Conservation measures and guidelines are evidence-based, yet for the marine environment, there has been limited data available for conservation strategies which are required to be undertaken by governments.
Our research is providing much needed impartial
information on the status and distribution of marine wildlife,
particularly cetaceans and seabirds. MARINElife works in
partnership to collect, analyse and report on the status of the
marine environment and make this vital evidence available to
conservation bodies and decision makers to help them more
effectively consider the conservation needs of marine wildlife in
policy decisions.
Our research and data has been published widely in scientific journals and at international conferences and is used as an evidence base by Government agencies, including Natural England, JNCC and Defra for marine spatial planning and site safeguarding. We have also contributed data:
(1) to the Atlas of Cetacean distribution in North-West European Waters
(2) to inform delivery of conservation action for UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species
(3) for a report to JNCC on using ferry survey data for UK Assessment of the Favourable Conservation of Cetaceans under the EU Habitats Directive.
(4) a report for Natural England on the importance of the Farne Deeps for cetaceans and seabirds
(5) a report for JNCC testing the value of the ARC dataset for abundance indices and the power to detect change
Click here to see our publications and research available for download.
We are actively involved in supplying our research data and carrying out analysis for several projects to define Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ) including Finding Sanctuary and Net Gain. As a consequence, the Farne Deeps has been proposed as a MCZ.
We are also contributing data to Natural England and JNCC to define Special Protection Areas (SPA's) for Balearic Shearwaters and are involved in a project on Marine Protected Areas.
Our research of the Balearic Shearwaters found off the Dorset and Devon coastline is of fundamental importance in helping to conserve one of Europe's most endangered seabirds. For more information on this particular project please click here.
MARINElife actively encourages co-operation, support and
collaboration with many other organisations including those shown
below.
We also have our own growing policy voice.
Using information provided through our research and education
programmes, MARINElife aims to provide early warnings to the
general public and policy makers on changes in marine biodiversity
and on activities which are having a damaging impact on the marine
environment. We have met with the European Commissioner for
Agriculture and Fisheries to discuss worrying trends in dolphin
decline we have recorded and highlight the vulnerability of Common
Dolphin to bycatch in the English Channel in during the winter
months. We also made a detailed submission to the UK
government about the Marine Bill.
Threats facing the Marine Environment
Hear some ways in which MARINElife data is used in Conservation by watching the video presentation produced by MARINElife Senior Scientific Advisor, Dr Colin MacLeod for our Supporters Event at Whalefest November 2011 in Brighton.