Your Coast – Explore, Enjoy, Protect campaign and call for evidence launches
The UK’s Marine Management Organisation has launched a campaign inviting coastal communities to help protect marine habitats by submitting evidence and photographs of protected areas.
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has introduced the Your Coast – Explore, Enjoy, Protect campaign to engage coastal communities in safeguarding England’s marine protected areas (MPAs). The initiative invites partners, conservation groups, academics, and recreational water users to contribute evidence through an online survey assessing the impact of marine recreational activities on protected features. The campaign’s first phase focuses on gathering existing knowledge and new data to inform future management decisions. The MMO is seeking input on activities such as anchoring, diving, and wildlife watching, which may affect protected habitats and species.
As part of the campaign, the MMO is requesting photographs and images of protected seabed habitats and wildlife from divers, underwater photographers, and marine enthusiasts. These contributions will help highlight often-hidden coastal features and support conservation efforts. Participants are advised to follow the Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code to avoid disturbing marine wildlife while capturing images. The campaign aims to raise awareness and gather local insights from those who regularly explore these waters.
The MMO’s marine non-licensable activity (mNLA) work underpins this campaign, focusing on assessing and managing recreational activities in inshore English MPAs. These activities, including kayaking and boat tours, do not require a marine licence but may still impact protected habitats and species. The call for evidence is a critical step in developing an informed approach to balancing recreational use with conservation needs. The MMO emphasises that every piece of evidence and photograph submitted will directly inform its future strategies.
England’s MPAs are home to some of the most extraordinary and rarely seen marine habitats and species. The Your Coast campaign positions coastal communities as key partners in protecting these areas for future generations. By involving local divers, boaters, kayakers, and communities, the MMO seeks to combine practical insights with scientific evidence to shape effective conservation policies.