Seabirds, and other marine wildlife species, have been in the news this week.
Firstly albatrosses came under the spotlight thanks to top level talks on tuna fishing and its impact on seabirds. Scientists gathered in Brazil on Monday to agree fishing quotas in the Atlantic.
RSPB marine conservationist Dr Cleo Small was there to remind those in attendance that longline fisheries pose a major threat to seabirds and that measures must be adopted by fisheries to prevent further loss and even extinction of some seabirds, especially albatrosses.
Long line fishing is having a devastating impact on albatrosses, which are often attracted to the lines by the bait and then get caught on hooks and dragged underwater where they drown. 18 of the world's 22 species of albatross are now heading for extinction.
Closer to home things are looking up for our native seabirds with the passing of the new Marine Act. While much of the coverage of the act has concentrated on the public access to coastal areas that it will create, we are most excited about what it will mean for marine wildlife. After all, how much better walk along the coast is when you can look out and see wildlife teeming above and below the waves.
Birds like the shag and the kittiwake, which have struggling in recent years, will benefit from the act, but only if the new powers contained within it are properly utilised. Now the government has these new tools under its belt to tackle declines in marine wildlife, it has to get on and create special conservation areas along our coasts to help threatened sealife.
We’ve identified 21 of the most important marine sites around the country and rest assured we’ll be banging on the government’s door until they get the protection they so urgently need.