Marine Conservation Society (MCS)
The Marine Conservation Society is a UK-based NGO and registered charity whose aim is to protect our seas, shores and wildlife. MCS will be playing an active role in Reef Conservation-UK (RC-UK) - a coalition of organizations involved in reef conservation and research.
Contact
Dr Elizabeth Wood -
Coral Reef Conservation Officer
Marine Conservation Society
Unit 3, Wolf Business Park, Alton Road, Ross-on-Wye
Herefordshire HR9 5NB
Web site: http://www.mcsuk.org
Activities for International Year of the Reef 2008
MCS is running its own IYOR 2008 programme, and will be promoting the IYOR themes through the following activities:
1. Increasing awareness about IYOR, the value of coral reefs and their conservation and management needs by:
- Providing coral reef news and information pages on the MCS website www.mcsuk.org
- Publishing reports in the MCS Magazine Marine Conservation drawing attention to IYOR.
- Highlighting information about MCS reef conservation action in Semporna, Malaysia through the project website www.sempornaislandsproject.com
- Writing features and articles for magazines and press releases for the media highlighting IYOR and coral reef conservation issues.
- Producing an IYOR-themed activity for schoolchildren for the MCS Cool Seas Roadshow
- Organising an IYOR Symposium on the 'Status and Management of Coral Reefs in Sabah, Malaysia (Jan 2008) to enable stakeholders to share information and ideas about the health and management needs of coral reefs throughout the State.
- Working with partners to increase circulation of the MCS-ICRAN educational cartoon colouring book, especially in Indonesia.
2. Working to develop and implement effective management strategies for conservation and sustainable use of coral reefs by:
- Setting goals for 2008 within the context of the Semporna Islands Project, in particular:
- To establish fully-functioning no-take zones within the 350 km2 Marine Park through co-operation with local communities.
- To monitor reef condition and status of resources inside and outside the no-take zones.
- To develop and implement strategies for sustainable fishing in the general use areas of the Park.
- To establish seaweed farming, sea ranching and other alternative livelihoods for local fisher families.
- To support research into marine litter in the Semporna area and develop strategies for dealing with it.
- Carrying out research into the trade in marine curios and producing 'Curio Trade Guidelines' for exporters, retailers and consumers to promote sustainability within the trade.
- Carrying out Reef Check surveys in the Maldives as part of a continuing programme to monitor the status of the reefs and assess recovery following the bleaching event of 1998.
- Launching a campaign with the UK National Aquaria and other partners to promote consumer responsibility when purchasing tropical ornamental marine species.
