our seas our future strategy 2015-2020...04 our seas our future | strategy 2015-2020 05over 15,000...
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Our seas our futureStrategy 2015-2020
Our seas and our future health, wealth and wellbeing are inextricably linked.
Clean seas and beaches, healthy fish stocks and proper marine protection supports tourism, livelihoods, habitats and wildlife.
Protecting the amazing marine life around our shores from litter, indiscriminate fishing methods or poorly planned development is the responsibility of our generation.
Creating a network of marine protected areas, promoting selective fishing practices and responsible fish farming and taking action to reduce marine litter are just some of the steps urgently needed if our seas are to recover to a healthy state.
Our seas our future sets out the Marine Conservation Society’s five year plan to ensure our seas are fit for life – for marine life, for livelihoods and for future lifetimes.
Sam Fanshawe CEO of Marine Conservation Society
03Strategy 2015-2020 | Contents02
05 Our seas our future
06 A 2020 vision for our seas
08 Protecting marine life
12 Sustainable fisheries
16 Clean seas and beaches
20 Working seas
22 Engaging our audiences
26 Securing the means
30 Our story so far
Contents
Photos: Cover Mother & son © d13/Shutterstock; St. Ives © Natasha Ewins; Leopard-spotted goby © Paul Kay (marinewildlife.co.uk) 02-03 Underwater scene © Paul Kay 04-05 Tintagel, Cornwall © Natasha Ewins 06-07 Diver & wreck header © Paul Kay; Green turtle © Doug Perrine (seapics.com); Bib © Rob Spray; Teignmouth fishing boats / Widemouth Bay beachgoers © Natasha Ewins; Wind turbines © Malcolm Watson; Boy in rockpool © Stuart Askew 08-09 Snake Pipefish / Anenome & brittlestar header / Plumose anenome © Paul Kay; Seasearch diver © Richard Morton; Juvenile corkwing wrasse © Paul Naylor (marinephoto.co.uk) 10-11 Temperate reef header © Paul Kay; Dolphins © Andy Bowen; CVM filming © MCS; Yarell’s blenny / Sea slug © Paul Kay; Smallspotted catshark © Paul Naylor; Lion’s mane jellyfish © David Cropp; Edible crabs © Paul Naylor 12-13 Fishing boats at Morecambe © Natasha Ewins; Fishing buoy header / Red fishing boat © Stuart Askew; MCS’ Dawn Purchase talks aquaculture / Halibut © Peter Richardson 14-15 Mackerel header © MCS; Whitby seagull & boats © Stuart Askew; Fish counter © MCS; Shoal of mackerel © Paul Webster 16-17 Littered beach © Fabien Monteil/Shutterstock; Shell header © Natasha Ewins; Grey seal pup & plastic bag in Norfolk © David J Martin/Shutterstock; Beach clean volunteers © Tim Fanshawe; Products containing microplastics © MCS 18-19 Littered beach header © Blaise Bullimore; Beach clean at Chesil © MCS; Girls surveying Porthtowan beach © MCS; Sewage Related Debris © Natasha Ewins; Beach background © iStockphoto.com 20-21 Wind turbines at sea © Nuttawut Uttamaharad/Shutterstock; Oil Rig on the move on the Moray Firth © Gail Johnson/Shutterstock 22-23 MCS president HRH The Prince of Wales at Ocean Plastic Awareness Day © MCS; Seaweed header © Sue Ranger; Litter pick panic at Bristol Festival of Nature © MCS; Cool Seas Investigators © Joel Munson; Staff & volunteers at Ocean Plastics Awareness Day © MCS 24-25 Limpet header © Richard Harrington; MCS at Plymouth Marine City Festival © MCS; Beachwatch with Coast magazine © N Fryatt; M&S Big Beach Clean-up at Sand Bay © M&S; Seasearch divers at Ilfracombe © Chris Wood; Eastbourne Big Sea Swim background © MCS 26-27 M&S Big Beach Clean-up at Southsea © MCS; Teignmouth groynes header © Natasha Ewins; Glenmorangie Dornoch expression © Glenmorangie 28-29 Pebble & shell header © Richard Harrington; MCS stall manned by a Sea Champion © MCS; Widemouth Bay © Natasha Ewins; Chesil beach pebbles background © MCS 30-31 Widemouth Bay header © Natasha Ewins; Shed © MCS; David Bellamy & children rockpooling © MCS; Beachwatch survey © MCS; Seasearch dive © Paul Kay; MCZ march on Westminster with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall © MCS; Stall at Scottish Bird Fair © Natasha Ewins Rear Surfboad & sunset ©Joschko Hammermann. Graphics: Infographic illustrations made by Freepik.com / Flaticon.com.
Our seas our future | Strategy 2015-2020 04 05
Over 15,000 marine species are found in UK seas
40% of North East Atlantic stocks including those
around the UK are overfished
UK seas and shores are a place for leisure, sport, and a holiday destination
for millions annually
UK seas provide us with resources from fish to renewable marine energy
Farmed marine fin fish production in Scotland is set to increase by 30% between 2014 - 2020
On UK beaches levels of litter have doubled in the past 20 years
Our seas our futureThe seas around the UK are vital to all of us. An historical seafaring nation with a diverse fishing industry and coastal tourism at the economic heart of many communities – connections with the sea are all around us.
Our seas under pressure
Decades of pollution, damaging fishing activities, rapid and extensive development, and climate change have resulted in seas that are far less healthy than they should be – too many fish are being taken from the sea, too much waste is going in and too little is being done to protect marine wildlife and habitats.
If these issues aren’t addressed our marine habitats and wildlife, along with our own future health, wealth and wellbeing, will suffer.
The Marine Conservation Society exists to ensure the long term future of UK seas – but time is short. The next five years will be crucial if we are to ensure a healthier outlook.
our seas our future sets out the key threats and issues currently affecting UK seas and where we will target our efforts over the next five years to find lasting solutions. It recognises the progress we have already made in many areas and looks at how we will continue to achieve our vision of ‘Seas Fit for Life’, how we will secure support, and the ways we will engage people to help deliver those aims for the benefit of all – above and below the waves.
our aimsMCS will focus its work over the period 2015-2020 on the following priorities, to progress towards our vision of Seas Fit for Life:
Protecting marine lifeEstablish an ecologically coherent UK network of well-managed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
Sustainable fisheriesRecovery of fish stocks and reduced impact of fishing and fish farms on habitats, non-target species and marine ecosystems; and increase availability of sustainably wild caught and responsibly farmed seafood.
Clean seas and beaches Reduce litter and bathing water pollution at UK beaches.
Working seas Ecologically sustainable planning and management of major marine industries and our wider seas.
Engaging our audiences Increase public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of UK seas and active involvement in marine conservation.
Delivery of these conservation aims will be underpinned by organisational priorities including establishing sustainable income streams, increasing the MCS profile, brand and supporter base, influencing political audiences and supporting a high-performing, motivated team of staff.
our visionSeas Fit for Life – clean seas and coasts that support abundant marine wildlife, sustainable livelihoods and enjoyment for all.
our missionTo drive change in government policy, industry practice and individual behaviour that results in measurable improvements in the state of our seas - improved biodiversity, healthier fish stocks and less pollution on beaches and in the sea.
our approachThroughout our work we aim to inspire, inform,
involve and influence everyone who can take action to safeguard our seas now and for future generations.
We will:
inspire people to value the marine environment and to enjoy all that the coast and seas provide, through
awareness and education.
inform and engage the public, governments and industry
through effective communications and events.
involve people in our work through practical volunteer projects, campaigns, partnerships and promotion of sustainable
behaviour.
influence governments and industries to turn their commitments and policies into action and pursue solutions that improve the health
of our seas, shores and wildlife.
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credible • passionate • evidence based • solutions focussed • engaging • proactive • campaigning • co l laborative
A 2020 vision for our seas
Strategy 2015-2020 | A 2020 vision for our seas
09
Over 50 native UK marine species are now listed on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species, including the Endangered undulate ray, Atlantic halibut and sei whale, and the Critically Endangered common skate, angel shark and European eel.
Commercial fishing, especially bottom trawling and dredging, is known to have the most widespread impacts on seafloor habitats, but added to these impacts are the collective and cumulative effects of the wide range of activities that take place in our coastal and offshore waters.
In addition, our understanding of the stresses suffered by our marine ecosystems through ocean acidification, sea temperature rise and other consequences of climate change is becoming clearer.
To ensure we offer our seas, their wildlife and habitats the best possible future, MCS is working to change the way our seas are managed by championing the development of a network of well-managed MPAs in UK waters.
An ecologically coherent network of MPAs is needed to ensure a proportion of our seas is protected and can recover.
The last fallen mahogany would lie perceptibly on the landscape, and the last black rhino would be obvious in its loneliness, but a marine species may disappear beneath the waves unobserved and the sea would seem to roll on the same as always. G. Carleton Ray
Protecting marine life | Strategy 2015-202008
Marine Protected Area (MPA)
Essentially a space in the ocean where human activities are more strictly regulated than the surrounding waters - similar to nature reserves we have on land.
Our oceans are losing their biodiversity at an alarming rate – over the last century we’ve lost 90% of the biggest fish, sharks and whales. There are over seven times more vertebrate species threatened with extinction in the seas around the UK than there are on land, and there are many species which we know so little about that we cannot even begin to assess their vulnerability.
Our seas and their precious marine species and habitats must be properly protected and managed now to ensure they are resilient in the face of man-made and climatic changes that are threatening this often unseen environment and its ecosystems.
Our focus must be making sure people can continue to carve a living from our seas, ensure threatened species and habitats turn the corner from declining to thriving and bring alive a world under the waves to a brand new audience.
Our vision is for a world class network of well-managed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that can support the recovery of our amazing marine heritage.
We must not hand empty seas to the next generation.
We will work to make sure that we have enough MPAs in the right places, protecting the right things, and also ensure the effective management of these sites.
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01985 2020201520102005200019951990
Special Areas of Conservation created around UK
% M
arin
e Pr
otec
ted
Are
as d
esig
nate
d
27 MCZs designated in English Waters
30 Marine Protected Areas designated in Scotland 2015
By 2020 we want
30%
We’re working to ensure that 30% of our seas are protected from damaging activities.
Our Seasearch surveys have contributed evidence to designate new inshore MPAs; our Biodiversity and Policy teams have successfully challenged the way fisheries are managed in existing inshore and offshore MPAs; in Wales and Scotland our teams have worked with devolved Governments to push for more protected areas; and our Communications team rallied thousands of supporters behind the push for a functioning network of MPAs in UK seas. We have made excellent progress, but there is so much more to do.
Protecting marine lifeSecuring protection
In 2012 MCS and partner ClientEarth
persuaded the UK Government to make a
game-changing decision to improve the
way commercial fishing is managed in
Marine Protected Areas designated under
the European Union’s Habitats Directive
in English waters.
Until then, fishing in these MPAs caused
widespread damage to sensitive marine
species and habitats. In 2014 all that
changed, when 17 local laws excluded
bottom-towed gear from 25 MPAs,
protecting over 3,000km2 of seabed. We
are now engaged with governments
throughout the UK on increasing
protection for the remaining habitats.
Strategy 2015-2020 | Protecting marine life
Protecting marine life
10
Changing the game
With designation of MPAs comes the
responsibility of managing them,
and that needs the support of local
communities and buy-in from people
who have traditionally used them.
We pioneered the Community Voice
Method (CVM) in the UK. It uses film
to reach into communities, gather a
wide range of views and opinions from
people to whom these areas are vitally
important.
In 2013, working with Sussex Inshore
Fisheries and Conservation Authority
(IFCA), MCS used CVM to gather
sea-user’s views on the management
of two new multi-use MPAs in local
inshore waters. This resulted in new
management measures for both sites
that were discussed and consulted
on locally – they balance the needs of
species and habitats with the needs of
the people who depend on the sites for
a living.
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Our 2015-2020 focus is to achieve an ecologically coherent UK network of well-managed Marine Protected Areas.
here’s how we’l l do it...
Top level pressure
A full network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in
UK seas is still some way off. We’ll lobby UK and national governments to designate the MPA network and fulfil
their international commitments.
Involvement
We’ll work with communities to ensure designation,
management and ongoing effectiveness of marine
protected areas.
Awareness
Through campaigns, media coverage, social media
engagement and online communications we’ll highlight the need for marine protected areas to the widest audience
possible.
High level engagement
Management measures must protect habitats and species from
damaging activities. We’ll keep the pressure on governments
and marine and fisheries management bodies to
ensure they do.
UK network of MPAs designated
by 2018.
250,000 additional
Seasearch records by 2020.
Citizen science
Through development and expansion of our Seasearch
volunteer diver programme and our marine recording schemes,
we’ll encourage the public to contribute to UK data on
marine habitats and species.
To the shelf limits, Scotland has 61% of UK waters, of which 23% are now in existing or new MPAs.
Over 300,000 records on undersea habitats and species
have been collected by volunteer Seasearch divers providing significant evidence for inshore MPAs
Over half a million people have voiced their support for MPA designation in the UK through our campaigns
Over 3,000km2 of our seabed is now protected from bottom-towed gear
Over 170 parliamentarians from across the political spectrum signed up to
our Marine Charter calling for a network of MPAs in UK seas
30% of representative
marine habitats protected from
damaging activities by 2020.
Working together for Scottish seas
In coalition with other organisations, MCS
has led the Save Scottish Seas campaign
securing 30 new MPAs in 2014 (shown in
orange), including the largest in Europe.
Together we ran the #DontTakeTheP out of
MPAs campaign, generating almost 5,000
responses to a government consultation
calling for scallop dredging and Nephrops
trawling to be largely prohibited in the
most vulnerable inshore sites.
Subsequently the Scottish Environment
Secretary announced welcome and
progressive proposals to protect sites
from these fisheries.
Strategy 2015-2020 | Protecting marine lifeProtecting marine life | Strategy 2015-2020
13
The perception-changing moment for the oceans has arrived. It comes from the realisation that in a single human lifetime we have inflicted a crisis on the oceans greater than any yet caused by pollution. That crisis compares with the destruction of mammoths, bison and whales, the rape of rainforests and the pursuit of bush
meat. It is caused by overfishing. Charles C lover Jounalist and author of ‘End of the Line’
12
MCS also understands the importance
of encouraging progressive
developments in the seafood sector,
and through our work with the Global
Aquaculture Alliance MCS developed
an award to showcase and encourage
innovation in the global aquaculture
industry.
MCS also works to ensure that
environmental needs are incorporated
into aquaculture production standards
through the Global Aquaculture
Alliance Standards Oversight
Committee. By 2015 nearly 900,000
tonnes of certified aquaculture
products were available globally.
In the UK we eat 467,000 tonnes of seafood a year, which is
/person...7.2
kg
An estimated
£6.2 billion was spent on seafood in the UK in 2013
...that’s the equivalent of about 15 billion
fish fingers a year!
is spent on fish and chips every year in the UK
£1.1billion
Unsustainable fishing practices are causing profound and, in some cases, permanent changes to our seas.
Overfishing, bycatch and bottom towed fishing gears have damaged habitats, altered marine foodwebs, depleted our fisheries resources, and left many species on the brink of extinction.
While in some areas overfishing has simply resulted in fewer large and long-lived fish, some stocks, like cod, have collapsed and been replaced by shorter-lived species which exist further down the food chain, such as crustaceans and jellyfish.
These species now dominate those ecosystems, reducing overall productivity and undermining the recovery of fish stocks.
The human population is predicted to reach 9.6 billion by 2050 and with 90% of the world’s wild capture fisheries already being fished at or above their maximum capacity, there is an increasing pressure for aquaculture to meet a rising demand for fish. Without urgent remedial action, the pressures on our seas are set to increase substantially.
Fishing pressure makes ecosystems vulnerable to impacts such as climate change, ocean acidification and pollution. Subsequent changes in the abundance of species and structure of the food chain can lead to less secure futures for coastal communities that have, in many cases, relied for centuries on the fishing industry.
In recent years, MCS has been working hard to influence the reform of the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy – the overarching legislation managing Europe’s fisheries. Changes to the new policy in 2013 were extremely positive with targets for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture engrained in the legislation. The challenge now is ensuring that these promising new targets are properly implemented. The fisheries team is helping to drive forward both policy and consumer-led actions to support development of good fisheries and aquaculture management.
Our fisheries team is also busy working with industry to promote and support aquaculture production that is based on innovative and responsible practices. Two of the top five species eaten in the UK are farmed: Atlantic salmon and warm water prawns. Both rely on marine proteins and oils in their diets which we get by catching wild fish or crustaceans to feed them. We believe the sustainable management of feed fisheries, along with increased use of non-marine feed ingredients, will ensure that aquaculture can contribute to our future food security by being a net producer of fish protein.
Over 10,500 takeaways and fish and chip shops serve around 380 million meals a year in the UK
Sustainable fisheries
Aquaculture
MCS’s Aquaculture Programme has
contributed to the formation and
development of a standard for the
responsible sourcing and production
of feed through our work with IFFO
- International Marine Ingredients
Organisation. This has resulted in
42% of global fish feed certified as
responsibly produced by 2015.
Strategy 2015-2020 | Sustainable fisheriesSustainable fisheries | Strategy 2015-2020
here’s how we’l l do it...
Significant reduction in
bycatch levels for major commercial
fisheries.
All EU commercial fish stocks fished within Maximum Sustainable Yield.
14 15
Sustainable fisheries
Everyone can support sustainable wild fisheries and responsibly farmed fish through their purchasing power. Our readily accessible information on the most sustainable seafood choices, as well as fish to avoid, is helping to support the transition to abundant fish stocks, well managed fish farms, productive seas and sustainable livelihoods.
6,500 fishing boats in the UK catch up to 150 different species all around Britain, yet most people only eat 5 species groups – cod, haddock, tuna, salmon or prawn
133%
Farmed fish and shellfish production will have to increase by 133% between 2010 and 2050 to meet projected fish demand worldwide
The UK imports over 50% of its seafood and is 8th largest importer of seafood in the world
100,000 blue whales
21.7 million tonnes of wild caught fish are used for non-human use. That’s the weight equivalent of over...
...75% of this is used to produce fishmeal and fish oil primarily for use in aquaculture
Salmon Organically farmed Atlantic salmon or certifi ed Pacifi c salmon (usuallytinned) are better choices. Avoid eating all wild-caught Atlantic salmon unless you know it is from a river where the stock is healthy.
Mackerel is a fairly sound choice. Most sustainable buys are from handline or coastal drift net fi sheries, or MSC certifi ed.
Download the FREEGood Fish Guide AppGet up to date sustainable seafood advice in the palm of your hand. Search by common fi sh name and you’ll get all the information right there - both at a glance, and in full detail if you need it.
The MCS traffi c light ratings system shows you exactly what you should and shouldn’t eat, and the fi sh that you should eat only occasionally.
Free sustainable � sh recipesIf you fancy yourself in the kitchen and would like to try out such dishes as Baked Crab with Brown Crab Butter or Salted Pouting and Parsnip Fishcakes...
Visit www.FishOnline.org/� sh-of-the-monthEach month there are exciting recipes from famous chefs, celebrities and sea-lovers, such as Raymond Blanc, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Cyrus Todiwala, Nathan Outlaw, Tom Aikens and Kate Humble.
Buying farmed � sh? Go organicOrganic farms tend to allow fi sh more room to move, they have higher environmental standards and use sustainably sourced feed.
Fish FingersThe best choices forthis kid’s teatime favourite are those using certifi ed pollock (from Alaska) or haddock or cod from certifi ed fi sheries.
Tuna Skipjack tuna caught with the most selective gear such as pole & line, troll, handline or non-FAD purse seine is the best choice. Avoid bluefi n tuna.
Fish Fingers
using certifi ed pollock
& line, troll, handline or
Fish and ChipsThe two most popular fi sh at the chippy are cod and haddock.
Haddock from North Sea and West Scotland fi sheries are healthy and include MSC certifi ed fi sheries - a great choice!
Cod in the North Sea is still recovering, so the best choice is North East Arctic or Icelandic.
Prawns are great in curry, stir-fry, paella or when barbequed and you couldn’t have a prawn cocktail without them!
King or Tiger Prawns are the big ones, also called Asian tiger shrimp and whiteleg shrimp. They’re warmwater prawns and the best choice is organically farmed.
Cold-water Prawns are the little ones used in sandwiches and prawn cocktails, or sold cooked and peeled. Buy MSC certifi ed.
They’re warmwater prawns
little ones used in sandwiches and prawn cocktails, or sold cooked and peeled. Buy MSC certifi ed.
Organically farmed Atlantic salmon or
In or out of season?Avoid breeding or spawning times, and egg-bearing (berried) lobster or crab. Immature fi sh should be avoided to allow them to breed. Visit FishOnline.org for seasonality and sizing info.
Label logic We recognise the following eco-labels as a better environmental choice for many seafood products:
If you love � sh...you will want to eat it sustainably.
Our Top Tips will help you make the right choices.
We are too reliant on cod, haddock, tuna, salmon and prawns. If you eat these species follow our advice for making the best choice.
Buy seafood from the most responsible supermarketsOur latest survey revealed that M&S and Sainsbury’s are leading the way for sustainable seafood, followed closely by The Co-operative, then Waitrose. All great options.
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sustainably f ished
higher welfare standards
Download for iOS (iPhone etc.)
from Apple App store
Download for Android
from Google play store
Monk� sh isn’t a great choice. Occasionally enjoy only those caught in South West UK using tangle nets.
Skates and Rays are vulnerable. Only consider eating spotted ray from the Bristol Channel.
Scallops are mostly dredged up, which can damage seabed habitats, so the best choices are hand-dived, farmed, or MSC certifi ed.
more overleaf
Scampi the pub favourite is most sustainable when caught in pots or creels, to avoid high bycatch.
Whitebait is best avoided as a mix of baby fi sh or fry is used. Mature sprat is a better alternative.
Seabass is popular in restaurants. Make sure yours is line-caught or onshore farmed, and avoid trawled to help reduce overfi shing and bycatch of marine mammals.
overfi shing and bycatch of marine mammals.
Avoid eating threatened speciessuch as common skate, bluefi n tuna and shark. Avoid deep sea species, these are often long lived and slow growing and vulnerable to overfi shing. Fishing for them can also ruin coldwater corals which may never recover.
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What can you do next?
Like us on Facebookfacebook.com/mcsuk
Follow us on Twittertwitter.com/mcsuk
Visit FishOnline.orgYour guide to sustainable seafood- for more information and our full
sustainability ratings.
Mix it up a bitDon’t stick to the UK’s favourite 5.Try coley or pouting instead of cod and swap tuna for herring, mackerel or sardines. Plaice is a long-lived species and subject to high fi shing pressure - try lemon sole, dab, � ounder or megrim instead.
Low impact Buy seafood caught in a more environmentally friendly way – handline, pole and line, trap or pot or dive caught, – or from fi sheries using best practice to reduce discards and habitat impacts.
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Download the FREE
seabed habitats, so the best choices are hand-dived, farmed, or MSC certifi ed.
from handline or coastal drift net
certifi ed.
Talk to us via social media, or email [email protected] - we’d love to answer your questions!
Tell us what you � nd - Is your restaurant or chippy serving great sustainable choices?
Together we can make sure we are all eating the most sustainable seafood!
as a better environmental choice for many seafood products:
sustainably f ished
higher welfare standards
responsibly farmed
MCS is doing brilliant work and I’m delighted to be involved with it. Since I started researching the River Cottage ‘Fish’ book and making TV programmes about fish, we’ve had a great dialogue. What I like is their bravery in standing up and talking to everyone – politicians, consumers and other conservation NGOs. In terms of the information available to the general public, their website is one of the best places to find out about what’s going on.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall Chef, TV presenter, and oceans campaigner
Our 2015-2020 focus is to achieve recovery of depleted fisheries and minimisation of the impacts of wild capture fisheries and fish farming
on our seas, and to increase availability and consumption of sustainably caught and responsibly farmed seafood in the UK.
Supporting best practice
We’ll help retailers, restaurants, suppliers and takeaways to adopt sustainable seafood policies and develop recognition schemes so
people know where to dine and buy their seafood.
Raising standards
Environmentally responsible fish farming is vitally important, we’ll help the development and adoption of improved standards
through international, European and national
working groups.
High level engagement
We’ll work to minimise the impacts of fishing on endangered, threatened and protected habitats
and species with domestic and regional fisheries management bodies.
20% of Scottish farmed salmon certified by Aquaculture
Stewardship Council.
Sustainable seafood product guide published
by 2018.
A huge part of what we do is based around consumer engagement. We want to make sure that everyone can buy, sell and enjoy sustainable seafood.
This means involving everyone from shoppers, supermarkets and caterers to restaurants and fish and chip shops.
Top level pressure
The Common Fisheries Policy is key to the future of European
fisheries and aquaculture production. We’ll work with other Member States, devolved bodies
and Advisory Councils to ensure and influence its
effective delivery.
Seafood ratings
MCS seafood ratings underpinned the
sourcing policy for the London 2012
Olympics, over 80 tonnes of seafood
was eaten at the Olympics and all
of it was rated a 3 or better by MCS.
The 2014 Commonwealth Games in
Glasgow committed to serving no
fish from the MCS Fish to Avoid list.
Additionally MCS seafood ratings and
recommended policies underpin
sourcing practices of major retailers and
suppliers, including Marks and Spencer,
The Co-operative and
The Compass Group.
The UK Government’s
own Buying Standards
for public sector
food and catering
services obliges central
government and related
organisations to avoid
buying fish that MCS has
red rated as Fish to Avoid,
and source only from our
fish-to-eat list.
www.goodfishguide.org
Strategy 2015-2020 | Sustainable fisheriesSustainable fisheries | Strategy 2015-2020
Behaviour change
We’ll develop our Good Fish Guide website and Apps to include
information on all fresh, frozen and canned wild and farmed fish
products sold in the UK, giving the consumer the tools to
drive demand for more sustainable seafood.
No MCS Fish to Avoid sold by all
main retailers and suppliers.
C lean seas and beaches
17
For generations, the seas around the UK coast were treated as an international dumping ground. Everything went in, from raw sewage to toxic waste, and by the 1990s the North Sea was considered the most contaminated sea in Europe.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, in the 1950s the world began its love affair with the indestructible miracle material – plastic. Plastic, in all its forms, started finding its way into the sea and onto the beach – bags, bottles, packets and packaging. Since 1994 plastic litter on UK beaches has increased by 180%.
But it’s not all bad news and MCS has been leading the fightback - through investment in water treatment driven in part by MCS campaigns, and controls on some hazardous substances, there has been an improving trend for the quality of our water and all that depends on it.
Our work to influence a revised Bathing Water Directive has also resulted in stricter standards to protect our health. But there is still much to be done to ensure waste from sewage, agricultural run-off and urban areas ceases to be a threat to human health and the wildlife we all care about.
Litter has increased by 135% since 1994, with plastics increasing by a staggering 180%.
Sources of beach and marine litter are many and varied, and MCS beach litter surveys show that general public litter, which is either dropped at the beach or washed down rivers and blown by winds from inland, accounts for 40% of the total recorded. Other key sources include lost and discarded gear from fishing boats, sea anglers’ lines and tackle, waste thrown overboard from ships and sewage related debris - that’s the stuff going down the loo that shouldn’t - including wet wipes,
cotton buds and tampons.
1994 = 1,045 items/km
2014 = 2,457 items/km
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Every day millions of microplastics enter the sea from personal care products such as scrubs and toothpastes.
After much campaigning and lobbying, in which MCS took a leading role, single-use carrier bag charges have been progressively introduced in Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and finally England in 2015. After MCS and other organisations highlighted the issue of microplastics in personal care products, many manufacturers and high street retailers have agreed to no longer use them.
Shimmering seas, golden beaches, wildlife havens and sparkling rockpools – it’s what we dream about seeing when we visit the UK coast.
But the reality can be very different.
Some designated bathing beaches in the UK are failing to reach the standards of the revised Bathing Water Directive, due to unhealthily high levels of bacteria, and beach litter levels are rising at an alarming rate.
The UK coastline is under attack from both sea and land – but ultimately from our activities.
Litter on beaches and poor quality water to swim in not only reduces our enjoyment of the coast but impacts health, businesses and livelihoods and threatens marine habitats and wildlife. But, it’s within all our grasps to do something about it.
Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life
depends, have become global garbage cans.Jacques-Yves C ousteau Oceanographer
Strategy 2015-2020 | Clean seas and beachesClean seas and beaches | Strategy 2015-2020
Scrub It Out!
Raising awareness of the plastic content of many personal care products has been the focus for ‘Scrub It Out!’, a joint campaign between MCS and Fauna & Flora International (FFI).
Many everyday products like toothpastes, scrubs and shower gels contain tiny pieces of plastic called microplastics. These tiny particles are flushed down the drain, eventually reaching the sea, where they can seriously threaten marine life.
Alongside the downloadable Good Scrub Guide and smart phone app, ‘Scrub It Out!’ collected public pledges to ditch products containing microplastics.
Armed with rising pledge numbers and public buy-in via social media, MCS and FFI approached UK retailers and asked them to phase out the use of microplastics in their own-brand products within committed time periods.
By early summer 2015, 15 UK retailers had done so including Superdrug, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Tesco.
The joint campaign is now focusing on microplastics in luxury products. We’ll be asking the public to help spot plastic ingredients and we’ll be contacting the companies for commitments to remove them.
Over decades, one plastic bottle bobbing along in the ocean can break down into hundreds of tiny plastic pieces
Some designated UK bathing beaches are failing bathing water standards because of unacceptable levels of bacteria
Around 40% of UK beach litter can be directly sourced to the public
Globally, plastic litter has reached every part of the world’s oceans
tonnes of litter ends up in seas worldwide every year
8
6x The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is thought to be
six times the size of the UK
Plastic has been found in the stomachs of almost all marine species including fish, birds, whales, dolphins, seals and turtles
18 19
C lean seas and beachesOur 2015-2020 focus is to reduce litter and bathing water pollution at UK beaches.
here’s how we’l l do it...
Citizen science
With support from thousands of volunteers we’ll run beach
cleans and surveys all over the UK to monitor the amount,
types and sources of litter on UK beaches.
Raising standards
We’ll drive achievement of high water quality standards set by the Water Framework
and Bathing Water Directives.
Supporting best practice
Promote responsible design and disposal of packaging and work with manufacturers and retailers
to remove microplastics in personal care products.
Awareness
Our Good Beach Guide website will be the UK’s ‘go to’ digital tool for information about beaches
and great water quality, promoted widely on social media to new audiences.
Behaviour change
Single use plastics are the scourge of our oceans. We’ll
change attitudes and habits on their use and disposal through
campaigns and education.
Good Beach Guide
When the Good Beach Guide was
launched in the late 80s, raw sewage
was regularly discharged into the sea
around much of the UK. Over nearly
30 years the Guide has highlighted
beaches with the best and worst
bathing waters, and its findings have
been used to lobby governments
to increase water quality standards
and persuade industry to invest in
sewage treatment. All of that has
paid off because in 2015 new bathing
water standards were finally put in
place, going above and beyond the
aspirational MCS ‘Recommended’ status.
Now the Guide has gone beyond water
quality and become a vital tool for all
coastal visitors, offering the most up to
date water quality information including
daily pollution risk forecasts, wildlife
sighting information near the selected
beach, weather forecasts, RNLI lifeguard
information and tide times.
Strategy 2015-2020 | Clean seas and beachesClean seas and beaches | Strategy 2015-2020
Top level pressure
As part of the EU-wide Marine Strategy Framework Directive,
governing how our seas should be managed, we’ll work at national
and European level to ensure effective action plans and
policies are adopted.
million
Marine Litter Action Network
Although marine litter is a global
problem, the MCS pollution team
identified that inroads could be made if
different sectors could work together.
The key to the success of the Marine Litter
Action Network (MLAN) was bringing
together organisations from all sectors.
From the plastic industry to local
authorities and environmental
organisations, MLAN gave itself an initial
year to make a difference.
Projects in such diverse areas as creating
boardshorts from marine rubbish,
fishing litter initiatives, and the war on
microplastics in personal care products
got off the ground. Members who
were prepared for challenging times
discovered collaborations which were far
more than a talking shop.
A year on there’s a real desire to keep
the Network going past its initial twelve
months. With so many productive
relationships and partnerships created,
which are already delivering real-world
change, it’s clear that MLAN has been a
real success.
50% reduction in the
amount of sewage related debris on UK
beaches.
10,000 volunteers
engaged in beach litter surveys each
year.
75% of UK bathing
waters achieve Excellent water
quality standard.
All UK manufacturers and
retailers committed to removing microplastics
from personal care products.
Working seas
21
If our oceans are not healthy, our economy will be sick. This common objective of economic development and environmental protection is at the core of my political mandate. It is at the core of Europe’s Ocean Governance and Blue Growth agendaKarmenu Vel la Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
20
Marine aggregates supply around 20% of sand and gravel sales in England and
48% in Wales, with approximately 20 million tonnes dredged annually
15% of UK energy must be produced from renewable sources by 2020
Over 90% of UK imports and exports, by weight, are transported by ship
In 2015 there were 1,292 offshore wind turbines – enough to power 3 million homes
It’s 50 years since the first oil platform was erected in the North Sea, with full oil and gas production starting in the 1970s. Over the last decade the UK has become a world leader in the development of offshore wind power and our wave and tidal power is also beginning to be exploited.
Our seas remain incredibly busy for shipping and ports with over 90% of our imports and exports, by weight,
transported by ship. Our coastal zone is the most heavily populated part of the UK, is vital for ports, harbours, sewage works and power stations, and also hugely important for recreation.
MCS works to ensure that these industries are developed as sustainably as possible. Achieving ecological sustainability of marine industries at a time when economic growth is considered the first priority will not be easy – but we need to green the “Blue Growth” agenda.
Going forward, we will support sustainable industries such as offshore wind whilst encouraging other industries to operate within environmental limits. Environmental policies and legislation need to be implemented more robustly through marine spatial plans, strategic environmental assessments, licensing, the adoption of an ecosystem based approach, and strong measures under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive to achieve Good Environmental Status.
As an island nation, the UK has used the sea as a workhorse to provide everything from our energy needs, food, sand for concrete, transport of goods, imports and exports and even our internet cables.
This long term exploitation means that today our seas are amongst the most heavily used in the world. Expansion of marine developments can have considerable impacts on our marine wildlife and habitats.
Marine Planning
MCS led the calls for inclusion of
marine planning in the UK Marine
& Coastal Access Act and Marine
(Scotland) Act. We are now influencing
the implementation of the Marine
Planning elements of the Acts.
Through representation on marine
planning groups and input to draft
Marine Plans in England, Scotland and
Wales, MCS promotes the application
of an ecosystem based approach and
consideration of the cumulative and
in-combination effects of proposed
developments, to ensure these are
within the environmental limits
of the region.
Strategy 2015-2020 | Working seasWorking seas | Strategy 2015-2020
Our 2015-2020 focus is to achieve ecologically sustainable planning and management of major marine industries and our wider seas.
here’s how we’l l do it...
Involvement
We’ll work with industries to help them adopt best environmental practice
for both established and emerging marine projects.
Supporting best practice
We’ll support offshore wind developments which have a key role to play in delivering
renewable energy targets – we’ll work with the industry to ensure
developments minimize impacts on marine life
and habitats.
Developments in MPAs
MCS will oppose major developments in
Marine Protected Areas that are likely to
have an adverse affect on the site. Recent
developments of concern we have opposed
include a proposed port development
in the Fal estuary MPA that would have
destroyed some maerl beds and proposals
for oil and gas development in Moray Firth and Cardigan Bay Special Areas of Conservation. We opposed a proposal for a breakwater in the Manacles Marine Conservation Zone off the Lizard peninsula, after Seasearch dive surveys revealed the development could damage the site’s protected species, maerl beds and rocky reefs.
High level engagement
We’ll work with maritime industries to ensure
developments don’t adversely affect rare, threatened or
protected habitats or species, or the integrity of our
ecosystems.
Raising Standards
Marine spatial plans for all UK sea areas are needed to ensure
growth is within environmentally sustainable limits – we’ll
input into these plans and influence their correct
implementation.
Top level pressure
UK seas need to achieve Good Environmental Status by 2020
and we’ll be influencing governments to make sure
this is achieved.
22
Engaging with people and involving them in what we do is of paramount importance to MCS.
We have a long tradition of harnessing the power of passionate volunteers throughout the UK and beyond to help us bring about positive changes for the marine environment. Never before has there been a more critical time to increase this public engagement.
Between 2015 and 2020, we want to involve more people in new and varied ways to help deliver and develop a more widespread
understanding and appreciation of the diversity and value of the marine environment, and establish a reconnection with our seas where it may have been lost.
We want to improve people’s knowledge and understanding of the importance of healthy seas and people’s roles in protecting them, and ensure decision-makers make the right choices for the long term sustainability of our seas.
Engaging our audiences
23Strategy 2015-2020 | Engaging our audiences
We may be “all about the fish”, but it is people who are at the very heart of our strategy – because it’s people that can make a difference, for the good of our seas.
The public’s understanding of marine ecosystems has increased over recent years. However, there is still a disconnect between everyday human activities and the long term impacts our activities have on the environment, posing a huge threat to the future of our seas, marine wildlife, coastal livelihoods and wellbeing.
Increasing public understanding of the need for marine conservation is critical to the future sustainability of our coastal natural heritage and in helping us achieve our conservation goals.
We will work to better understand and more effectively influence key decision makers and those who use the sea, or have roles managing our seas and shores.
As a trusted charity with a strong scientific basis and credible position in the policy and industry sector, we are ideally placed to facilitate dialogue and collaboration and inform and influence changes in government policy, industry practice and public behaviours.
Being a Sea Champion allows me to tailor my volunteering to suit my interests and my free time.
Alex Milden, Lostwithiel
It’s great to be hands on. My time spent volunteering has been used to the maximum!
Nicole Brandon, Edinburgh
My standout moment as a Sea Champion has to be marching in protest at Westminster. I dressed up as an orange crab and shouted for Marine Conservation Zones until my voice went hoarse!
Karli Drinkwater, Lincoln
Sea Champions have...
...committed 16,250 hoursto the cause
...attended 407 events and talks and 562 beach cleans
...recruited 670 members
...and generated £53,500 from fundraising, donations and memberships
We want to create experiences and provide active engagement opportunities that will increase people’s enjoyment and appreciation of our coast and the marine environment as well as inspire them to take action to help us protect and conserve it.
We cannot do it alone, but together we can make a difference.
5.4 million people spend time in contact with the ocean every year, including around 800,000 kayakers, 624,000 sailors,518,000 surfers, 4,800,000 swimmers and 271,000 scuba divers
MCS will encourage people to visit the coast, learnabout the marineenvironment, enjoy it and
provide ways they can help to keep it healthy and productive into the future
We expect our social media audience to continue to grow to in excess of 200,000 by 2020
We will promote a lifelong connection with our seas, shores and wildlife through our national network of thousands of volunteers
Far and away, the greatest threat to the ocean, and thus to ourselves, is ignorance. But we can do something about that.Sylvia Earle Marine biologist and explorer
Engaging our audiences | Strategy 2015-2020
Sea Champions
Thanks to funding from Marks & Spencer through the Forever Fish partnership, the MCS Sea Champions volunteer scheme has gone from strength to strength since it began in 2012, with 470 having been recruited by 2015. The next five years will see MCS campaigns taken to even wider audiences, throughout the UK.
Education - Cool Seas
Cool Seas takes learning about our seas
into schools across the UK. Through
performances, workshops, assemblies
and beach visits we have already
engaged well over 100,000 children.
Our new Cool Seas Investigators project
reaches out to secondary schools using
problem based learning to get young
people thinking about identifying local
solutions.
24
Rolled out our national Sea Champions volunteer initiative involving almost 500 people giving us over 16,000 hours of their time
Engaged 150,000 people at over 500 public events, and piloted community
projects focussed on Sewage Related Debris and Marine Litter
Grew our Education Programme with an interactive website, touring puppet show and in-school workshops for nearly 50,000 primary school children around the UK
Expand our education programme to encourage greater
learning about our seas in primary and secondary schools
Invest in our volunteer-led education delivery service and build on ‘learning through experience’ workshops
Be a leading partner and volunteer trainer in the largest experimental marine citizen
science project ever undertaken in the UK - ‘Capturing our Coast’
Increase our influence on all audiences at national, regional and local level through advocacy, engagement and campaigns
During 2015-2020 we aim to...
I got involved in Seasearch because I wanted to learn more about the life I saw on dives. I continue to learn through my fellow Seasearch divers. I also really enjoy going out on organised boat dives to sites where Seasearch wants to explore - quite often these are places where the club diving wouldn’t take us.
Wendy Northway Seasearch Tutor, Cheshire
25
Engaging our audiences
Our 2015-2020 focus is to achieve increased public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of UK seas and active involvement in their conservation.
here’s how we’l l do it...
Raising profile
We’ll further grow and develop all of our communications and
social media platforms to increase the profile of our seas and the
actions needed to protect them.
1 million visitors to MCS
online platforms annually.
15,000 volunteers
actively engaged in MCS activities
annually.
Inspiring future generations
The children of today are tomorrow’s decision
makers. We’ll inspire children to understand the need to
protect our seas through our programme of formal and
informal learning resources.
Citizen science
We’ll run projects and surveys that provide
people with new learning opportunities as well as
increase our understanding of UK marine life.
Involvement
We’ll expand our UK-wide network of volunteers to promote marine conservation at grass roots level. We’ll develop partnerships
with recreational user groups to increase awareness,
and participation in conservation projects.
Some of our volunteer initiatives include...Between 2011-14 we...
Big Beach Clean-up
Through our Forever Fish partnership with Marks & Spencer the Big Beach Clean-up was created in 2012. Its aim was to introduce the issue of beach litter and our beach clean programme to a new audience taken from the high street retailer’s staff and customers.
Since spring 2012, nearly 30,000 volunteers have cleared away over half a million pieces of rubbish as part of the MCS/M&S Big Beach Clean-up, now in its fourth year. 100 tonnes of litter have been cleared from over 400 beaches in over 12,000 bin bags!
Seasearch
Seasearch, our MCS volunteer dive programme has engaged thousands of volunteers in exploring some of the richest marine habitats in our seas. To help them improve their skills we’ve run over 600 Seasearch courses, awarded 750 Seasearch qualifications and produced a series of well-respected guides to identifying marine life.
Strategy 2015-2020 | Engaging our audiencesEngaging our audiences | Strategy 2015-2020
Behaviour change
We want to make sure that people who don’t live on the
coast love it as much as those that do. From Northampton to Nairn, we’ll promote the benefits of the
marine environment to our health, wealth and well-
being.
Ensuring that we generate the funds to be able to deliver our conservation strategy over the next five years is key to the success of MCS.
Our Fundraising, Marketing and Communications teams play a vital role in helping the charity achieve the conservation goals we are working towards through income generation, membership growth and brand and stakeholder awareness.
As we move into the next five year period we anticipate further sustained income from our rolling trust and grants programme, combined with an increased focus on partnerships with businesses and a new focus on presenting funding projects to high value donors.
All of this will be underpinned by a continued growth in our media coverage, social media followers, e-newsletter sign-ups, mobile apps and use of video on our digital platforms.
27
Over the last five years the Fundraising team has significantly increased income through support from business, trusts and grants, legacies, individual and community fundraisers and events. This increase has been underpinned by continued relationships with high profile organisations like Debenhams, Waitrose, Marks and Spencer, People’s Postcode Lottery and Glenmorangie.
Between 2015 and 2020 our aim is to build on our current strengths. In a crowded market place we will be focussing on audiences whose work area and ethos chimes with our own. At the heart of reaching out to industry, companies and individuals will be our continued growth on digital platforms where we can speak directly to audiences and build awareness of the charity and our work.
We will continue our focus on partnerships with the business community.
Long term relationships are extremely important to MCS and we will seek to build on existing partnerships and to maximise new opportunities, particularly with retailers and restaurants linked to our sustainable seafood and aquaculture work.
26
The partnership operates on many
levels - Glenmorangie staff took part
in beach cleans, the distillery funded a
seasonal MCS information officer based
in the visitor centre to talk about the
marine life of the Firth.
Now MCS and Glenmorangie have
joined forces with Heriot Watt
University for a ground breaking long-
term project to not just protect the
area, but to help enhance the living
reefs of the Firth.
Through beach cleans and fundraising activities such as the Great Glenmorangie Bake Off we have achieved unprecedented levels of staff engagement, exceeding the targets we’d set ourselves. Working alongside MCS, we have also initiated an exciting reef enhancement study of the Dornoch Firth with Heriot Watt University Life Sciences Department.
Hamish Torrie Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Glenmorangie
One key area for growth in the coming years will be acknowledging the importance of packaging our work for larger statutory funding bodies in the UK (e.g. Big Lottery Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund, etc). We’ll also be investigating the potential for funding from overseas grant making bodies, in particular in Europe and the US.
We’ll be seeking joint working opportunities with other non-governmental organisations to enhance our ability to secure grants and funding from bodies that see the benefit of organisations working together to achieve a specific result. We will also look to grow our Major Gift and Legacy marketing programmes which are new areas for MCS.
Alongside our continual need to grow our financial support is the need to increase the MCS brand profile. Excellent brand recognition leads to a wider supporter base - a vital growth area for us.
Through our Marketing and Communications programme we will seek ways to enhance our relationships with a wide audience to support our conservation aims. We will encourage participation in our campaigns, and engage more through social media and enews.
We have been delighted to have been working in partnership with the Marine Conservation Society. The marine environment is vitally important to Marks & Spencer and our 33 million customers. MCS’ inspiring work to protect our beaches, oceans and sea life has provided practical opportunities for our customers and employees to make a real difference right across the British Isles.Mike Barry Director of Plan A, Marks and Spencer
Glenmorangie
The Glenmorangie distillery is situated
on the banks of the Dornoch Firth in
a Special Area of Conservation. At the
core of the partnership is a bottling
of whisky called Dornoch – sold
worldwide with a contribution to MCS
from every bottle sold.
MCS online shop
As MCS has continued to develop and
enhance its digital communications,
its commercial activities have similarly
followed suit with the re-launch of its
online shop in 2013.
Since the re-design to appeal to its
growing audience, enhanced payment
security and new product range, over
£20,000 worth of products have been
sold, including clothing, jewellery, pin
badges, toiletries, books and
Adopt-a-Turtle packs.
New corporate partnerships have
allowed MCS to broaden its range and
offer more bespoke products aligned
with our values. Isle of Wight-based,
award-winning eco fashion label,
Rapanui, has built up a successful
relationship with MCS since its initial
marine-themed T-shirt launch and is
now one of the site’s
best sellers of a
range including
sweatshirts, hoodies
and bags.
Strategy 2015-2020 | Securing the meansSecuring the means | Strategy 2015-2020
Securing the means
Securing the means
C onservation programmes, education and campaign communications
Fundraising and membership
28
Measure and report on our impact so funds and resources are put to best effect
Building partnerships
Our Fundraising Team work with large and small businesses in partnerships that benefit MCS and business alike. From sponsoring events, donations via purchases or continuing financial support, we pride ourselves in building and servicing relationships that work for everyone.
Here are just a few of our partners:
19 %
81 %
Grew our membership from
Developed a new face-to-face recruitment programme, attending hundreds of events, resulting in 550 new members
4,500to 5,750 + 27%
Appeared in the media over 15,000 times
Significantly grew our online presence by attracting 7,000,000 visits to our websites and 50,000 people to our social media pages
Reached 44,500 people with regular and targeted e-newsletters.
Increase annual supporter income (committed giving, memberships, cash appeals and fundraising activities) from £321,000 to £634,000 by 2020
Increase total database contacts from 59,000 to 200,000
Increase regular email recipients from 44,500to 100,000
Increase prompted brand awareness of MCS from 28% to 33%
Increase social media contacts from 70,000 to 150,000
Increase regular giving supporters from 5,750 to 8,620
29
Our 2015-2020 focus is to establish sustainable income streams which will provide regular annual income of at least £2 million from both restricted
and unrestricted sources.
here’s how we’l l do it...
Raising our profile
We’ll look at new ways of getting the MCS brand more widely
recognised and valued. Building awareness of our brand through
increased partnerships, promotion and communications will
support our wider marketing and fundraising work.
Inspire company
employees through volunteer and
engagement activities and raise £150,000 from Major Donors
by 2020.
During 2015-2020 we aim to...
Between 2011-14 we... We spend your money wiselyWe use our funds to invest in the charity’s future growth and development so we can increase our effectiveness and ultimately our ability to deliver our conservation aims. The bulk of our income is spent on the work areas that can really make a difference to the UK’s marine environment with the remainder helping us support those aims.
Strategy 2015-2020 | Securing the meansSecuring the means | Strategy 2015-2020
Leaving a legacy
We’ll increase our investment and focus on generating a
strong foundation of legacy pledgers to pave the way for a
secure and healthy income stream from gifts and Wills
in future years.
Product development
By growing our adoption schemes and developing our range of online shop products we’ll appeal to wider
audiences and increase income streams. We’ll increase supporter
benefits with an improved, customer-centric online
experience.
33% prompted awareness of MCS
and our work.
High level engagement
We’ll explore exciting new ways to partner with businesses and
build long-term relationships with mutual benefits. We’ll also commit significant resources to
develop an effective Major Donor income generation
programme.
£1.78m income
generated by 2020 from company
supporters, Trusts, our members and
regular givers.
Involvement
We’ll find new ways to reach more people, grow our
network of members and regular supporters and develop strong relationships to underpin our
work and help us achieve our long term aims.
1977Underwater Conservation Year – highlights rough times ahead for our seas.
1983Marine Conservation Society set up in a garden shed in Herefordshire.
1987The annual Good Beach Guide book focuses on woeful state of UK’s bathing waters.
MCS lobbies European Commission for higher Bathing Water Directive standards.
Bathing waters reaching the highest Guideline standards increased from 29% in 1990 to 78% in 2014.
New standards came into force in 2015. Signs will advise no swimming at failing beaches, and online pollution alerts will highlight when there’s a health risk. All available at goodbeachguide.co.uk – now a one stop online beach information shop.
1994Beachwatch is launched – a UK-wide clean-up and survey of beach litter.
By 2015 over 108,000 volunteers have collected 7 million bits of litter from almost 4,000 km of UK beaches.
MCS campaigning leads to single use carrier bag charges in all the home nations by October 2015.
MCS asked by Defra to run litter monitoring on a dozen UK beaches quarterly from 2015 - 2017 as part of Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
199810 year MCS campaign results in basking sharks being protected under UK law.
Don’t Let Go campaign launched to stop mass balloon releases.
By 2015 over 40 local authorities ban balloon and lantern releases on their land.
2000MCS establishes its Scotland programme based in Edinburgh.
30 Scottish MPAs established in summer 2014, including Europe’s largest along with MCS recommended sites.
Scotland pilots its first drinks bottle deposit system, taking advice from MCS based on our litter data.
2003Seasearch volunteer diver programme launched to record and monitor wildlife and habitats.
By 2015 almost 800 Seasearch divers have been trained, 17,000 survey dives and 550,000 records of marine habitats and species gathered.
2005Cool Seas Education project begins taking life size marine inflatables to thousands of classrooms.
2014 Education programme expanded – now fully interactive online resource and schools outreach programme.
2012 Sea Champions volunteer programme launched.
By 2015 almost 500 Sea Champions had given over 16,000 hours in support of marine conservation.
2013Reformed Common Fisheries Policy introduced including targets for achieving Maximum Sustainable Yield and an end to discarding.
2014MCS launches Marine Litter Action Network, bringing together 60 organisations to help tackle litter issues.
Scrub It Out! is developed out of the network to get manufacturers and high street retailers to remove microplastics from own brand personal care products - by June 2015, 15 UK retailers had pledged to do so.
2007MCS launches Marine Reserves Now campaign to get the public behind the need for marine protection.
2013 Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and almost 2,000 people support our march for marine protection in Westminster.
2014 27 Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) established in English waters.
2014 180 Parliamentarians sign up to MCS-led Marine Charter.
2009 / 2010 UK Marine and Coastal Access Act and Marine (Scotland) Act enter into law – after 10 year campaigns by MCS and our NGO partners.
Our story so far
Strategy 2015-2020 | Our story so farOur story so far | Strategy 2015-202030 31
423-
2015
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Registered Charity No (England and Wales): 1004005Registered Charity No (Scotland): SC037480Company Limited by Guarantee No: 2550966 Registered in England VAT No: 489 1505 17
© Marine Conservation Society 2015. All Rights Reserved.
Our strategy is a blueprint for the future of our seas as we head towards 2020. Your support is crucial to ensure our seas are fit for life – for marine life, livelihoods and future lifetimes.
Thank you for your interest.
Marine Conservation SocietyOverross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7US
T 01989 566017E [email protected] W www.mcsuk.org
Protecting our seas, shores and wildlife