National Marine Week | Insights on the Importance of Healthy Coasts

What is National Marine Week?

The National Marine Week is The Wildlife Trusts’ annual celebration of all things marine! This year’s theme is ‘Sea’ the Connection and it’s about highlighting how as an island nation we are all closely connected to the sea and why a healthy thriving marine environment matters.

National Marine Week takes place from Saturday 27th July to Sunday 11th August 2024 – it spans a fortnight due to varying tidal conditions around the UK.

Thoughts from Chartered Environmentalists working in the marine sector:

First up, the view of Katie Reeves CEnv, Director of SOME Consultancy – Sustainable Oceans Management for Environment who discusses the importance of coasts:

“Our coast and seas provide us with many important ecosystem services that drive life on this blue planet. Providing an important source of protein in local fisheries, up to 15% of the UK’s energy is sourced from marine renewable energy and that is set to rise significantly to meet net zero.

The abundant coastal habitats nestled around our shores like salt marshes attenuate as much as half of smaller waves thus protecting coastal communities. We are very lucky to have diverse marine wildlife from the snakelocks anemones in rock pools to the Northern sea fan in the deep off West Scotland.

Celebrating National Marine Week raises awareness of this incredible resource that we need to secure and protect for our future.”

Karen Lee CEnv, working in Hong Kong discusses how professionals should support the marine environment:

“The marine environment provides us with crucial ecosystem services which are essential to sustain our lives.  The environmental professionals should endeavour supporting marine environment through innovative solutions and holistic management plans.  Fostering public awareness about the importance of marine environment can drive significant change and maintain healthy marine environment.”

Harry Sealy CEnv, working in the Middle East outlines the importance of the marine environment in the Middle East:

“Environmental professionals, across all sectors in the Middle East are key to driving the realisation that marine biodiversity may represent the majority of a nation’s biodiversity. Applying robust use of SEA and EIA to inform the setting and implementation of key Regenerative Development principles encompassing natural capital/ecosystem services will reduce pressure on the marine environment.  

In doing so we will move the dynamic from one where the marine habitat may be regarded as being an inconvenience obstructing a high-profile planned development to regarding marine habitat as a resource that pays ongoing dividends physically, ecologically and socially (education/recreation etc).  

The marine environment is incredibly diverse, holding a wealth of knowledge and services. Marine Week is the perfect time to dive in and take a closer look at what treasures await us beneath the surface.”

Further reading