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Safeguard our sea life |
Threats to the UK’s seas
Our seas are rich in wildlife, yet many of our precious native habitats and species are under threat or in decline. Ever-increasing pressures from human activities such as overfishing, dredging, and offshore development are putting animals such as magnificent basking sharks, delicate cold water corals, exotic seahorses and the 26 species of seabird which nest along the UK's coastline at risk. Our marine environment urgently needs protection. Largely forgotten and overlooked in terms of wildlife conservation, current legislation to protect the marine environment and its wildlife is woefully inadequate, lacking the basic protection that our wildlife on land receives. We urgently need new laws that protects the marine environment and the many and varied species that depend on it for their survival. Ensuring the continued conservation of seabirds requires protection on land supported by protection at sea. Sadly, protection of nesting colonies alone is not enough to guarantee our seabirds a thriving future. Without clean, healthy seas providing a rich and diverse food supply for foraging, our seabirds will suffer, despite our best efforts to secure them a safe future on land. UK a vital hub for seabird populationsAlmost two thirds of the world's gannets nest along our coasts, and a huge proportion of the world's Manx shearwaters and great skuas breed on islands offshore. These birds face a daily battle to survive, facing threats at sea from declines in availability of food, to lethal entanglement in marine litter and discarded fishing nets. Although nesting seabirds are protected on land from human activities such as development and disturbance, as soon as they leave their colonies and travel out to sea they, and the food they depend on, are not safeguarded in the same way. Seas vulnerable to exploitation
The needs of all these different uses will have to be balanced to ensure that the UK's treasured marine wildlife is not compromised. Campaigning for legislationAs the UK Government puts together new laws on how our seas are managed and protected, now is a crucial time to speak up for our marine environment. A recent report published by the RSPB calls for much needed work to deliver a network of marine protected areas. These safe havens for marine wildlife need to be identified, created and protected under new legislation. Our challenge to the UK Government and the devolved administrations is to commit resources to completing a network of marine protected areas throughout UK waters. Without comprehensive protection, this dynamic, diverse and largely unexplored environment is at risk of being lost forever. What can I do?To raise awareness of the 'Safeguard our Sealife' campaign, we have developed an exclusive range of products from cuddly seals to sealife bags and t-shirts! Last modified: 12 March 2008 |
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3 ways to donateYou can donate by secure online form, by telephone or by post. 1. Securely onlineDonating online is easy and ensures that more of your money is used for conservation.
2. By telephoneOur Membership Services team can also take donations over the phone. 01767 693680 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday 3. By postWe can accept donations by cheque too. Please make cheques payable to The RSPB and send them to: Safeguard our sea life |
Kittiwake on nest, Isle of May National Nature reserve - Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
Bottlenose dolphin - Steve Round
Puffin with sandeels in beak - Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com, Ref: 1616021-00291-002)
Bird illustrations by Mike Langman (RSPB)