Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 1 out of 17. Purpose: Section divider Timing: a few seconds What you can say: The first area of work that I’m going to talk about, is about the problems with the state of our seas and how we can take action to protect marine life.

Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 2 out of 17. Purpose: To introduce the impacts to marine wildlife Timing: 15 seconds What you can say: Research suggests that we are in danger of losing entire marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs, within the next generation, unless we change course now. Additional info: Experts are warning that if action is not taken, the combined impacts will have devastating and irreversible consequences for the marine environment, and could lead to the next globally significant extinction event. The longer action is delayed, the less chance there is of recovery.

Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 3 out of 17. Purpose: To introduce the impacts to marine wildlife Timing: 15 seconds What you can say: The current state of UK seas indicates that our marine ecosystems are changing to a completely altered state. Our seas are becoming dominated by more primitive life forms, such as worms and jellyfish, with only remnant hotspots of marine biodiversity. These hotspots are generally in places out of the reach of trawlers and away from the impacts of pollution.

Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 4 out of 17. Purpose: To highlight the importance of our seas Timing: 30 seconds What you can say: This affects all of us! More than a billion people worldwide rely on fish as their main source of protein. Our seas regulate the climate; Oceanic algae removes carbon from our atmosphere; Marine organisms clean our seas via filtration; Marine habitats form natural coastal defences. We must look after our seas. Besides, who wants a future of jellyfish and chips?

Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 5 out of 17. Purpose: Transition slide

Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 6 out of 17. Purpose: To introduce a potential solution – Marine Reserves Timing: 15 seconds What you can say: Marine Protected Areas could be part of the solution. Globally, Marine Protected Areas are proving to be effective at increasing populations of fish and shellfish and allowing habitats to recover from over-exploitation. Additional info: An evaluation of data from over 200 studies carried out on 120 Marine Protected Areas across the globe, showed that on average, the number of different species increases by 21% and the amount of life by 446% inside these areas.

Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 7 out of 17. Purpose: Transition slide

Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 8 out of 17. Purpose: To introduce a potential solution – Marine Reserves Timing: 15 seconds What you can say: In the UK, lobsters have increased in size and number in the Lundy Island protected area in Devon, and so have king scallops in the Isle of Man protected area.

MCS in action After successfully campaigning for the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, MCS is working to secure the designation of a network of Marine Protected Areas in UK waters. Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 9 out of 17. Purpose: To introduce what MCS is doing about it Timing: 15 seconds What you can say: After successfully campaigning for the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, MCS is working to secure the designation of a network of Marine Protected Areas in UK waters. Image: Paul Naylor

Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 10 out of 17. Purpose: To introduce what MCS is doing about it Timing: 15 seconds What you can say: MCS mobilised 40,000 people to pledge for the full network of protection.

Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 11 out of 17. Purpose: To introduce what MCS is doing about it Timing: 15 seconds What you can say: …and on a freezing February morning, 2,000 people turned out to march on Westminster to support the call for the full network, led by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. MCS can make your voice heard! Additional info: SCOTLAND: In Scotland, MCS was part of the stakeholder process to identify MPAs for key threatened and declining species and habitats. Our lobbying ensured all 33 MPA proposals were taken forward to 2013 consultation. Wales: In Wales, MCS participated in the group set up to review MCZs and input to the advice given to the Minister. We gave evidence to the National Assembly for Wales enquiry on marine policy. The main recommendations were that marine policy in Wales is under prioritised and under resourced, findings that have been accepted by Welsh Government.

Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 12 out of 17. Purpose: To introduce other issues in this area and what MCS is doing about it Timing: 15 seconds What you can say: As a nation, we are losing touch with our seas. MCS is reengaging our nation. Over 20,000 children have learnt about our seas through the Cool Seas Roadshow.

Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 13 out of 17. Purpose: To introduce other issues in this area and what MCS is doing about it What you can say: MCS have over a quarter of a million records of marine life from volunteer divers. This data is one of the main resources the UK government is using to consider MPA locations. Additional notes: Slides designed for divers are available, with much more detail about Seasearch if you are giving a presentation to dive clubs.

Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 2 out of 17. Purpose: To introduce our wildlife sightings schemes and what your audience can do to help Timing: 15 seconds What you can say: We know so little about our marine life – we need more data. Our supporters are our eyes on the coasts! Reporting your sightings of basking shark, turtle and jellyfish helps MCS focus conservation efforts Additional info: MCS sightings programmes increase understanding about the reasons basking sharks, jellyfish and leatherback turtles spend time in our coastal waters, and why their protection is essential. Next time you visit the coast and spot any of these animals, please let the charity know via a simple reporting form on their website.

Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 14 out of 17. Purpose: To introduce our wildlife sightings schemes and what your audience can do to help Timing: 15 seconds What you can say: Jellyfish are important indicators of the state of our seas. The increases in jellyfish that we are seeing could be linked to factors such as pollution, over-fishing and climate change - the MCS jellyfish survey helps provide some of the information we need to understand more about them. Jellyfish are also the favourite food of some turtles – the jellyfish survey helps us understand more about why turtles are visiting UK waters.

Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 15 out of 17 Purpose: To introduce turtle work overseas Timing: 15 seconds What you can say: Because turtles don’t nest on UK beaches, MCS works with turtles overseas. In Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) waters, all large and breeding turtles are now protected thanks to our TCI Turtle Project working with fishermen and Government to better manage their marine turtle populations. Additional info: Using cutting edge technology, MCS has tracked sea turtles from their nesting beaches and foraging grounds in the Turks and Caicos. The charity discovered the migration routes of these ancient and endangered marine reptiles, and the locations of their distant feeding grounds, which will help towards long term protection.

MCS in action In Turks & Caicos Islands , all large and breeding turtles are now protected thanks to our TCI Turtle Project working with fishermen and Government to better manage their marine turtle populations Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 15 out of 17 Purpose: To introduce turtle work overseas Timing: 15 seconds What you can say: Because turtles don’t nest on UK beaches, MCS works with turtles overseas. In Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) waters, all large and breeding turtles are now protected thanks to our TCI Turtle Project working with fishermen and Government to better manage their marine turtle populations. Additional info: Using cutting edge technology, MCS has tracked sea turtles from their nesting beaches and foraging grounds in the Turks and Caicos. The charity discovered the migration routes of these ancient and endangered marine reptiles, and the locations of their distant feeding grounds, which will help towards long term protection.

Section 2: Biodiversity. Total time 4 minutes. Slide 16 out of 17. Purpose: To link turtle work with our work on marine litter Timing: 15 seconds What you can say: Unfortunately, marine litter that is swamping our oceans is a major threat to turtles, particularly discarded fishing gear that can entangle them, and plastic bags that they mistake for jellyfish.