Kirsten Carter, marine policy officer at the RSPB said: “The sights and sounds of our amazing seabirds flying above our cliffs and beaches hold a special place in our national identity and the important place the coastline has for people in the UK.
“Nesting on our cliffs and isles many of our seabirds will travel up to 100 miles out to sea to fish, which makes them a good indicator of the general health of the waters around the UK. Which makes it all the more concerning that our globally important seabird colonies are failing with numbers in decline.
“Our seas and marine life are struggling and need urgent action. The YouGov polling clearly shows this as people from across the UK call for more protection for the wildlife that rely on our waters. Well-managed MPAs must be where the recovery of our marine life begins, to do this we must end destructive practices that are further depleting the populations of sandeels and other species that support so much of our marine life.”
Dr Lissa Batey, head of marine conservation at The Wildlife Trusts, said: “Exactly a year ago, on World Oceans Day 2021, the Government announced it would start designating Highly Protected Marine Areas by the end of 2022. Progress on this can’t come soon enough because we face a nature crisis in the sea as well as on land – we simply cannot afford to wait.
“This new poll shows that people want to see big change. There is an overwhelming case for designating Highly Protected Marine Areas across our seas which would see a ban on all damaging activities, offering the strictest protection for the marine environment and giving nature the best chance of recovery. A healthy marine environment is also one of the most effective ways to halt climate change alongside much-needed energy efficiencies and the move away from fossil fuels.”
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