Living Seas The Wildlife Trusts’ vision Protecting Wildlife for the Future Contents Living Seas – The Wildlife Trusts’ vision 3 The Wildlife Trusts What are Living Seas? 4 There are 47 Wildlife Trusts across the whole of the UK, the The UK’s hidden depths 5 Isle of Man and Alderney. Together, we are the UK’s largest voluntary organisation dedicated to protecting wildlife and wild Our seas in trouble 6 places whether they be in the country, in cities or at sea. We are supported by more than 765,000 members, 135,000 of Why must we act now? 7 which belong to our junior branch, Wildlife Watch. Our expert staff are helped by a formidable workforce of more than 39,000 Why are the next five years critical? 8 volunteers. The role of The Wildlife Trusts 9 www.wildlifetrusts.org 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 Cover image: Spider crabs. Photo by Dave Peake. This page: Kelp forest. Photo by Luke Atkinson. page Living Seas – The Wildlife Trusts’ vision Living Seas The Wildlife Trusts’ vision Living Seas. What picture does this phrase conjure up in your mind? A rocky reef bursting with brightly coloured fish, corals and sponges? A boat trip in the company of leaping dolphins and playful seals? Fishermen hauling nets brimming with big, tasty fish? Living Seas are all these things and more. We urgently need your help to bring back the UK’s Living Seas. The next five years are critical. It is literally ‘make or break’ time. With new laws and Government commitments in the offing, we have a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity. If we make the very best of it, pushing every step of the way, our seas will turn the corner and start to recover 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 find out 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 are just a few of the many thousands of different animals and plants found in UK seas. Reef scene. Photo by Dave Peake. Living Seas – The Wildlife Trusts’ vision pagepage What is Living Seas? Living Seas is The Wildlife Trusts’ vision for the future of the UK’s seas. Within Living Seas, 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 seas’ resources becomes environmentally sustainable. • The natural environment is adapting well to a changing climate, and ocean processes are helping to slow down climate change. • People are inspired by marine wildlife and value the sea for the many ways in which it supports our quality of life. The Wildlife Trusts believe it is possible to achieve Living Seas around the UK within 20 years – a single generation – but only if opportunities are seized now to make radical changes over the next five years. Join us, and support our role as the champions and guardians of the UK’s Living Seas. Did you know? Sea anemones – though they look like harmless flowers – are deadly predators. Each tentacle is loaded with thousands of tiny, poison-tipped harpoons that stun and kill fish, shrimps and other creatures. The spectacular fireworks anemone, which lives in Scottish sea lochs, can grow up to 30cm high and lives in a metre-long tube buried in the mud. Fireworks anemone and squat lobster. Photo by Charles Erb. page Living Seas – The Wildlife Trusts’ vision The UK’s hidden depths The seas around the UK have the potential to be among the most productive and wildlife-rich on Earth. Hidden beneath the surface are landscapes every bit as varied and beautiful as those we see on land, with undersea cliffs, caves, chasms, mountains, dunes and plains. Colourful reefs, meadows of seagrass and other extraordinary habitats are home to many thousands of plants and animals, from tiny corals to the massive basking shark, the world’s second largest fish. The UK’s seas are also our life support system. They absorb vast quantities of harmful ‘greenhouse’ gases, while releasing oxygen for us to breathe. Our seas regulate the climate, and ‘good’ bacteria in the sea help govern clouds and rainfall. The seas provide us with many everyday resources too: energy from oil, gas and renewable sources; sand and gravel to construct roads and buildings; seafood, and ports through which more than 90% of our imports and exports travel. Our coastal waters are an unrivalled playground, enjoyed for sport and relaxation. In all, our coasts and seas play a central role in our nation’s history, identity, wealth and happiness. Did you know? Hidden beneath the waves is an extraordinary range of landscapes to rival those on land. Places such as the Lune Deep Gorge, the Mixon Hole, the Bracklesham Balls and the Dogger Bank could one day be as familiar to us as Snowdonia and the Norfolk Broads. Feather star and kelp. Photo by Paul Naylor. Living Seas – The Wildlife Trusts’ vision pagepage 3 Our seas in trouble Right now, the seas around the UK are not Living Seas. The environment is a shadow of its former self. For centuries we have taken the seas’ riches for granted, taking too much with too little care. Fragile habitats have been destroyed, whether ripped up by fishing gear or contaminated by industry. Only 2% of the UK’s sea area has even a minimal level of protection for wildlife, and less than a thousandth of 1% (0.001%) is fully 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 collapsed and marine resources are depleted. The ocean processes that regulate our climate and reduce climate change are also under threat. The marine environment – our life support system – is on its knees. Thankfully, it is not too late to turn this situation around. Our seas and sea life have a remarkable capacity to recover but only if we give them the chance. With time, space and 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 Channel is showing remarkable signs of recovery since receiving full protection in 2003. Large lobsters are now seven times more abundant in the protected zone than in the surrounding area. Common lobster. Photo by Paul Naylor. page Living Seas – The Wildlife Trusts’ vision Why must we act now? The next few years could be remembered as the most important period in history for the protection and management of UK seas. Following more than a decade of campaigning by The Wildlife Trusts and partners, 2009 should see the passage of a Marine and Coastal Access Act, covering English and Welsh inshore waters and offshore waters around the whole UK. This Act could dramatically boost protection for marine wildlife and improve management of activities at sea. It has five 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 fishing 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 in 2009. This will be followed in 2012 by an Act for Northern Ireland. Together, these Acts give us an unprecedented opportunity to bring back Living Seas. Did you know? No one knows for sure how the John Dory – a favourite on restaurant menus – earned its name. One theory is that it comes from the French ‘jaune dorée’ meaning ‘golden yellow’. Another suggests a link with John Dory, the hero of an ancient ballad, while a third theory proposes that the origin lies in ‘Janitore’, a nickname for St Peter. According to legend, St Peter took a gold coin from the fish’s mouth to pay his taxes. John Dory. Photo by David Stephens. Living Seas – The Wildlife Trusts’ vision pagepage 5 Why are the next five years critical? New legislation is only the beginning. The real challenge is to make it happen – to achieve real change – and that is where The Wildlife Trusts come in. We believe the Marine Acts give us a unique opportunity to set a course for Living Seas. It might take 20 years to get there but decisions made, and actions taken, over the next five years will determine whether we stand a chance. It is unlikely we will get another opportunity this good in our lifetimes. If we falter now we will, in all likelihood, push our seas beyond a point from which they can recover. We must recognise this unique opportunity and seize it with both hands. If we act now, we can restore to their former abundance giants such as the common skate and basking shark. We can ensure a future for corals, seahorses and seagrass meadows.