The continental shelf waters around the UK and Ireland cover an area of over 1,500,000 km2, nearly five times that of the land area. Much of this remains unexplored, but with recent advances in technology we are beginning to get a picture of a complex area with vast sedimentary plains and dramatic underwater mountain ranges and canyons. For too long the seas have been regarded as an indestructible and inexhaustible resource, but it is now becoming increasingly apparent that we have been systematically damaging it and we are rapidly reaching the point where irreversible damage may have been done.

In the last 20 years, significant measures have been taken to address some of these abuses, and the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act, together with the Marine (Scotland) Bill promise even greater powers to manage activities in the marine environment and protect the most fragile and special habitat and communities with Marine Protected Areas. There is, however, still further work required, as to how broad-scale conservation and protection can be achieved. This progress is not before time, but it occurs in the face of the even greater challenges of climate change and ocean acidification. It is important, having recognised these threats and their implications for the basis of marine ecosystems, that action is taken now to minimise the inevitable impact.