In the UK, we are responsible for looking after an area of sea that is three times the size of our land area. This vast realm stretches from the coast up to 200 miles offshore, and from the shallows to depths of more than 2000 metres – equivalent to twice the height of Ben Nevis. Lying at the meeting point of different ocean zones, our seas have the potential to be among the most productive and diverse on Earth. They are home to more than 44,000 different kinds of plant and animal, from tiny corals to the massive basking shark, the world’s second largest fish. Our islands’ complex geology has created a unique patchwork of habitats beneath the waves: rugged reefs and gullies, submerged cliffs and caves, towering sandbanks and vast plains. Everywhere you look, there is life. Meadows of seagrass, forests of kelp, gardens of colourful sponges and corals, and moonscapes of sand and mud riddled with the burrows of millions of shellfish and worms.
But it’s not just marine life that needs our seas. They are a life support system for humans too. The seas around the UK absorb vast quantities of harmful ‘greenhouse’ gases. They also release oxygen for us to breathe, and they regulate our climate. There is even evidence that bacteria in the sea help govern clouds and rainfall.
Of course, the marine environment is also an unrivalled playground, enjoyed for sport and relaxation, and our coast and seas play a central role in our nation’s history and identity. Where would we be without the sea?
Sadly, the environment we see now is a shadow of its former self. Exploitation of our marine resources, for everything from seafood, oil and gas, to sand, gravel and renewable energy, has become increasingly intensive. Fragile habitats have been degraded or even destroyed – whether smashed by a scallop dredge or contaminated by oil production – and many species are in decline. Across vast areas, marine life has been decimated.
If you would like to find out more about how the Wildlife Trusts are involved with Marine issues here in the South East why not take a look at the following websites.
Don't Drop The Marine Bill Mr. Brown
Latest News on The Marine Bill
thunbnail image of Tompot Blenny by Paul Naylor
