Living Seas

In November 2009, the Marine and Coastal Access Act (MCAA) was passed, for which The Wildlife Trusts campaigned for nearly a decade. The challenge for the next five years is to ensure the Act is effectively implemented – that urgent action is taken to turn the UK’s over-fished, over-exploited, and currently under-protected waters back into a thriving marine environment.

We believe it is possible to achieve Living Seas around the UK within 20 years – a single generation – but only if opportunities are seized now to make radical changes over the next five years. To ensure this happens, Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the other Wildlife Trusts alongside the North sea, have embarked on a new project called Net Gain. This will promote protection of the North Sea's weird and wonderful marine wildlife by helping to create a network of Marine Protected Areas, to defend wildlife and their habitats from damaging activities.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust runs Living Seas events throughout the year that you can get involved with – check our events calendar. Last summer nearly 2,000 people attended. We have also produced a photo guide to some of Norfolk’s most spectacular marine wildlife, available online or at NWT Cley Marshes Visitor Centre.

Whether you live inland or by the coast, speak up for the silent world, learn about your local marine life or find out what you can do to get involved. Visit the Wildlife Trust’s North Sea Project website at www.northseawildlife.org.uk and learn about:

• North Sea wildlife
• The Wildlife Trusts’ marine work
• Living Seas campaign information
• Details of the Wildlife Trusts coastal reserves (including what wildlife you can see at them)
• Suggestions as to how you can get involved with your local marine environment
• As well as a long list of marine events happening across the East coast of the country.
• View amazing Marine images in the online gallery.