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!

Focus on: Seal Scotland

Seal Scotland is a Stakeholder Group made up of a number of organisations and individuals committed to end the Scottish Seal Cull. It was created on 15th March following on from a Facebook group set up for 'International Day for Seals', in response to the Scottish Government giving permission for more than 1,000 seals to be shot this year. They aim to protect Scotland's seals and help tourism and business in Scotland.

We first came to notice Seal Scotland through their active Twitter account. They also have an active Facebook page in addition to their website, so there are many ways you can read about them and show your support.

Their website states,

"Seals are seen as scapegoats, they have even been blamed for the decline within our fisheries and fish, they are seen as a menace to salmon anglers and a curse to fin fish aquaculture; the term, “The only good seal, is a dead seal” has been quoted on numerous occasions.

As with mythology, stories grow and change over time, what are the facts and are seals culprits in need of being shot, or convenient excuses for our own miss-management of our seas?

The Facts:
• Most of our Global commercial fisheries are in decline, overfishing is a known cause.
• There has been a dramatic decline in common seals in the UK.
• There has been a marked change in the reproduction rates of grey seals, so much so that the modelling techniques used to count greys has had to be changed to take into account the stable or slowly increasing rate of reproduction.
• Seals are shot regularly by; Salmon farmers, fishermen, salmon netsmen, & salmon anglers.

...The Future
Currently the future for British seals looks bleak, unless the current situation changes. The wildlife tourist industry has the potential to suffer; seals pictured in glossy tourist brochures might say, “What we used to see” or they could even be placed into history books, over the top comment, possibly; but local extinctions are a very real possibility.

...People power works; a massive success in the Canadian seal hunts took place in Europe recently, when the EC banned the imports of seal products. The UK governments may tell you that there is not a “seal cull” going on in this country; but with the licensing of nearly 1400 seals to be shot in Scotland and repeated calls from fishermen for a cull… What do you think?"

Please do take a look at Seal Scotland and show your support for these beautiful marine animals. Seal Scotland have links to several iPetitions you can sign, as well as a list of other seal sites you can check out. Don't forget to stop by the gallery and YouTube channel to see some gorgeous seal images and remind yourself what you're helping to protect!