Our Coast, Our Sea - Seahorse gets set to travel the Region

20 May 2011

A large blue seahorse will be travelling around the Region with staff from Northumberland Wildlife Trust, collecting signatures from the public in support of the Marine Protected Areas – promised in the Marine and Coastal Access Act (MCAA).

The seahorse, which is currently blue, will be present at every event run by Northumberland Wildlife Trust between now and the end of the summer; however, the wildlife charity would be delighted if, by the end of the summer, the blue was replaced by hundreds of signatures on the special metallic silver scales which will be tucked under its tail.

Northumberland Wildlife Trust has joined the other 46 UK Wildlife Trusts in calling upon the Government not to forget its promise to establish a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) throughout the UK. The MPAs will conserve a number of rare and threatened habitats and species. – many of which are on our doorstep in the North Sea.

By signing a silver scale and sticking it on the seahorse, the public will be helping to ensure that the North Sea becomes a “Living Sea” once again, rather than one that is slowly dying.

Steve Lowe, Head of Conservation at Northumberland Wildlife Trust said: “We need to keep the pressure on the Coalition Government to ensure that Marine Protected Areas are not swept under the carpet or diluted in any way and the support of the public and the wildlife movement is critical in this, and could ultimately determine the future of the UK’s seas.”

He continued: “The UK’s 11,073 miles of coastline is host to an amazing array of wildlife; many thousands of species live in our seas including intricate corals, whales & dolphins, basking sharks, seals, and a myriad
of fascinating fish, crustaceans and molluscs – so come on, get signing.”

Once signed, the seahorse will head southwards to London where it will presented the Secretary of State for the Environment, Caroline Spelman