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Protecting our seas, shores and wildlife
The MCS campaign to protect our seas continues...
with a big thanks to you
127 Marine Conservation Zones
Protecting our seas, shores and wildlife
Thanks to you, our friends and supporters, the MCS campaign for 127 Marine Conservation Zones in English seas has achieved amazing things over the last six months.
While we await the Government’s decision on which sites it will protect first, we thought we’d reflect on some of the campaign highlights so far, and celebrate that journey with you.
Thank you for helping us in the fight to save our seas. And remember – this campaign’s not over yet!
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Protecting our seas, shores and wildlife
Pledges of support: Over 350,000
In October, MCS and SEA LIfE launched the Ocean Heroes, Defenders of the Deep pledge campaign. MCS’ army of Sea Champions visited all 12 SEA LIfE centres to brief their staff on the campaign. The Sea Champs then worked through the winter gathering signatures at local events up and down the country, including an amazing 2,500 pledges in a single week at Bristol Zoo. A further 24 national aquaria got involved, supported by our ‘Kat Skater’ social media campaign and its ‘singing sea creatures’ viral video.
Together with our campaign partner organisations WWf, RSPB, WCL and The Wildlife Trusts, we gathered more than 350,000 pledges of public support. This joint petition was delivered to Downing Street on June 12th.
Our online video was viewed by over 4,000 people
Photos © Patrick Joel
Protecting our seas, shores and wildlife
The campaign team meet Jesse Norman MP
Letters to MPs: 2,657
Our parliamentary campaigners have met with over 40 MPs and peers from all the major political parties, including the Minister responsible for MCZs, Richard Benyon MP, to advocate our campaign. A Select Committee of MPs took evidence from MCS in November and resolutely backed our case in its report published after Easter. But it was the 2,657 letters sent by you, via MCS’ website, to your local MPs which helped build the groundswell of cross-party support in Westminster for a network of 127 Marine Conservation Zones.
Martin Spray, MCS Chair and Sam fanshawe, MCS CEO meet Ben Bradshaw MP outside the Houses of Parliament
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Left: Lesser spotted dogfish © Malcolm Nobbs , Right: Seal © Colin Jones
Protecting our seas, shores and wildlife
Responses to the public consultation on Marine Conservation Zones: Over 40,000 In December, the Government launched a consultation on just 31 sites from the proposed MCZ network. Disappointed, 4,474 MCS supporters responded via our website, backing the call for 127 Marine Conservation Zones – the biggest response we’ve ever had. In total, Defra says over 40,000 people wrote to the Government, one of the biggest responses it has ever had to an environment consultation.
Supporters joining our ‘127 MCZ’ Westminster rally: Around 2,000
On february 25th, MCS organised a rally in Westminster led by fish fight’s Hugh fearnley-Whittingstall and supported by the British Sub-Aqua Club and Sea Life. Around 2,000 people demonstrated their support for 127 Marine Conservation Zones outside the Houses of Parliament – so many that we stopped the traffic! The rally was filmed for Channel 4’s fish fight and broadcast to a national audience of three million.
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Protecting our seas, shores and wildlife
Leading UK scientists who support a network of 127 Marine Conservation Zones: 87
In April, world famous marine scientist Prof Callum Roberts sent an open letter to Prime Minister David Cameron. It re-stated the advice from the scientific community that 127 Marine Conservation Zones were required if the Government wants to meet its own commitment to an ‘ecologically coherent network’ of protected areas in English seas.
The letter was co-signed by 86 UK PhD level scientists, including five (out of eight) members of the government appointed Science Advisory Panel which oversaw the process of designing the Marine Conservation Zone Network, 31 Professors some of whom are heads of institutions, and four fellows of the Royal Society, as well as many leading experts in environmental science including Dr Jean-Luc Solandt and Dr Peter Richardson from MCS.
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Protecting our seas, shores and wildlife
Take acTion NOW Visit www.mcsuk.org/mpa to sign our petition or text: Protect (and your email address) to: 84424 (the only cost is your network charge)
Watch our campaign video and share it on social networks
Follow us on Facebook for the latest campaign updates
Follow us on Twitter @McSUk Use #127McZ
Thanks again for your fantastic support. and remember, we’re always delighted to welcome new members. You can join McS for just £2.75 a month. Visit www.mcsuk.org for details.
Next steps for the campaign
This Summer, the Government will decide which Marine Conservation Zones to designate first. As well as a final decision on the 31 sites proposed for designation in 2013, Minister Richard Benyon MP has indicated that the Government will also provide greater clarity on plans for the remaining 96 MCZs. So our campaign is gaining ground but the journey isn’t over. We still face strong opposition from powerful industries determined to stop MCZs to protect their own self interest. We still need your support.
MCS is clear. We want a world class network of 127 Marine Conservation Zones for English seas. This means 64 sites now – the 31 prioritised by the Government and a further 33 known to be at high risk of immediate damage – and the rest within three years.
Left: Starfish © Sue Scott, Centre: Seaslug © Rohan Holt, Right: Puffin © Peter Richardson
Protecting our seas, shores and wildlife
Registered charity no (england and Wales): 1004005 Registered charity no (Scotland): Sc03748027
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Marine Conservation SocietyOverross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7USTel: 01989 566017 Email: [email protected] Web: www.mcsuk.org
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