Butterfish Derek Haslam
Living Seas. What picture does this phrase conjure up in your mind? A rocky reef bursting with brightly coloured fish, corals and sponges? A boat trip in the company of leaping dolphins and playful seals? Fishermen hauling nets brimming with big, tasty fish? Living Seas are all these things and more. We urgently need your help to bring back the UK's Living Seas.
Twelve Wildlife Trusts (Northumberland, Durham, Tees Valley, Yorkshire, Sheffield, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Leicester and Rutland, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough, Norfolk, Suffolk), located across the east coast of England aim to make the concept of 'Living Seas' a reality through the North Sea MPA project. This project promotes protection of the North Sea's weird and wonderful marine wildlife, from the smallest plankton to the largest whales and will ensure over the next few years that our seas receive the protection they need.
The project focuses mainly on the English North Sea, from Northumberland down to Suffolk and 200 nautical miles out to sea.
On 12th November 2009 the new Marine and Coastal Access Act was passed in Parliament. The Act is the culmination of years of national campaigning by The Wildlife Trusts and partner organisations. It will pave the way for increased protection for marine wildlife through the creation of Marine Protection Areas and also increase access to the coast for walkers by establishing an uninterrupted coastal path around England and Wales.
One exciting outcome was a brand new classification of protected area, a Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ). Over the last two years and a lot of hard work, four regional stakeholder groups have put forward 127 MCZs for consultation and designation.
You can show your support for MCZs by signing our Petition Fish campaign and join our Save our Seas online community. Keep up-to-date with our campaign using Joan's blog or Bernard the Gurnard's social media sites.
Find out how you can help Save our Seas.