LET'S make a New Year resolution to save the North Sea by turning it into a marine reserve.
Like our national parks on land, a reserve would preserve the sea for future generations and ensure the safety of one of our most important national dishes: cod and chips.
Five generations of my family have holidayed and swam in the North Sea. My grandmother, father and brothers and sisters swam in the clear waters of Bridlington Bay.
They knew little of the biodiversity miracles of the North Sea with its coral and beautiful marine creatures, such as red spider crabs, deep water sharks and dolphins.
But we have all gazed in wonder into North Sea rock pools; discovering crabs, starfish and sea anemones. We enjoyed our cod and chips, never realising this national treasure could be under threat. Now science has made us aware of the threat, we must preserve it.
Our North Sea coastline is also rich in wildlife - cliffs for breeding seabirds at Bempton, winter feeding and breeding grounds for wetland birds on the Humber Estuary and many more. All are linked to the North Sea biodiversity picture. Without one, we would lose the others. We must shout "stop fishing - save our seas". As for the fishermen, I accept for them a marine reserve offers a bleak short-term future. But if marine scientists are correct, with careful planning and conservation their long-term future would be bright.
Jean Welch,
Crag Lane, Knaresborough.
Updated: 11:43 Friday, January 14, 2005
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