Foundation "Water World" helps to raise awareness of an aspect of our seas that few people appreciate - we have a fantastic selection of whales, dolphins and sea birds in our waters that some people might assume you have to travel abroad to see! Through this understanding and appreciation of our thriving coastal waters comes a desire to protect and conserve our local coastal environment. This is v
ital as we face a time where our seas are facing continued pressure from fisheries, climate change and other man made issues.Our oceans occupy nearly three-quarters of the Earth's surface and support a greater diversity of life than any other ecosystem on the planet and could hold the key to battling climate change. So it is surprising that they are less understood than outer space! We do know that marine wildlife is under real and acute threat, and some species are on the verge of extinction. Overfishing, pollution, by-catch, shipping, military activity, climate change and the unsustainable exploitation of once vast natural resources all pose growing threats to our oceans. The key to safeguarding our marine wildlife is in evidence-based research which is the recognised foundation for conservation measures by policy makers. Only when we understand the changes that the marine ecosystem is undergoing, and identify practical solutions, will we be able to look after it and the wildlife it contains for the future.
