March for Marine Protection around England
There was a fantastic turn out for the MCS-organised march on Westminster on the 25th February, to highlight to politicians just how passionate people are about our seas and how angry they feel about the Government’s clear lack of ambition when it comes to protecting our waters. MCS with friends from BSAC, Sea Life and Fish Fight plus almost 2,000 supporters of MCZs turned Westminster Bridge and Old Palace Yard a sea of colour.
The day kicked off with a couple of ribs full of divers in scuba gear circling the Thames outside Parliament. The main event was a 2,000 strong march over Westminster Bridge, led by MCS supporter and Fish Fight campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, ending in a rally at Old Palace Yard.
It was big, colourful and could not have been better supported! People dressed as lobsters, a skate and a cod. Umbrellas turned into jellyfish, fish on sticks, a life size turtle, banners, flags and at least 500 127 emblazoned t-shirts stretched over winter woollies on one of the coldest days of the year. It was a real spectacle!
With rousing speeches from Hugh, MCS chairman, Martin Spray and BSAC’s Tony Marshall, the event attracted plenty of media interest taking the issue to a really wide audience.
If you joined us on the day then thank you so much for coming. If you weren’t able to be there, then please take a moment to get involved.
We need your support, so please act now.
MCZs are facing opposition from some sectors of industry and MCS and its supporters must work together to counter that.
We need to redress the balance and make it clear that MCZs could bring benefits both to the environment and the economy.
It’s simple – just send comments on Defra's consultation to them today. www.mcsuk.org/mpa/england
The Government’s latest consultation on MCZs closes on 31st March. If you are a scientist, diver, sea angler, surfer, fisher or simply someone with a local knowledge of the sea who’d like to support individual sites by contributing some information, you can do so on our website with its easy to use map and response form.
