The Marine Conservation Society is the UK’s leading marine charity. We work to ensure our seas are healthy, pollution free and protected.
Our seas are under immense pressure: too many fish are being taken out, too much rubbish is being thrown in and too little is being done to protect our precious wildlife. Our vision is for seas full of life where nature flourishes and people thrive.
21 species of shark live in UK waters throughout the year
Last year governments, councils and their agencies changed their policies or acted on our advice almost once a week
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Our latest seafood ratings update reveals not one single UK fishery has moved off the Good Fish Guide ‘Fish to Avoid’ list and none have moved on to the green rated, Best Choice, list either. Despite improvement in fisheries management over the last decade – progress seems to have stalled.
MCS is among conservationists welcoming the creation of the largest fully protected marine reserve in the Atlantic around Ascension Island. The protection will safeguard green turtles, swordfish, sharks, tuna, marlin, frigatebirds and terns.
Fragments of fishing equipment and microplastics have been found inside animals living on Scotland’s only inshore deep-water coral reef. It highlights the massive challenge of preventing plastic getting into the ocean, and of trying to remove what’s already there.
On International Women’s Day - we’re celebrating one woman who’s underwater photography was featured in our recent membership magazine on underwater heroes.
A three-day conference in Abu Dhabi to confront issues of pollution, overfishing and climate change in the world’s oceans has ended with experts saying the move from talk to action needs to be accelerated – but there is cause for cautious optimism.
The ten best British beaches have been announced in the Travellers’ Choice Awards. From the Isle of Harris to Cornwall, Pembrokeshire to Norfolk, expanses of golden sands to cleanliness and family friendliness. Is your favourite in the Top 10?
MCS Fisheries Policy Officer, Debbie Crockard, reflects on the choppy waters surrounding the new Fisheries Minister, Robert Goodwill, as the House of Lords attacks unsustainable fishing levels in the EU.
What a week! From Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon posting our inflatable Leatherback Turtle on Instagram, to HRH Prince Charles encouraging everyone to take part in the Great British Beach Clean in a key note address, it was fantastic to see the recognition of MCS and our incredible volunteers at Scotland’s first International Marine Conference.
Fisheries management is never straight forward – particularly for the many mixed fisheries in Wales. But post–Brexit, we should be able to build on what we already have as part of the EU says MCS leads on fisheries and Wales, Sam Stone and Gill Bell.
Present at every stage of their journey, wild fish are facing yet another threat: microplastics and plastic pollution. Read a fascinating blog from Salmon and Trout Conservation.
Guest blog from the Global Aquaculture Alliance tells how standards in aquaculture are improving.
There’s one critical aspect of political uncertainty that we must keep on saying: Environmental protection must not just be maintained, but improved, whatever scenario results.
The UK’s leading marine charity, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) says it is disappointed that not one single UK fishery has moved off its Good Fish Guide ‘Fish to Avoid’ list in its most recent ratings update.
Wales’ leading marine charity has taken a deposit return machine into the Senedd to give Assembly Members the opportunity to see how a deposit return scheme (DRS) could work.
Penzance-based Frasers Fish and Chips, won the Marine Conservation Society (MCS)-sponsored Good Catch Award.
Dr Chris Tuckett, Director of Programmes at the Marine Conservation Society, comments on the Resources and Waste Strategy announced today by DEFRA.
Team Status Row take on the world’s toughest row to increase awareness of plastic pollution, raising funds for the Marine Conservation Society.
A meeting organised by the British Association for Sustainable Sport, the Marine Conservation Society and the #OneLess campaign gathered senior figures from leading sports venues, clubs and events to address the issue of single-use plastics and explore ways to reduce them from their venues and events.
MCS Fisheries Policy Officer, Debbie Crockard, reflects on the choppy waters surrounding the new Fisheries Minister, Robert Goodwill, as the House of Lords attacks unsustainable fishing levels in the EU.
Our latest seafood ratings update reveals not one single UK fishery has moved off the Good Fish Guide ‘Fish to Avoid’ list and none have moved on to the green rated, Best Choice, list either. Despite improvement in fisheries management over the last decade – progress seems to have stalled.
MCS is among conservationists welcoming the creation of the largest fully protected marine reserve in the Atlantic around Ascension Island. The protection will safeguard green turtles, swordfish, sharks, tuna, marlin, frigatebirds and terns.
Fragments of fishing equipment and microplastics have been found inside animals living on Scotland’s only inshore deep-water coral reef. It highlights the massive challenge of preventing plastic getting into the ocean, and of trying to remove what’s already there.
On International Women’s Day - we’re celebrating one woman who’s underwater photography was featured in our recent membership magazine on underwater heroes.
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