living seas trusts

8/7/2019 Living Seas Trusts

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Protecting Wildlife for the Future

Living SeasThe Wildlife Trusts vision


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Living Seas The Wildlife Trusts visionpage

Contents

Living Seas The Wildlife Trusts vision 3

What are Living Seas? 4

The UKs hidden depths 5

Our seas in trouble 6

Why must we act now? 7

Why are the next five years critical? 8

The role of The Wildlife Trusts 9

Our achievements in protecting UK seas 10-11

Our strategy to achieve Living Seas 12-13

Marine Protected Areas and wildlife 14-15

Fishing and seafood 16-17

Marine planning and sustainable development 18-19

Legislation and policy 20-21

Join us on our journey towards Living Seas 22

This page: Kelp forest. Photo by Luke Atkinson.

Cover image: Spider crabs. Photo by Dave Peake.

The Wildlife TrustsThere are 47 Wildlife Trusts across the whole of the UK, theIsle of Man and Alderney. Together, we are the UKs largest

voluntary organisation dedicated to protecting wildlife and wildplaces whether they be in the country, in cities or at sea. Weare supported by more than 765,000 members, 135,000 ofwhich belong to our junior branch, Wildlife Watch. Our expertstaff are helped by a formidable workforce of more than 39,000volunteers.

www.wildlifetrusts.org



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Living Seas The Wildlife Trusts vision page

Reef scene. Photo by Dave Peake.

Living Seas

The Wildlife Trusts visionLiving Seas. What picture does this phrase conjure up in your mind? A rocky reefbursting with brightly coloured sh, corals and sponges? A boat trip in the companyof leaping dolphins and playful seals? Fishermen hauling nets brimming with big,

tasty sh?Living Seas are all these things and more.

We urgently need your help to bring back the UKs Living Seas. The next ve yearsare critical. It is literally make or break time. With new laws and Governmentcommitments in the ofng, we have a once in a lifetime opportunity. If we make thevery best of it, pushing every step of the way, our seas will turn the corner and start torecover their health. If we do not, they will continue on their downward spiral.

Please join us in our quest for Living Seas. It is time to make history. Read on to ndout how you can be involved.

Did you know?The fried egg sea anemone, prawn cracker sponge,baked bean sea squirt and hot cross bun jellyfish arejust a few of the many thousands of different animals andplants found in UK seas.

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What is Living Seas?Living Seas is The Wildlife Trusts vision for the future of the UKs seas. Within LivingSeas, marine wildlife thrives, from the depths of the ocean to the coastal shallows.

In Living Seas:

Wildlife and habitats are recovering from past decline as our use of the seasresources becomes environmentally sustainable.

The natural environment is adapting well to a changing climate, and oceanprocesses are helping to slow down climate change.

People are inspired by marine wildlife and value the sea for the many ways in whichit supports our quality of life.

The Wildlife Trusts believe it is possible to achieve Living Seas around the UK within 20years a single generation but only if opportunities are seized now to make radicalchanges over the next ve years.

Join us, and support our role as the champions and guardians of the UKs Living Seas.

Did you know?

Sea anemones though they look like harmless flowers are deadly predators. Each tentacle is loaded withthousands of tiny, poison-tipped harpoons that stun andkill fish, shrimps and other creatures. The spectacularfireworks anemone, which lives in Scottish sea lochs,can grow up to 30cm high and lives in a metre-long tubeburied in the mud.

Fireworks anemone and squat lobster. Photo by Charles Erb.

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Living Seas The Wildlife Trusts vision page page 3

The UKs hidden depthsThe seas around the UK have the potential to be among the most productive andwildlife-rich on Earth. Hidden beneath the surface are landscapes every bit as variedand beautiful as those we see on land, with undersea cliffs, caves, chasms, mountains,dunes and plains. Colourful reefs, meadows of seagrass and other extraordinaryhabitats are home to many thousands of plants and animals, from tiny corals to themassive basking shark, the worlds second largest sh.

The UKs seas are also our life support system. They absorb vast quantities of harmfulgreenhouse gases, while releasing oxygen for us to breathe. Our seas regulate theclimate, and good bacteria in the sea help govern clouds and rainfall.

The seas provide us with many everyday resources too: energy from oil, gas andrenewable sources; sand and gravel to construct roads and buildings; seafood, andports through which more than 90% of our imports and exports travel. Our coastalwaters are an unrivalled playground, enjoyed for sport and relaxation. In all, our coastsand seas play a central role in our nations history, identity, wealth and happiness.

Did you know?

Hidden beneath the waves is an extraordinary range oflandscapes to rival those on land. Places such as theLune Deep Gorge, the Mixon Hole, the BrackleshamBalls and the Dogger Bank could one day be as familiarto us as Snowdonia and the Norfolk Broads.

Feather star and kelp. Photo by Paul Naylor.

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Our seas in troubleRight now, the seas around the UK are not Living Seas. The environment is a shadowof its former self. For centuries we have taken the seas riches for granted, taking toomuch with too little care. Fragile habitats have been destroyed, whether ripped up byshing gear or contaminated by industry. Only 2% of the UKs sea area has even aminimal level of protection for wildlife, and less than a thousandth of 1% (0.001%) isfully protected from all damaging activities.

Numbers of basking sharks have dropped by more than 95%, while the common skate,once abundant throughout UK seas, is on the brink of extinction. Corals, seahorses,whales, dolphins and seals all have been affected. Fish stocks have collapsedand marine resources are depleted. The ocean processes that regulate our climateand reduce climate change are also under threat. The marine environment our lifesupport system is on its knees.

Thankfully, it is not too late to turn this situation around. Our seas and sea life have aremarkable capacity to recover but only if we give them the chance. With time, spaceand care, our seas will bounce back. If we act now, Living Seas are within our grasp.

Did you know?

The Lundy Island No Take Zone in the Bristol Channelis showing remarkable signs of recovery since receivingfull protection in 2003. Large lobsters are now seventimes more abundant in the protected zone than in thesurrounding area.

Common lobster. Photo by Paul Naylor.

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Living Seas The Wildlife Trusts vision page page 5

John Dory. Photo by David Stephens.

Why must we act now?The next few years could be remembered as the most important period in history for theprotection and management of UK seas. Following more than a decade of campaigningby The Wildlife Trusts and partners, 2009 should see the passage of a Marine andCoastal Access Act, covering English and Welsh inshore waters and offshore watersaround the whole UK. This Act could dramatically boost protection for marine wildlifeand improve management of activities at sea. It has ve key areas, every one of which

could help us achieve Living Seas:

A new network of Marine Protected Areas.

New authorities and powers to manage shing in inshore waters.

Improved arrangements for licensing industrial activity at sea.

Joined-up planning of marine industry, leisure and conservation.

A Marine Management Organisation charged with developing marine plans.

In addition to the UK Act, a Scottish Marine Act with similar objectives is expected in2009. This will be followed in 2012 by an Act for Northern Ireland. Together, these Actsgive us an unprecedented opportunity to bring back Living Seas.

Did you know?

No one knows for sure how the John Dory a favouriteon restaurant menus earned its name. One theory isthat it comes from the French jaune dore meaninggolden yellow. Another suggests a link with JohnDory, the hero of an ancient ballad, while a third theoryproposes that the origin lies in Janitore, a nickname forSt Peter. According to legend, St Peter took a gold coinfrom the fishs mouth to pay his taxes.

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Tompot blenny. Photo by Gareth Millson.

Why are the next five years

critical?New legislation is only the beginning. The real challenge is to make it happen toachieve real change and that is where The Wildlife Trusts come in. We believe theMarine Acts give us a unique opportunity to set a course for Living Seas. It mighttake 20 years to get there but decisions made, and actions taken, over the next veyears will determine whether we stand a chance. It is unlikely we will get anotheropportunity this good in our lifetimes. If we falter now we will, in all likelihood, pushour seas beyond a point from which they can recover. We must recognise this uniqueopportunity and seize it with both hands.

If we act now, we can restore to their former abundance giants such as the commonskate and basking shark. We can ensure a future for corals, seahorses and seagrassmeadows. We can rebuild Living Seas.

Did you know?The tompot blenny, with its clown-like face and inquisitivenature, is a firm favourite with scuba divers in UK seas.This little fish, only 10-20cm long, will wriggle out of itsshelter in the rocks to take a closer look at passers-by.But beware its innocent expression the feisty tompotspecialises in eating prey that no other predators willtouch, crunching through barnacles shells and battlingwith stinging anemones.

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The role of The Wildlife TrustsThe Wildlife Trusts are natural champions of Living Seas. As a voluntary organisation,we are independent of governments. This allows us to set out a long-term vision whichgoes way beyond short-term political goals. We can voice our concerns openly andhonestly. We can respond rapidly to changing or emergency situations, raising fundsand public support to enable our work.

What sets us apart from other organisations, however, is our localness. Everywhereyou go in the UK, there is a Wildlife Trust representing local people and standing upfor local wildlife. Our heart and soul is in local communities and local wildlife issues.Our strength also lies in our collective impact. By sharing knowledge and experiencebetween Wildlife Trusts, we are greater than the sum of our parts. And by comingtogether at the national and UK levels, with a united voice informed by our considerableexperience, we have a powerful inuence and are respected and trusted by decision-makers.

From the seashore to the halls of power, The Wildlife Trusts have the knowledge andexperience to make a difference, and the drive to make it happen.

Did you know?Seahorses are thought to mate for life and, famously, it isthe males that get pregnant and give birth. Shortly afterdawn each day, seahorse couples perform a specialdance for each other, believed to strengthen the bondbetween them. Two species are found in UK seas: thespiny seahorse and the short-snouted seahorse.

Short-snouted seahorse. Photo by Paul Naylor.

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Our achievementsin protecting UK seasThe Wildlife Trusts have been leading the way in marine conservation for more than 30 years.These pages show just a few examples of what we have achieved.

In 2008 oursix year study

identied baskingshark hotspotsaround the UK.

Every yearwe co-ordinate

National Marine Weekand organise hundreds

of marine awarenessactivities and

events.

We establishedthe UKs rst

mainland VoluntaryMarine Nature Reserve

at Kimmeridge inDorset back in

1978.

For morethan 12 years

we have trained and

co-ordinated volunteerscuba divers to recordseabed habitats and

wildlife.

For many years

we have opposedharmful development atsea and worked with marine

industries including shing,aggregates, oil and gas andrenewable energy to helpminimise their impact on

habitats and wildlife.

In 2007, wepresented the EU

Fisheries Commissioner

with a 370,000-signaturepetition asking him toprevent dolphinsdying in shing

nets.

Fortwo years we

worked with theScottish aquaculture

industry, governmentand stakeholders topromote sustainablesh-farming across

Scotland.

In 2008 morethan 100 of our

supporters wrote lettersto the Scottish Government

calling for Lamlash Bay on the

Isle of Arran to be protected.The bay is now Scotlands

rst community marinereserve.

Now in itsthird year, the SaveOur Seas team, our

online campaignersnetwork, has more

than 1,000members.

For 18 years,we championed

the protection of theLyme Bay Reefs from

harmful shing practices,culminating in

legal protectionin 2008.

Our marineawareness work in

Wales stretches from Bangorin the North to Fishguard in theWest, featuring interpretationcentres, projects with schools,

events such as the popular Picnicwith a Porpoise, and working

with local communities tomonitor whales and

dolphins.

Off the Isle of

Man, we have ttedbasking sharks withsatellite tags to study

their migration. In 2007,a tagged shark swam

all the way toCanada.

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Photosby:PaulNaylor,JohnDurnell,LincolnshireWildlifeTrust,MikeMarkey,SimonBurt,WildlifeTrustsWales,TheWildlifeTrusts,

JPTrenque,BMAPA,RichardShucks

mith/MarineAwarenessNorthWalesWildlifeTrust,HampshireandIsleofWightWildlifeTrust,

TheWildlifeTrustforLancashire,Ma

nchesterandNorthMerseyside,KentWildlifeTrust,CumbriaWildlifeTrust,BernardPicton/UlsterM

useum.

Our 150coastal and marine

wildlife reservesare havens for seals,seabirds and a hugerange of other plants

and animals.

In 2007our 14 year studyof dolphins and

porpoises showeda dramatic decline in

numbers off the SouthWest of England.

We recordedand mapped more

than 1,400 pink seafans rare corals

around theCornish coast.

Our 17coastal and

marine visitorcentres are greatplaces to learn

about LivingSeas.

In Wales,Northern Ireland,

Scotland and Englandwe have campaigned for

more than 10 years tosecure Marine Acts to

protect our seas.

In the SouthEast of England,

we have worked withthe marine aggregatesindustry for six years to

improve understanding ofthe impacts of dredging

on sand and gravelhabitats.

In Cumbriawe worked withcookery schools

and celebrity chefs topromote sustainable

seafood.

Originallyestablished in Kent,

our Shoresearch projectis now engaging hundreds

of volunteers recordingseashore habitats and

wildlife in severallocations around

the UK.

We revealedthat the horse mussel

reefs in Strangford Lough,Northern Ireland, had beenbadly damaged by trawling.

We ran a successful campaignto prevent further damageand promote recovery of

this rare habitat.

We publisheda series of inuentialreports focusing on

Liverpool Bay, MorecambeBay, the Ribble estuary, the

Firth of Clyde and Belfast Loughhighlighting the urgent needfor a joined-up approach to

marine planning.

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Our strategy to achieve

Living SeasUnited by our vision of Living Seas, The Wildlife Trusts ambition is to lead the waytowards a healthy, productive and wildlife-rich future for UK coasts and seas. Our workwill focus on fourLiving Seas themes:

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and wildlife. Fishing and seafood.

Marine planning and sustainable development.

Legislation and policy.

We need to ensure that signicant progress is made on each of these themes. WhileMPAs and wildlife are naturally the focus for much of our marine conservation work, wecannot hope to achieve Living Seas without also addressing the other themes. Even afar-reaching network of MPAs, for example, will fail to bring about recovery of marineecosystems unless accompanied by improved controls on shing and a sustainableapproach to licensing marine industry. And none of this will be possible without MarineActs throughout the UK and continuous improvements to marine policy.

But how will we make a difference? To effect change, we need to address each ofthe Living Seas themes at the UK, national, regional and local level. We must play toour strengths, using our unique partnership, our reputation, our relationships, oursupporters and our extensive experience. For each of the Living Seas themes, we willapply six cross-cutting Living Seas strategies:

Advancing knowledge

Plotting the course

Finding common ground

Inuencing decisions

Inspiring people

Making waves

The diagram opposite illustrates how the six Living Seas strategies will apply to the fourLiving Seas themes. This is explained further on the following pages.

Gravel lie. Photo by Paul Naylor.

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Marine Protected Areas(MPAs) and wildlife. We willdrive forward the creationof effective MPA networksand promote conservationof threatened habitats and

wildlife throughout UK seas.See pages 14-15.

Fishing and seafood.We will promotesustainable shingand sh-farming,and encourageenvironmentally-friendly

seafood choices.See pages 16-17.

Marine planning andsustainable development.We will work with marineindustry and decision-makersto ensure development atsea has minimal impacts on

habitats and wildlife.See pages 18-19.

Legislation and policy.We will continue to push fornew marine legislation,policies and guidanceto support all of the

other themes.

See pages 20-21.

Inspiring people We will raise public awareness of UK seas and sea life and promote widespread understanding of the importance of ahealthy marine environment.

Plotting the course We will identify, trial and promote policies and practices that best contribute to the achievement of Living Seas.

Making waves We will deliver effective, targeted campaigns to build public and political support to achieve Living Seas.

Infuencing decisions We will develop and maintain relationships with key decision-makers and seek to improve the quality of their decisions for Living Seas.

Finding common ground We will work with marine sectors and stakeholders to understand their perspective and nd shared solutions.

Advancing knowledge We will carry out research, collate data and interpret our ndings to improve understanding of L iving Seas.

LivingSeasstrategie

s

Living Seas themes

Photo by Paul Naylor Photo by Paul Naylor Photo by Kent Wildlie Trust Photo by The Wildlie Trusts

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Marine Protected Areas

and wildlifeWhat are the opportunities?

The most important and exciting aspect of the forthcoming Marine Acts is the creationof a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) throughout UK seas. MPAs are sites in

which human activities are restricted to varying degrees. They are a tried and testedmeans of safeguarding important habitats and wildlife. MPAs protect the wildlife withintheir boundaries and allow nature to recover and thrive. In many cases, MPAs havean inuence beyond their boundaries too, as burgeoning wildlife populations spillout into the surrounding sea. Carefully designed and well managed networks of MPAsbring even greater benets. Networks can boost the health of the marine environmentas a whole, helping it recover from past impacts and enabling it to sustain currentpressures. To achieve this, MPA networks must include not just sites that protect rareand threatened wildlife, but also those that protect examples of the whole range oftypical habitats and wildlife found in healthy seas. MPAs are the heart of marinenature conservation and essential for the sustainable management of the UKs marinearea. That is why The Wildlife Trusts regard MPAs as the bedrock of Living Seas.

Some endangered wildlife especially animals that travel over thousands of miles ofsea are vulnerable wherever they roam. So our approach also includes identifyingand promoting measures that offer protection outside of MPAs.

Did you know?

If you have ever dangled a line into a rockpool or creek,you will almost certainly have encountered a shore crab.Boasting a wide range of patterns and colours, includingorange, yellow and green, shore crabs can providehours of entertainment for curious children. Like most

crabs, the female can only mate when her shell is soft,immediately after she has moulted. Amorous males canoften be seen carrying a female around, waiting for her tomoult.

Shore crab. Photo by Robert Bailey.

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Spiny starfsh and algae. Photo by Paul Naylor

Marine Protected Areas

and wildlifeWhat will we do?

Advancing knowledge. The Wildlife Trusts will collect valuable data on endangeredspecies such as whales, dolphins, basking sharks and seahorses. We will survey

important habitats including seagrass meadows and sea caves. This data will be usedto call for action to ensure the conservation and recovery of these vulnerable treasuresin our seas, wherever they occur.

Plotting the course. The Wildlife Trusts will draw upon our extensive experience ofmanaging wildlife reserves and our expertise in marine conservation policy to keep thedevelopment of the MPA networks on track. We will act as a watchdog, making surethat governments honour their commitments.

Finding common ground. Using our contacts with scuba divers, sailors, anglersand other sea users, we will raise awareness of the need for MPAs. These are thestakeholders who stand to gain the most immediate benet from an effective networkof MPAs. If The Wildlife Trusts can win their support, their voices will be invaluable incountering opposition to MPAs from other quarters.

Infuencing decisions. We will seek to achieve the best possible networks of MPAs, byparticipating fully at every stage in their planning and design. We will use our extensivecontacts to build high-level support for the networks amongst inuencers and decision-makers.

Inspiring people. Using our visitor centres, reserves, educational outreachprogrammes, websites, member publications, junior groups and other channels - wewill raise public awareness of marine wildlife and conservation issues and buildsupport for MPAs.

Making waves. Where extra support is needed to ensure that effective networks ofMPAs are achieved throughout UK seas, we will deliver high prole campaigns tomobilise pubic support.

For more information on the achievements and active work of The Wildlife Trusts on thistheme, please see the Living Seas project briefs, available on the Living Seas pages atwww.wildlifetrusts.org.

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Fishing and seafoodWhat are the opportunities?

The UK Marine and Coastal Access Act brings in a new approach to managing inshoresheries in England and Wales. One that recognises the impacts shing can have notjust on sh stocks but also on the wider environment. It creates new responsibilitiesand powers to manage these impacts. Meanwhile, the EU Common Fisheries Policy,

which inuences sheries management throughout UK seas, is undergoing a majorreview. Improvements could make a signicant contribution to Living Seas.

Fishing more than any other human activity has the potential to cause widespreaddamage to marine habitats and wildlife. However, if we get it right, wise managementof shing can bring the greatest benets for wildlife over large areas. Practical actioncan be taken to prevent the accidental capture of animals such as dolphins andseabirds, minimise the damage to seabed habitats from heavy shing gear, reduceimpacts on the marine food-web, and ensure target species are not over-shed. Amidconcerns about food security and dwindling wild sh stocks, farming of seafood islikely to increase, so there is also a need to ensure this industry is environmentallysustainable.

We believe that changes afoot now, and in the next few years, could mark the turningpoint towards a sustainable seafood industry in the UK. But a change of name for thesheries management bodies is not enough. Those bodies need to embrace their newpowers and responsibilities and use them proactively to improve the sustainability ofseafood and the health of the sea.

Did you know?

The corkwing wrasse is the most house-proud fish inUK seas. Each spring, males make a nest in a nook

or cranny on a rocky reef and decorate it with colourfulpieces of seaweed which they collect by mouth.Female wrasse then tour the reef checking out themales DIY credentials and pick the best nest in whichto lay their eggs.

Corkwing wrasse. Photo by Sally Sharrock.

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Living Seas The Wildlife Trusts vision page 1

Wolf sh. Photo by Jim Greeneld.

Fishing and seafoodWhat will we do?

Advancing knowledge. We will undertake research that sheds light on the interactionsbetween shing, habitats and wildlife.

Plotting the course. We will continue to identify, test and promote technical and practicalsolutions that are good for the industry and good for wildlife. Where appropriate we will

bring in international experts to help shape and strengthen our position.

Finding common ground. We will work with a range of stakeholders across thecommercial and recreational shing and seafood sectors, including regulators,shermen, sh farmers and sea anglers. We will seek to understand their views andnd shared solutions.

Infuencing decisions. We will advise and inuence the new regional sheriesmanagement bodies. We will identify opportunities for them to use their powers tobenet the environment, and we will encourage them to take a bold, proactive approach.

Inspiring people. We will raise public awareness of sustainability issues in the shingand seafood sectors, and promote environmentally-friendly seafood choices.

Making waves. Where extra support is needed for example, when Ministers have to maketough decisions between specic sheries and conservation interests we will mountfocused campaigns to demonstrate public support for the conservation outcomes.


Did you know?

More than a metre long, with bulging eyes and crookedfangs, the wolf fish is no oil painting. Crunching its way

through sea urchins, crabs and large sea snails, it cangrow a new set of teeth behind the worn ones. Wolf fishtypically lurk in sea caves more than 100 metres down,but off the east coast of Scotland scuba divers comeface to face with them in the shallows.

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Living Seas The Wildlife Trusts visionpage 1

Phosphorescent sea pen. Photo by Paul Naylor.

Marine planning and

sustainable developmentWhat are the opportunities?

The Marine Acts will bring in wide-ranging new powers to plan, licence and managemarine industry. Only if these powers are used in a coherent way, putting the health of

the marine environment at the heart of decision-making, will they bring about a returnto Living Seas.

The pressure on UK seas to provide services and resources has never been greater.More and more commercial activities are shifting into the sea, or developing there,as industry overcomes the technological challenges and realises the economies ofoperating on a vast scale in the open ocean.

The fastest growing sector is marine energy. The pressure is on to extract everypossible drop from the UKs dwindling offshore oil and natural gas reserves. Onceempty, there are plans to use the oil and gas elds to store imported gas.

Meanwhile, the UKs ambitious renewable energy targets will only be met through amassive expansion and most of this is set to take place at sea, through windfarms,

wave farms, barrages and tidal turbines. The construction industry also is increasinglylooking to the seas, rather than quarries on land, to provide sand and gravel, whilegrowth in shipping and marine leisure is creating demand for new por t and marinafacilities.

The natural ability of a healthy sea to regulate the atmosphere, climate and weatheris of enormous value. There are proposals to use the sea to tackle climate change inarticial ways for example by capturing and storing carbon dioxide under the sea.

Did you know?

When disturbed, the phosphorescent sea pen producesflashes of blue-green light that pass like a Mexicanwave up and down its body. The sea pen is a colony ofthousands of tiny, anemone-like animals living togetheron a branching stem. If the light-show fails to scare off apredator, their next line of defence is a toxic cocktail ofnarcotic and appetite-suppressing chemicals.

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Thongweed and red seaweeds. Photo by Paul Naylor.

Marine planning and

sustainable developmentWhat will we do?

Advancing knowledge. We will collect data on the distribution of marine habitats andwildlife that will help inform marine planning and development decisions.

Plotting the course. We will champion novel ways to manage and mitigate the risks towildlife from development at sea.

Finding common ground. We will build working relationships with marine industry tohelp realise the potential for conservation benets for example, helping with thedesign of seabed structures to improve their value as articial habitats, or runningpublic boat trips combining wildlife-watching with views of windfarms.

Infuencing decisions. We will take part in the preparation of local, regional andnational marine plans, helping to ensure development at sea remains well withinthe sustainable limits of the natural ecosystem. We will advise marine industry anddecision-makers on the best places to develop marine resources to maximise benetsand minimise impacts on habitats and wildlife.

Inspiring people. We will raise awareness and promote public debate on the issuessurrounding marine resources and nature conservation.

Making waves. In cases where there is greatest risk to wildlife, we will run high prolecampaigns to show Government our position has public support.


Did you know?

The next time you brush your teeth, ponder the seashoreorigins of your toothpaste. Carrageen, a seaweed extract,is commonly used as a thickening additive. As well asin toothpaste, it is often found in ice creams, puddings,milkshakes, soups, cosmetics and medicines. Look forcarrageen, carrageenan or E407in the ingredients list.

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Living Seas The Wildlife Trusts visionpage 0

Legislation and policyWhat are the opportunities?

Together, the Marine Acts could pave the way for Living Seas and revolutionise theway we manage them. But we cannot yet assume the new laws are a given nor thatthey will achieve everything needed. If all three Acts make it into law (and, at the timeof writing, this is still not certain), they will be followed by a urry of additional policy

documents, guidance notes and secondary legislation that will spell out the detail ofhow the Acts are to be put into force. It is vitally important that we inuence thosedocuments too.

It is unlikely the Marine Acts will get everything right rst time. There may turn out tobe gaps in coverage, loopholes or other problems that undermine or complicate itsprogress. New European and international laws and agreements could require the UKto go further than the Acts allow. In order to identify new needs and opportunities, wemust monitor closely the implementation of the Acts and their impacts on the health ofUK seas.

Did you know?

Some crabs improve their natural camouflage byadorning themselves with pieces of seaweed, livingsponges and other wildlife. The sponge crab takes this

to the extreme, growing an enormous hat out of livingsponge, perfectly fitted to the shape of the crabs shell.Some hermit crabs go even further, carrying around a liveanemone on their back, to scare off predators with itspowerful sting.

Hermit crab in eelgrass. Photo by Paul Naylor.

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Legislation and policyWhat will we do?

Advancing knowledge. We will use our data on trends in marine habitats and wildlife tomonitor and review the success of legislation and policy.

Plotting the course. Guided by our vision of Living Seas, we will set ambitiousstandards for the management and protection of the UKs marine environment. We

will develop case studies of good and bad practice and identify policies to promoteimprovements.

Finding common ground. We will work with marine sectors and stakeholders to identifygaps, loopholes and shortcomings in legislation and policy.

Infuencing decisions. We will make use of our excellent relationships withgovernments, Ministers, politicians and statutory conservation bodies to push for newlegislation, policy and guidance to achieve Living Seas.

Inspiring people. We will update our members and supporters on progress withimplementation of the Marine Acts and their impact on UK seas and sea life.

Making waves. We will continue to rally public support as required, demonstrating that

voters care about the state of our seas.For more information on the achievements and active work of The Wildlife Trusts on thistheme, please see the Living Seas project briefs, available on the Living Seas pages atwww.wildlifetrusts.org.

Did you know?

Not only can a starfish re-grow lost arms, it can also re-grow its stomach. A starfish feeds by turning its stomachinside out and pushing it inside the shell of a clam. It

breaks the clams body down into a seafood soup before swallowing its stomach, meal and all. If disturbedmid-meal, the starfish will bite off its stomach, leaving it inthe clam. It will then creep away to a hiding place whereit can stay while growing a new stomach.

Starfsh on mussel bed. Photo by Paul Naylor.

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Painted goby. Photo by Cathy Lewis.

Join us on our journey

towards Living SeasThis is truly a monumental time in the history of our seas. We have the next ve yearsto set the UKs marine environment on the road to recovery. If we succeed, we will haveachieved something our children and grandchildren will thank us for. If we fail, we willhave robbed future generations of the chance to enjoy all the benets Living Seas can

bring.

We would like you to join us on the journey to be a part of this historic moment. Yoursupport today could make all the difference.

Donations. Please contact us to discuss how you can support vital conservationprojects around the UK. See the Living Seas project briefs for more information.

Join your Wildlife Trust. Become a member of your Wildlife Trust and supportconservation in your local area.

Campaigns. Join the SOS team, our online campaigners network, to nd out howyou can support and take part in our marine campaigns.

Volunteer. Contact your local Wildlife Trust to nd out how you can get involved in

Living Seas.

Share our vision. Tell your friends, family and colleagues about Living Seas, andask them to help us too.

Did you know?

Painted gobies are the songbirds of the fish world.In the breeding season, male gobies make a variety ofdrumming and thumping sounds to woo a mate and

defend their territory from other males. Different malesthump out different rhythms, and the bigger males thumpmore vigorously than their smaller rivals.

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Living Seas The Wildlife Trusts vision page

Grey seal. Photo by Arthur Kingdon.

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Written by Lisa Chilton.

Copyright The Wildlife Trusts 2009.

Registered Charity Number 207238.

Printed on environmentally-friendly paper.

Corkwing wrasse building a nest. Photo by Robert Bailey.

The Wildlife Trusts

The Kiln, Waterside,Mather Road, Newark, NG24 1WT

Tel: 01636 677711 Fax: 01636 670001www.wildlifetrusts.org

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