The Marine Conservation Society is the UK’s leading marine charity. We work to ensure our seas are healthy, pollution free and protected.
Our seas are under immense pressure: too many fish are being taken out, too much rubbish is being thrown in and too little is being done to protect our precious wildlife. Our vision is for seas full of life where nature flourishes and people thrive.
Over 1,000 marine wildlife sightings were reported to MCS last year
21 species of shark live in UK waters throughout the year
Discover our wildlife
and report your sightings
Use our guide to find out more about our marine wildlife and where it lives.
How your money helps
Your support ensures we can continue to be the voice for our seas and oceans.
Shop
Our shop is full of lots of beautiful products, ideal for gifts or for yourself.
Good Fish Guide
The latest advice, top tips and recipes for buying and cooking fish that is sustainably sourced.
The 12-week consultation on the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has now closed and our Bottles For Change campaign gathered tremendous public support to introduce the best system possible.
The UK’s failure to protect and restore our seas has been condemned by Environment Links UK, a major coalition of conservation and environmental groups, including the Marine Conservation Society.
The Scottish Government has confirmed the country’s Deposit Return Scheme will include glass, cans and some plastic containers - tetrapaks and pouches aren’t initially included. MCS has called on Michael Gove to introduce the same in England and urged Welsh Local Authorities not to resist a similar scheme
Norfolk’s Marine Conservation Zone has been brought to life with salty tales and beach trips for a nearby primary school. As part of the MCS led Agents of Change project, fishermen visited the school, whilst the pupils carried out beach cleaning and lug worm digging - all within a stones throw of Europe’s most extensive chalk reef.
A poll for MCS has revealed that people in Scotland want to see glass bottles included in a Deposit Return Scheme even more than plastic ones. Some sections of UK industry have been resisting the inclusion of glass bottles. MCS says ministers must listen to consumers instead of those in industry with vested interests.
Sandy Luk, CEO of MCS, has told the heads of the UK’s top ten supermarkets that they must support a comprehensive ‘all in’ Deposit Return Scheme for drinks bottles and cans and warns ministers not to give in to behind-the-scenes lobbying, which could be a death sentence for marine life. Her warning comes as MCS launches its #BottlesforChange campaign.
To mark Mental Health Awareness week, MCS Ocean Ambassador and Paralympic Gold Medalist Susie Rodgers MBE, talks to us about what the sea means to her and how her connection to the ocean has helped her through some of the toughest times in her life.
The BBC’s Blue Planet Live (BBC1 Sunday 24th March 8pm) is an ambitious week of programming looking at all aspects of our oceans and the work being done by scientists worldwide, to secure the future of some of our most iconic marine creatures. We look back at some of the breath-taking highlights of the first programme.
Did you know that one in 11 species in Scotland is at risk of extinction? Environment and conservation are devolved issues and right now the Scottish Government is seeking views on the future of environmental protections in Scotland.
MCS Fisheries Policy Officer, Debbie Crockard, reflects on the choppy waters surrounding the new Fisheries Minister, Robert Goodwill, as the House of Lords attacks unsustainable fishing levels in the EU.
What a week! From Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon posting our inflatable Leatherback Turtle on Instagram, to HRH Prince Charles encouraging everyone to take part in the Great British Beach Clean in a key note address, it was fantastic to see the recognition of MCS and our incredible volunteers at Scotland’s first International Marine Conference.
Fisheries management is never straight forward – particularly for the many mixed fisheries in Wales. But post–Brexit, we should be able to build on what we already have as part of the EU says MCS leads on fisheries and Wales, Sam Stone and Gill Bell.
The Marine Conservation Society has warned Welsh Local Authorities and elements within government that they will be failing young people if they refuse to back a money-back recycling system which encourages consumers to return their empty glass and plastic bottles and cans.
The CEO of the UK’s leading marine conservation charity, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), has urged Michael Gove to follow the example set by Scotland today in designing an ambitious all-inclusive money-back recycling system for bottles and cans.
Norfolk’s Marine Conservation Zone has been brought to life with salty tales and beach trips for a nearby primary school. As part of the MCS led Agents of Change project, fishermen visited the school, whilst the pupils carried out beach cleaning and lug worm digging - all within a stones throw of Europe’s most extensive chalk reef.
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) says it’s delighted to welcome celebrity chef, Cyrus Todiwala OBE DL, as the charity’s latest Ocean Ambassador.
The UK’s leading marine charity, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) says it is disappointed that not one single UK fishery has moved off its Good Fish Guide ‘Fish to Avoid’ list in its most recent ratings update.
Wales’ leading marine charity has taken a deposit return machine into the Senedd to give Assembly Members the opportunity to see how a deposit return scheme (DRS) could work.
To mark Mental Health Awareness week, MCS Ocean Ambassador and Paralympic Gold Medalist Susie Rodgers MBE, talks to us about what the sea means to her and how her connection to the ocean has helped her through some of the toughest times in her life.
The 12-week consultation on the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has now closed and our Bottles For Change campaign gathered tremendous public support to introduce the best system possible.
The UK’s failure to protect and restore our seas has been condemned by Environment Links UK, a major coalition of conservation and environmental groups, including the Marine Conservation Society.
The Scottish Government has confirmed the country’s Deposit Return Scheme will include glass, cans and some plastic containers - tetrapaks and pouches aren’t initially included. MCS has called on Michael Gove to introduce the same in England and urged Welsh Local Authorities not to resist a similar scheme
Norfolk’s Marine Conservation Zone has been brought to life with salty tales and beach trips for a nearby primary school. As part of the MCS led Agents of Change project, fishermen visited the school, whilst the pupils carried out beach cleaning and lug worm digging - all within a stones throw of Europe’s most extensive chalk reef.
Our RSS feed
Social media…