The waters of the British Isles are home to a huge range of species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. The coastline is extremely varied – with estuaries, cliffs, rocky shores, sandy beaches, and tidal mudflats – and its ocean currents mix warmer southern waters with colder northern waters to create a dynamic environment where a wide range of species can coexist. The seas around Scotland, in particular, are known for their abundant populations of bottlenose dolphins and orcas.
Blue Marine calls for:
- A ban on destructive fishing in all UK marine protected areas
- All catch limits to be set at sustainable levels
- A reform of the quota system
- An end to harmful fishing subsidies
In our many projects around the British Isles, Blue Marine is delivering ambitious conservation initiatives that include restoring threatened habitats and species, and establishing low-impact, sustainable fisheries that benefit both marine life and local communities. These projects also inform our policy and legal interventions to urge the UK government to better protect and manage its waters.
Our work covers a host of locations and types of initiatives. We are campaigning to ban bottom-towed fishing throughout the UK’s offshore marine protected areas. On the south coast we have established our model for sustainable fishing at Lyme Bay, and the Solent Seascape Project is undertaking restoration on a grand scale. We are the driving force behind a marine park for Jersey, better protection for the waters of Wales, and a nationwide campaign to save the sturgeon.
From keeping Sussex kelp safe, to oyster restoration on the Blackwater River, and exploring the conservation potential of offshore wind turbines, you can discover the full stories behind Blue Marine’s dynamic UK work in the pages devoted to each individual project.
