Families across the UK can delve into the watery world of rockpools during National Marine Week (2-17 August). And The Wildlife Trusts are urging everyone – even those in landlocked areas – to learn more about marine wildlife.
Explore the shore, discover dunes and get acquainted with aquatic animals like basking sharks, grey seals, dolphins and puffins, at local Wildlife Trusts around the UK. A fantastic range of activities is taking place, including rockpool rambles, porpoise-spotting and snorkelling.
Whilst encouraging families to get involved, The Wildlife Trusts say it is also a prime time to reflect on the damage that years of over-exploitation and neglect of our seas has had on the UK’s marine ‘megafauna’ – large animals such as whales, tuna and basking sharks, which are typically at the top of their food chain, and could live for more than 60 years..
The Wildlife Trusts are campaigning for highly protected marine reserves, to help rebuild healthy seas in order that UK waters can once again support the ‘mega’ marine life previously common off our shores.
Compared to UK wildlife on land, marine ‘megafauna’ is truly mega; basking sharks can grow up to 12 metres / 39 ft long and the European sea sturgeon to over 3 metres /11ft. Populations of these animals are now just a fraction of the numbers they used to be. There is only one known remaining population of European sea sturgeon worldwide – a few hundred individuals living in the North-East Atlantic – and the species is currently classified as being in ‘critical danger of extinction’. It is a sad situation – but one which could face other UK megafauna if lessons are not learned.
Professor Callum Roberts, who is working with The Wildlife Trusts on their campaign, said: “Today, we tend not to think of the UK as a place that could ever boast a profusion of giant fish and cetaceans, but even as little as a century ago it was a very different place. As well as sustaining extraordinary numbers of large blue sharks and metre-and-a-half long cod, our waters in the mid-19th century supported, “numberless whales sporting and rising on every side”, large groups of dolphins, and seabirds tame from unfamiliarity with people.”
Everyone in the UK can have an impact upon the marine environment - even those in landlocked areas – and everyone has a part to play in ensuring the UK’s marine wildlife is protected for future generations to enjoy.
To mark the start of National Marine Week – and highlight their campaign work on marine life conservation – on Wednesday 30 July staff and volunteers for The Wildlife Trusts will embark on a three-day journey from the UK’s most inland village, Coton-in-the-Elms in Derbyshire, to the sea at the Humber estuary. The migration follows rivers which could provide spawning grounds for the sturgeon in the future – but only if we improve protection of the marine environment.
The team will stop at Wildlife Trust reserves along the route, where visitors can learn more about the Seas of Plenty campaign, as well as see touring production company, The Desperate Men, entertain visitors and shed more light on issues facing the UK’s marine wildlife.
The Wildlife Trusts hope National Marine Week will help people across the country celebrate our amazing megafauna, understand more about the threats facing native marine life, and get involved in protecting it.
Lisa Chilton, The Wildlife Trusts’ marine development manager, said: “The UK’s 11,073 miles of coastline is host to an amazing array of wildlife including colourful corals, whales & dolphins, basking sharks, seals, and myriad fascinating fish, crustaceans and molluscs.
“As part of our Marine Bill Campaign, The Wildlife Trusts are highlighting the massive loss of marine megafauna from our seas. The campaign aims to show how vital it is that the Marine Bill (published in draft on 3 April) provides robust new laws for marine conservation – including the creation of highly protected marine reserves – if our seas are ever again to be a stronghold for the giants of the seas.
“During National Marine Week we want people to get out there and discover the secrets of our seas at events around the UK, but we also want to increase awareness of the issues facing our marine environment.”
The Wildlife Trusts will be hosting events throughout National Marine Week, which runs from August 2-17. These include rockpool rambles, porpoise-spotting, snorkelling and a dolphin and basking shark watch. Visit www.wildlifetrusts.org/marineweek to find an event near you.