News
State of Nature report reveals shocking species decline
UK nature is in trouble says groundbreaking report from leading conservation groups including MCS >>More
It's all about Turtles this week!
With World Turtle Day on Thursday, we're launching MCS Turtle Week to celebrate these marvellous mariners. >> 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
MCS supports letter to PM
MCS has signed an open letter to David Cameron from Professor Callum Roberts and 86 other experts>>More
MCS agrees with MP's report on MCZs
Science and Technology Committee has published it's report on MCZs, accusing Minister of slow progress >> More
Break the Bag Habit group demands English charge
As 5p carrier bag charge comes into force in Northern Ireland, NGO group, including MCS, demands English action >> 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
12 days left to save English seas
The public consultation on Marine Conservation Zones closes at the end of March. Find out why this is so important for Coleen the Quahog and have your say now. >> More
Help MCS turn the tide on pollution
Pollution from sewers, farmland and city streets is a serious concern at a third of the UK's bathing beaches, and beach litter levels continue to be over acceptable levels at nearly 2,000 items for every kilometre on a beach.
Litter and sewage pollution is not only an eyesore but is also a danger to the amazing wildlife in our seas and on our beaches. We want to see action taken to reduce litter levels on our beaches by half by 2020 and to see a drop in sewage pollution.
View the following video, taken from the BBC series Tropic of Cancer, to see the problems caused by plastic. Presenter Simon Reeve says "This is a colossal problem that we really need to address" - watch to find out why:
Turning the tide on litter - what needs to happen?
MCS wants:
Government to formulate coherent marine litter action plans.
Industry to improve water treatment storage capacity and combined sewer overflows to reduce the discharge of untreated sewage and sewage related litter to rivers and the sea during heavy rainfall.
The public to reduce their use of plastic packaging, and reuse and recycle wherever possible. First steps can be as simple as avoiding plastic shopping bags, bottled drinking water and over pacakged goods.
See our full recommendations on pollution here.
MCS Pollution team – what we do
Every year we work with thousands of volunteers in all four parts of the UK to monitor the litter on our beaches through our Beachwatch programme. Using the data we collect from our surveys, we run campaigns on areas of particular concern, such as plastic bags and balloon releases.
We also report on the state of our bathing waters through the Good Beach Guide.
