Context

The UK’s claims to global marine leadership are undermined by the weak protections afforded to our own waters: fishing quotas are set above sustainable levels year after year and destructive practices such as bottom-trawling taken place across our Marine Protected Areas. Despite public demand for action, political attention remains far too limited.

Our activity

We developed an in-depth introductory briefing for UK policymakers on the vital role of the ocean in supporting thriving biodiversity, regulating climate and sustaining livelihoods. Building on this initial briefing and the meetings it led to, we have developed and maintained an engaged and aware cohort of parliamentarians who we have supported in tabling parliamentary questions, engaging with ministers and participating in debates.

In November 2022, we coordinated a ‘Rewilding the Seas’ parliamentary reception, securing speeches from the Environment Secretary, Fisheries Minister and the Shadow Environment Minister, who expressed his support in an interview with the Guardian the following week for ‘a sustained program of ocean rewilding’ as part of ‘any plan to tackle the climate emergency’ and his concern that this this topic was lacking from the public policy debate.

Seahorse has also coordinated a cross-party educational roundtable event for MPs ahead of the annual EU-UK fisheries negotiations, which was attended by the Shadow Fisheries Minister.

Our impact

Seahorse’s work has enabled the Blue Marine Foundation to build political expertise and support effective parliamentary interventions that deliver sustainable fisheries management and ocean protection in UK seas.