Marine Conservation Society
Encyclopedia
The Marine Conservation Society a UK charity
for the protection of the seas around the United Kingdom
, and for the protection of their shores and wildlife.
According to their website MCS's Vision is:
Their website also states:
The society was first set up under the name of the 'Underwater Conservation Society' in 1977 when it was championed by Bernard Eaton, together with leading scientists and other public figures including HRH The Prince of Wales
. The society later adopted the name “Marine Conservation Society” and was registered with the Charity Commission in 1983.
The Charity's main current concerns about the UK seas are:
To combat these the MCS have helped introduce many Marine Acts to better protect UK seas and marine life, influenced sustainable seafood
choices by major retailers and consumers through the Good Fish Guideto help improve dwindling fish stocks, and have also brought together thousands of volunteers in their 'Beachwatch' projects to clean beaches of litter.
Registered charity no (England and Wales) 1004005,
Registered charity no (Scotland) SCO37480
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
for the protection of the seas around the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and for the protection of their shores and wildlife.
According to their website MCS's Vision is:
- "For seas rich in wildlifeMarine biologyMarine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
, abundant fish stocksFish stockFish stocks are subpopulations of a particular species of fish, for which intrinsic parameters are the only significant factors in determining population dynamics, while extrinsic factors are considered to be insignificant.-The stock concept:All species have geographic limits to their...
and pollutionPollutionPollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
free beachBeachA beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
es and bathing watersSea bathingSea bathing is swimming in the sea or in sea water and a sea bath is a protective enclosure for sea bathing. Unlike bathing in a swimming pool, which is generally done for pleasure or exercise purposes, sea bathing was once thought to have curative or therapeutic value. It arose from the medieval...
– seas that are fit for wildlife to thrive in and for people to enjoy, and seas that will support future generations with abundant resources."
Their website also states:
- "We champion the need for marine wildlife protection, sustainable fisheries and clean seas and beaches."
The society was first set up under the name of the 'Underwater Conservation Society' in 1977 when it was championed by Bernard Eaton, together with leading scientists and other public figures including HRH The Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
. The society later adopted the name “Marine Conservation Society” and was registered with the Charity Commission in 1983.
The Charity's main current concerns about the UK seas are:
- Too many fishFishFish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
are being taken out due to to much fishing - Too much rubbish is being thrown into the seas
- Not enough protection the marine wildlifeMarine biologyMarine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
and vital fish stocks.
To combat these the MCS have helped introduce many Marine Acts to better protect UK seas and marine life, influenced sustainable seafood
Sustainable seafood
Sustainable seafood is seafood from either fished or farmed sources that can maintain or increase production in the future without jeopardizing the ecosystems from which it was acquired...
choices by major retailers and consumers through the Good Fish Guideto help improve dwindling fish stocks, and have also brought together thousands of volunteers in their 'Beachwatch' projects to clean beaches of litter.
Timeline
- 1975 - Bernard Eaton (Editor of Diver mag) had the idea of holding an Underwater Conservation Year with the help of key figures like David BellamyDavid BellamyDavid James Bellamy OBE is a British author, broadcaster, environmental campaigner and botanist. He has lived in County Durham since 1960.-Career:...
. The first meeting was held in the Wig and Pen Club in Fleet StreetFleet StreetFleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
. - 1977 - The first Conservation Year with HRH Prince of WalesCharles, Prince of WalesPrince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
as President. Hundreds of divers got involved to survey marine habitats. - 1978 - The Underwater Conservation Society was established due to the success of the 'Conservation Year' in Bob Earll's shed in Ross on Wye, HerefordshireHerefordshireHerefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
. Bob was the new UCS Project Co-ordinator. - 1983 – Name changed to Marine Conservation Society
- 1986 - MCS start Seasearch with JNCC
- 1987 - Published Golden List of Clean Beaches - now called the Good Beach Guide
- 1988 - Office burns down in central Ross-on-Wye
- 1993 – First Beachwatch weekend
- 1998 – MCS wins protection for Basking sharkBasking sharkThe basking shark is the second largest living fish, after the whale shark. It is a cosmopolitan migratory species, found in all the world's temperate oceans. It is a slow moving and generally harmless filter feeder and has anatomical adaptations to filter feeding, such as a greatly enlarged...
s - 1999 - MCS starts lobbying for a review of marine nature conservation in UK
- 1999 - MCS members magazine is first printed in colour
- 2000 - Office opened in ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
- 2001 - Launches Adopt-a-turtle scheme
- 2007 - MCS staff and supporters march on ParliamentParliamentA parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
calling for a strong Marine Bill - 2008 - MCS celebrates Silver JubileeSilver JubileeA Silver Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 25th anniversary. The anniversary celebrations can be of a wedding anniversary, ruling anniversary or anything that has completed a 25 year mark...
- 2009 - Marine Act passed
- 2009 - Your Seas Your Voice Campaign launched
- 2010 - Scottish Marine Act passed
Activities
- MCS has a network of local supporters' groups.
- MCS involves volunteers in surveys and other projects such as Beachwatch, Seasearch, wildlife sightings, fundraisingFundraisingFundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
, reporting overflowing sewage pipeSewerageSewerage refers to the infrastructure that conveys sewage. It encompasses receiving drains, manholes, pumping stations, storm overflows, screening chambers, etc. of the sanitary sewer...
s. - MCS lobbies the UK Government and the European UnionEuropean UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. - MCS Cool Seas Roadshow visits hundreds of schools and sees thousands of children every year.
- MCS Campaigns against balloon releases, plastic bags, for Marine Reserves, sustainable fisheries.
Registered charity no (England and Wales) 1004005,
Registered charity no (Scotland) SCO37480