Local MP joins call for better protection of marine wildlife
News from the RSPB site
Tim Loughton MP has joined our campaign to urge the Government to provide better protection for marine wildlife.
Mr Loughton, who has already signed an Early Day Motion in Parliament calling for improved protection of the marine environment, today signed our pledge urging Gordon Brown to introduce a Marine Bill in this year's Queen's speech.
As part of Wildlife and Countryside Link, we are urging Gordon Brown to ensure that new legislation to protect the marine environment is introduced in the next session of Parliament. Without it, we believe much of the wildlife found in the seas around the UK could be lost forever.
A recent analysis has shown that UK seas regularly support 18 species of fish, mammal, bird or reptile that are considered at risk of global extinction.
This compares with only three such endangered species on land or freshwater: two species of bat and a non-breeding migrant warbler.
As well as threatened species, the seas around Britain have some very special habitats. For example, the south coast is one of the best areas in Europe for underwater chalk habitat, which is rare throughout Europe. The Worthing Lumps are probably the best example of this unusual habitat.
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