SOS Collection
Why I’m Supporting the Marine Conservation Society
The Marine Conservation Society MCS is a ‘UK community of ocean lovers, working together towards their vision of a sea full of life, where nature flourishes and people thrive’.
This statement really resonates with me.
The sea is the essence of life in Cornwall, provider of food, entertainment and therapy! It has been the life blood of our past generations and has served us well but like us, it needs respect, nourishment and a little tender loving care. Through various initiatives and programmes, The MCS is fighting for a cleaner, better protected, healthier ocean that can sustain a diverse array of species and help protect us all against climate change. I think that’s worth supporting.
Some upsetting facts
The Common Skate is critically endangered in European waters, in fact the population has decreased drastically due to overfishing and will most likely disappear entirely unless more is done to protect it.
The Basking Shark is the gentle giant of our seas and can reach up to 12m in length! Sadly, they are on the IUCN Red List of endangered species. Fishing practices and climate change may be altering the pattern of ocean currents and plankton distribution, contributing to its demise. There is still so much we need to learn to be able to help and support these magnificent creatures.
The UK has lost up to 92% of its seagrass in the last century. Why is this devastating?
Seagrass meadows play a vital role in marine ecosystems and create biodiversity hotspots providing food, habitat and nursery areas for many species.
They also clean the water by trapping carbon-rich sediments and absorbing nutrients and pathogens, improving water quality and coral growth.
Without these plants our shorelines would degrade and marine species would have difficulty navigating the ocean floor.
