Save our sharks
Will you help us protect sharks in UK waters?
Sharks have been around for millions of years, but today they are in serious decline with many shark species under threat of extinction.
It’s estimated that a staggering 100 million sharks are killed every year worldwide because of unsustainable fishing practices, shark finning, overfishing and habitat destruction. If this continues, we are in danger of losing many of our iconic shark species for ever.
Sharks are at the top of the food chain in virtually every location they’re found. Their presence indicates healthy marine ecosystems in our oceans. If we lose sharks, something will have gone seriously wrong with our seas.
We cannot allow this to happen.
MCS is campaigning for better protection
The key to helping sharks and other marine wildlife is to better protect the seas all around the UK.
Earlier this year the Government announced that they will be consulting on a third and final set of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in English seas, with plans for designation in 2018.
We now have a only one opportunity to complete a network of MPAs in the UK and give marine wildlife, including sharks, more protection. Once created and properly managed, these MPAs will provide safe havens for marine wildlife and sharks as they pass through.
Scientific evidence is vital for our MPA campaign. We need to build evidence of the absolute need to create these MPAs – the more evidence, the stronger the case and more pressure we can keep on those making the key decisions about the next round of MPAs.
Sharks under threat in the UK
- Blue shark
- Angel shark
- Frilled shark
- Basking shark
- Spiny dogfish
- Thresher shark
- Porbeagle
- Gulper shark
- Angular roughshark
- Nursehound
- Tope shark
- Mako shark
All donations will go direct to helping sharks and our amazing marine wildlife around the UK. In return, we will send you an electronic copy of our exclusive poster featuring marine species found around the UK seas.
Actions you can take
- Report your wildlife sightings
- Tell us about your Basking Shark sightings
- Donate to our Shark Appeal
- Browse Marine Protected Areas
- Tweet
Did you know?…
An area over 9 times the size of Wales is now in marine protected areas in the UK, but less than 1% is considered by MCS scientists to be well managed
Basking sharks typically visit UK waters between May and October
Over 170 parliamentarians from across the political spectrum signed up to our Marine Charter calling for a network of ‘marine protected areas’ in UK Seas
Help protect marine wildlife
We need to secure £50,000 for the next two years to make the case for new Marine Protected Areas and survey existing sites to prove just how effective they are. Your support is vital in helping us make this happen.
Donate now