 'no take' but will protect maerl beds >>More
Washed up turtles
Rare turtles found on UK wintry beaches, MCS urges beach walkers to look out for turtles over the festive period >> More
Alarming new CSO figures
New information reveals the full extent of the problem of discharges of raw sewage to the environment. >>More
Action plan for marine litter on the agenda in Rio
At the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development marine litter and pollution is up for debate >> More
Film explains fish meal and oil certification
MCS is the only NGO featured in a new film on standards for marine feed materials >>More
MCS team returns from World Conference on Marine Biodiversity
They return with the message that the incredible research in the field must be used as a basis for change and improvement. >> More
Seasearch divers make huge find in the Orkney Isles
Divers have found a rare fan mussel in Scapa Flow which is double the size of any other British sea shells >> More
MCS questions deepwater drilling after North Sea leak
MCS welcomes natural dispersal of leak off Aberdeen but says situation calls into question continued licensing >> More
MCS in £1million partnership with M&S
MCS celebrates the launch of the latest development in our partnership with M&S, Forever Fish. 21 million customers and 78,000 employees will be encouraged to clean up beaches and promote sustainable seafood. >> More
Dive into Clyde Marine Week with MCS
We're celebrating the amazing Firth of Clyde this summer with a week long festival of events on Scotland's west coast >>More
SeaFrance and MCS celebrate three year partnership
SeaFrance celebrate their third year working in partnership with
Beaches like bathrooms says MCS report
Brits rubbish habits are going down the pan as MCS urges bag it, bin it, don't flush in latest Beachwatch report >> More
Don't let go for the Royal Wedding
MCS is urging the public to find an alternative to balloon releases to celebrate Kate and Will's nuptials >> More
Beachwatch Big Weekend
Help clean up the nation's beaches with MCS and the BBC1 "One Show" >> More
Enduro bankers head to France
Support Deutsche Bank staff on Bank Holiday London to Paris triathlon for MCS >> More
Jellyfish are blooming lovely
Huge numbers of jellyfish have been spotted off UK coasts. They have no brain, heart or eyes, but MCS want to hear when YOU see them >>More
Save Scottish Seas
MCS in Scotland is co-ordinating this exciting joint campaign in support of a network of Scottish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Watch the video below and visit the www.savescottishseas.org to share why you love Scotland's seas and support MPAs. Our seas face multiple pressures but strong public support for ambitious and careful management can help kickstart their recovery. If you have not done so already, please also pledge your support for a comprehensive Scottish MPA network.
Scotland's magnificent seas
Astonishingly, Scotland has over 60% of all UK waters to the continental shelf limits, 60% of the UK coastline and 10% of Europe's coastline. Framed by myriad sea lochs, firths and islands, the surrounding seas are home to a third of the global population of grey seals; the world’s most northerly population of bottlenose dolphins; 23 other species of the world’s 82 whales and dolphins and 43% of all seabirds breeding in the EU. They also provide summer feeding grounds for the basking shark, which is the world’s second largest fish, and the endangered leatherback turtle.
Beneath the waves are some of the finest marine habitats in Europe, including rocky reefs covered in soft corals, sea fans and sponges, shallow beds of delicate maerl, sea grass, flameshell and horsemussel beds - all providing refuge for young fish and shellfish - and spectacular coldwater coral reefs.
Marine life under threat
However, all this rich marine biodiversity is under threat from human activity. Whilst providing food for centuries, and energy and recreation for decades, in return we have depleted our seas almost to exhaustion and used them as a convenient dumping ground. As reported in Scotland's Marine Atlas, the health of a staggering proportion of Scotland’s marine habitat is deteriorating, with the majority of our seabed facing many serious problems. However, with political will, the solution is now at hand.
Recovering Scotland's Seas
Almost ten years of dedicated campaigning by MCS in Scotland and partners resulted in the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 which includes requirements for Scottish Ministers to protect and, where appropriate, enhance the health of Scotland's seas; develop a national marine plan that includes marine ecosystem objectives and establish a network of well-managed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
After the two-year Scottish MPA project, to which MCS input Seasearch data and expertise, the official SNH/JNCC advice on Scottish MPAs was presented to Marine Scotland in November 2012, who then reported to the Scottish Parliament in December. We successfully pushed for greater coverage of sea lochs, flameshell beds and burrowed mud communities but there are still gaps in the draft network (notably nationally important sites for seabirds), delays for sites for important species (basking sharks, common skate, whales and dolphins), question marks over network coherence and concerns about the ambition to recover Scotland’s seas, rather than merely protect the remnants from decades of exploitation. We also remained concerned about delays to the National Marine Plan. Consultations on the MPA network, National Marine Plan and plans for offshore renewables will be held in summer 2013.
We must grasp this historic opportunity to redress the balance and help recover our seas to a healthier, more productive state. The Marine Conservation Society has had a dedicated office and campaigns programme in Scotland for over ten years and will keep working hard to ensure Scotland's seas are put firmly on the road to recovery.
How to contact us
MCS in Scotland
11A Chester Street
Edinburgh
EH3 7RF
Telephone: 0131 226 6360/2391
Fax: 0131 226 2391
Or email us
