Whether it’s somewhere to enjoy the holidays or a resource for the food we eat, the results of a recent survey by The Wildlife Trusts show just how much we have come to depend on our marine environment.

More than 1,200 people from across the UK took part in the telephone survey commissioned by The Wildlife Trusts to examine public attitudes to our seas.

Opinions were sought from all over Scotland. When asked to choose from a list of six options, a day at the seaside topped the poll as people’s favourite leisure activity and over three quarters had spent time at the coast in the past year.

93 per cent felt the sea is important for fish and other wildlife, and 94 per cent rated the health and well-being of marine wildlife as important.

More than two-thirds felt that there are fewer fish in the sea than 20 years ago. 87 per cent felt that restrictions on commercial activity such as industrial fishing or dredging should be in place where sea life was under threat. They believed that 29 per cent of the sea is already protected, but felt this proportion should be much higher, at 58 per cent.

Dr Becky Boyd, Marine Policy Officer with the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), said: “The poll shows that Scots are very switched on to the pressing need to protect the health of Scotland’s seas. They are concerned not just about enjoying a day at the seaside, but about falling fish stocks and the protection of marine wildlife.

”In the survey, people thought that 29 per cent of UK seas are already safe in marine reserves. In fact the real figure is only 0.01 per cent! This UK wide survey sends a strong message to both Holyrood and Westminster that we urgently need to bring forward robust marine legislation to protect and manage our seas so they can recover and become abundant and productive for future generations.”

Our coasts and seas contain 50 per cent of Scotland’s wildlife with an estimated 8,000 species of marine plants, invertebrates, fish, birds and mammals. Scotland has one of the longest coastlines in Europe at over 11,000 km supporting the largest gannet colony in the world, 36 per cent of the world’s grey seals and 24 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises. Despite having 14 nationally and internationally important coastal and marine habitats in Scotland, our seas are poorly protected compared to habitats on land, are under increasing pressure from human activities and are struggling to cope with rapid climate change.

Jonny Hughes, SWT’s Head of Policy, added: “A Scottish Marine Bill is now urgently required to deliver a marine planning system, a Scottish Marine Management Organisation and a network of Marine Reserves for the protection of our increasingly vulnerable marine wildlife. Dolphins and fish clearly do not stay within administrative boundaries so it is also vital that Westminster brings forward its plans for a Marine Bill as soon as possible.”