UK seas
UK seas and coasts are amazing. They give a home to wildlife, provide us with food and even generate some of our energy.
Why UK seas are so important
Why UK seas are so important
From sheltered sea lochs to wild open waters, from seaweed beds to deepwater coral – the UK’s coasts and seas truly are amazing.
Our seas are some of the hardest working in Europe. As well as being home to an amazing range of wildlife and environments they also support many important industries.
We might not always appreciate it, but we have a great variety of exciting sealife on our own doorstep – from dolphins, whales, sharks and seals to puffins, seahorses, and rare pink sea fans.
And of course our seas and coasts are vital for people and livelihoods too – not just our essential fishing industry but tourism, shipping and the growing renewable energy sector.
That’s why we’re working hard to tackle the threats facing our seas – like the growing demand for resources such as fish, increased shipping and pollution, and climate change. Join us and let's help protect our seas…
"I’ve been fascinated by the sea since I was a child. I remember standing on the shore as an eight-year old, wondering what lay beneath the dark and stormy waters. I’m passionate about our wonderful seas and about the exciting work that we do to improve protection and management to help ensure they are healthy and productive well into the future"
Head of UK marine policy
54.178103070278, 0.99976007684194
The UK seas
The seas provide different challenges to land when it comes to conservation. Water moves freely across borders and it is not enough to focus only on the UK seas.
We have to look at what is happening in our neighbouring seas too as what happens there directly affects the health of the UK seas.
Our work covers most areas of ocean surrounding the UK – from the Shetland Islands in the far north, down both the Atlantic and North Sea coasts, including Irish waters and part of the English Channel, all the way down to Brittany in north-west France. We also work closely with colleagues in neighbouring countries to ensure a joined-up approach.
About UK seas
About UK seas
Our work on UK and Celtic seas spans the coastlines and waters of the whole of the UK and Ireland – including big estuaries like the Shannon, Severn and Solway Firth – down to Brittany in north-west France, and parts of the open Atlantic and North Sea.
They include some of the most important fishing and shipping routes in Europe and beyond, and have huge wind, wave and tidal power potential.
But despite the importance of our seas, it has to be said they’ve not been managed very sustainably. Overuse and a lack of proper protection has caused environmental damage. Some vulnerable species like the harbour porpoise are now at risk.This also puts industries and peoples’ jobs at risk as a healthy economy needs healthy seas.
We’re working closely with all the people involved in using, regulating and protecting our seas – including government, scientists, industry and local communities.
We want to make sure the laws already passed – like the UK and Scottish Marine Acts – are put into practice effectively. So that we make sure our valuable marine industry has a sustainable future, and our seas are properly valued and looked after.
Find out about the UK SEAS project.
Wildlife living in UK seas
Not only do our seas have around 330 different types of fish, we have lots of other spectacular marine wildlife, from deepwater coral to the mighty-but-friendly basking shark – which can be as big and heavy as a double-decker bus.
-
© Alexander MustardBasking Shark
Sharks live in most ocean habitats. They can be found in beautiful, tropical coral reefs, to the deep sea, and even under the Arctic sea ice. We get sharks around the UK as well - from basking sharks to blue sharks and even Greenland sharks. The basking shark is Britain’s largest fish (and the second largest in the world). It can grow up to 11 metres long and weigh up to 7 tonnes - about the size and weight of a double-decker bus. This gentle giant arrives in British waters during our summers, and feeds on zooplankton, so is of no threat to humans. They are slow swimmers, which is where they get their name from, as they swim at an average of 2.5mph, basking in the sun.
/
-
© Nicolas Axelrod / Ruom / WWF-Greater Mekong -
-
© Anthony Dickenson
Legal protection for our seas
We've campaigned for years to persuade UK governments to pass legal ‘Marine Acts’ to protect our seas – and by 2010 we’d succeeded in getting a UK and Scottish Marine Act. The Acts provide plans for better management of UK seas – including a commitment to introduce specific marine protected areas. We now need to hold our governments to their word and make sure a big enough network of properly-managed protected areas are created. We also led the PISCES project and the Celtic Seas Partnership to bring together politicians, scientists and industries to set up collaborative and innovative approaches to managing the UK and Celtic Seas. We believe that putting the people that use the sea at the heart of management and giving them the opportunity to influence how their seas are managed is vital in keeping the UK’s seas healthy.
How we're helping in the UK seas
-
More Sustaining the Celtic Seas
We've been instrumental in setting up the Celtic Seas Partnership, an ambitious project which aims to find new ways of managing the marine environment. -
More Improving Scottish fisheries
We were involved in the Common Fisheries Policy reform process and are now engaged in its implementation. -
More Helping protect Scottish seas
Scotland's seas and coasts are home to an amazing range of marine species and habitats. -
More Working with Scottish government and parliament
We're working for positive change in Scotland by influencing the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament. -
More Learn about our climate work in Scotland
We have a vision for a 100% renewable future globally by 2050 and in Scotland, a future powered solely by renewables is within our grasp even sooner.
-
More Learn about the aquaculture food production system
Aquaculture is the farming of seafood including fish, shrimps, seaweed and molluscs. Learn more about this fast-growing food production system here. -
More Working on seafood: The Blue Food
Seafood accounts for around 17% of animal protein consumption globally. Learn more about why WWF works on seafood. -
More The UK SEAS project: protecting and managing our seas
The UK SEAS project works to develop the right protection and management for our seas.
/
