Coastguard SOS

From the Coastguard SOS website:

In December 2010 the UK Government announced modernisation consultation proposals for HM Coastguard. At that time the intention was to reduce the UK's eighteen Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres to just two centres which would operate 24hrs per day. These centres (MOC's) would be supported by only five sub centres that would only be operational throughout "daylight hours only" (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12007031).

UK Coastguard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCC's) are responsible for the coordination of Search and Rescue (SAR) along the UK coastline, as well as providing shipping information and a number of other essential services along the UK coastline.

The proposals were overwhelmingly rejected by EVERY Coastguard station, campaigners and by the Transport Select Committee who conducted a full investigation and concluded that the modernisation proposals were "seriously flawed".

On 14th July 2011, the then Secretary of State for Transport; Rt.Hon Philip Hammond MP announced that the Government had looked at the responses to the original consultation and had examined the evidence. He then announced new consultation proposals which indicated that eleven named Coastguard stations would to be retained on a 24/7 basis but that eight remaining named stations would close. Those stations are:

Brixham, Portland, Swansea, Liverpool, Thames, Yarmouth, Clyde and Forth

The Coastguard SOS campaign group is open to anyone who understands and agrees with our belief that the issue should not be used as a political football. It is supported by concerned members of the public, Coastguard rescue officers (CRO's), serving and former Coastguard officers, Politicians and also by some famous names too.

We are committed to continuing the effort to seek safer modernisation proposals and we will continue to campaign in a reasoned, dignified and balanced way in order to achieve our aim of securing the long term future of every Coastguard MRCC.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE SAVES LIVES

With your help, we may be able to save these Coastguard stations. Please sign the petition, and check the Coastguard SOS website for more ways you can help. You can adopt your local Coastguard station to support, get involved with a local campaign group, share the petition on Twitter, "like" the Facebook group, add an SOS twibbon to your Facebook and Twitter profile, embed the "Save Our Coastguard Stations" image onto your website, take part in a quick poll, download the flyer and email your MP. Don't forget to check the blog for all the latest news and campaign updates, and the links to discussion boards, local campaign web pages and reports.

Please help spread the word as much as you can, and encourage others to sign the petition. Together, we may be able to Save Our Coastguard Stations!

Great News for Sharks

From Project AWARE:

Your Shark Protection Efforts are Making a Difference!

Two important steps for sharks have been taken in the past week as a result of all your hard work, spreading the word, shouting for sharks and petition signing!

On November 22nd, the European Commission announced the long awaited proposal for closing the loopholes in the European Union’s ban on shark finning. And the European Union has become a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Sharks.

These are important steps forward in Project AWARE’s work to protect threatened and vulnerable shark species. To learn more you can check out the full stories at:

Big Day in European Shark Conservation
Sharks Given a Fighting Chance as EU Inches Toward Closing Loopholes

European fishing fleets play a major role in shark fishing worldwide with a number of loopholes in legislation which have long threatened sharks not just in European waters but globally too. Project AWARE have been battling this issue for the past few years and you’ve made your voice heard to help them get there. Thank you!

In 2012, they’ll be pushing EU Member States to agree to the proposal for a strong, loophole-free EU finning ban. And they’ll be pushing harder for their goal to protect vulnerable shark species from trade under the Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) at the next CITES meeting in Thailand in 2013. There’s much to be done between now and then.

For now, thank you for supporting shark protection alongside Project AWARE.

European Shark Week

European Shark Week takes place each year and provides a week of activities for shark enthusiasts to find out more about shark conservation and get involved with campaigns that will help to secure the future of shark populations in Europe. This year it takes place from 15th-23rd October. So what can you do to get involved?

Have you signed the Shark Alliance's petition to protect Europe's sharks? At the time of writing this blog, 24,142 people have already signed the petition, which targets national fisheries ministers in EU member states to ensure that loopholes in the current EU finning ban are closed. You can also check their events calendar to see if there are any Shark Week events happening near you.

You can find out more about European Shark Week on the Shark Trust website - and why not 'like' their facebook page? The Shark Alliance, Support Our Sharks, Support Our Sharks Europe and The Global Shark Conservation Initiative are also great sources of information about sharks on facebook (and don't forget Respect Our Seas is on facebook too!).

Project AWARE are also running a Big Shark Shout Out week and have their own petition you can sign. So far, 79,567 people have signed this petition. You can also email messages of support for the Shark Shout Out Wall, make your own Shark Shout Out wall, display a Big Shout Out or Not Too Loud poster or sticker, organise or join a Big Shark Shout Out event, download the Shark Petition app, display the Shark Petition Widget on your website, or even display your own "I Shouted for Sharks" PicBadge on your facebook and Twitter profile pictures!

Whatever you do for European Shark Week, do leave us a comment and let us know!

Do your bit to protect sharks

Sharks are often portrayed as dangerous marine animals who prey on humans. In fact, more people are killed by coconuts each year than by sharks! Sharks are apex predators and maintain balance in the marine ecosystem. The sea provides 70% of the world’s oxygen, essential for life.

However, three sharks are killed every second – that’s 73 million sharks each year. They have inhabited the world’s oceans for 400 million years but humans are now driving them to extinction. Much of this is due to the vast international demand for shark fins for soup. The only thing in the world more lucrative than the shark fin industry is the illegal drugs trade.

The disappearance of sharks could have devastating consequences for the marine environment – not to mention the whole planet. So what can you do to help?

Project AWARE are "a global force for divers" and are currently running an online campaign asking divers to sign their Shark Petition. Sport Diver are also supporting this campaign - and so are we! You can sign the petition by filling in the simple form, below. Please spread news of this campaign to your friends, family - anyone who will listen! You do need to be aged 18 years or older to sign the petition but by doing so, you can help give sharks a fighting chance.