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After a decade of campaigning we can finally celebrate. Today, 12th November 2009, the UK Marine and Coastal Access Bill receives Royal Assent and becomes law. The UK's marine wildlife above and below the waves surrounding England and Wales, and in offshore waters around the whole UK, should now be afforded the level of protection that it so desperately needs.

Thank you to everyone who backed our campaign and help push this important legislation through Parliament. We know that RSPB supporters have played a big part in making this law a reality. Quite simply we could not acheived such a fantastic result without your support. Its time to celebrate and be proud.

The focus of the campaign now moves to ensuring that the Act is put into practice so that our marine wildlife and seabirds are protected and safeguarded for future generations.

We will be continuing our campaigns for a strong Scottish Marine Bill and the introduction of a Marine Bill for Northern Ireland's inshore waters.

Some years, Shetland's weather goes from summer to winter and seems to skip autumn.  Such is 2009!  This photo, taken at West Voe in the south of Shetland, shows typical conditions at the moment.  You can see Sumburgh Head RSPB reserve in the background.  Long-tailed ducks have returned from their Arctic breeding grounds and can frequently be seen in the area.

At this time of year, we have to find a day between weathers to reach Mousa RSPB reserve.  We go to assist Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) with their annual Shetland-wide survey of grey seal pups.  Grey seals are protected by law, and Shetland has an important population of them.  Mousa is a great place for grey seals to haul out and have their pups.  It is largely undisturbed by people just now as there is no ferry service.  The shore is perfect for them to haul out of the water.  Keeping our distance, we walk around the coast of the island and map out the adults and pups we see.  Just like seabirds, it is important monitor population trends to help understand what is going on in the seas around us.  It all adds to the bigger picture. 

Mousa is a very different island in winter compared to summer.   Gone is the sound of Arctic terns, skuas, skylarks and the chatter of visitors.  Instead, you mostly hear seals and the occassional rock pipit.    This photograph shows adults and their pups, none of which were over 10 days old.  Those of you who have visited the reserve might recognise this area.  It is where your journey begins once stepping off the ferry.  There are four pups in this photo, plus three adult females and a large snoozing bull.

Here you can see some seals lying up from the shore, with the famous Mousa Broch and distant Sumburgh Head RSPB reserve.  You might be able to see a grey blob in the puddle beneath the wall.  This is a young pup, seemingly enjoying a bath.  I remember watching a pup hide her head in a puddle, whilst her body remained out, peering up through the water.  It brought to mind when children hide their eyes to you can't see them!

It is amazing to think that within this dry stone wall, there might still be a storm petrel chick!

I love seals, particularly pups.  This individual is one of the oldest on the island.  Born on a small rocky beach bound by steep sided cliffs, I worry in case the wind were to change to a north westerly.  This year there hasn't been any dead pups recorded, but we always loose a few.  I feel a little attached to this one, and on nights like this can't help but think about it and the other seals on Mousa.  I hope to get back later in the month to continue with the monitoring.  But we need that day between weathers.