Dear Supporter

Help Make the Marine Bill Count for marine wildlife and habitats

The RSPB has been calling for comprehensive legislation to protect the UK's marine environment for nearly a decade. We are now within touching distance of securing this legislation. A Marine and Coastal Access Bill, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put things right for the marine environment, is currently making its way through the House of Commons.

However, whilst the existence of this Bill is cause to celebrate, we are concerned that those sections intended to protect the marine environment are not as strong as they need to be. Indeed, we fear that if they are not strengthened, the UK's unique and internationally important marine habitats, and the seabirds and other wildlife that depends on them, will remain vulnerable to disturbance and destruction.

What you can do to help

Please give us just a few minutes of your valuable time to help us ensure that this golden opportunity is not squandered. All you have to do is take part in our online action to e-mail your MP. Action by MPs to address the weaknesses in the Bill is vital if we are to secure the protection so desperately needed to safeguard the marine environment.

Clicking on the link will take you to a page with more information and a template e-mail that you can adapt if you wish.  For example, as you live in Wales, it would be helpful if you supplemented our suggested text with mention of inshore fisheries – one area where the Bill's provisions for Wales are significantly weaker than those for England.  Our suggested text is below:

Those parts of the Bill relating to inshore fisheries management in Wales must be strengthened through the inclusion of a clear duty to sustainable management that recognises the importance of a healthy marine environment, as is the case in England.

It only takes a minute and every e-mail counts. Join our campaign and make yourself heard – be a voice for nature today.

Thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely

Steven Roddy
Parliamentary Campaigns Team