Sign a scale to save our seas – Ulster Wildlife Trust

The Ulster Wildlife Trust joined up with leading local retailer, IKEA to raise awareness of the plight of our local seas as part of the charity’s National Marine Week activities.

Staff and volunteers from the local conservation charity encouraged IKEA shoppers to ‘sign a scale’ to pledge their support for the Trust’s vision for living seas where wildlife thrives from the depths of the oceans to the coastal shallows.

This novel approach to gathering signatures for a petition has been devised by the Ulster Wildlife Trust to draw attention to the plight of our local seas, the Trust believes it is now time for action to be taken to ensure the long-term preservation and restoration of marine spaces.

Currently the Trust is campaigning for:-

Strong effective legislation and policy with nature at its heart. (With ideally an NI Marine Act to be in place by 2012).

A newtwork of protected marine areas which protect our most vulnerable costal and sea habitats and wildlife by 2012.

Wildlife friendly systems of planning, management and monitoring of the use of our seas.

A sustainable fisheries policy to secure this industry and food source.

During the week, IKEA shoppers ‘signed a scale’ with each scale being attached to a ‘petition fish’. These ‘fish’ will ‘swim’ to Stormont in autumn where the Trust will present them to our politicians as an indication of local concern for marine conservation.

Jade Berman, Living Seas Manager with the Ulster Wildlife Trust, said: “We are delighted that IKEA, and in particular, Nigel McGarry, the store’s Environment Specialist, decided to back our campaign and our thanks also go to the store’s customers for showing their support for Petition Fish in such huge numbers”.

There is still time to show your support by signing a scale online at www.wildlifetrusts.org.petitionfish or you can text ‘Fish’ and your postcode to 60777 in order to show your support*

If you would like more about the Ulster Wildlife Trust please visit www.ulsterwildlifetrust.org or contact 028 4483 0282 for further information.