Underwater cameramen operating off Greenpeace Ship Esperanza in the Viking Bank and Dogger Bank areas of the North Sea have captured beautiful images of life beneath the waves.
Contrary to the image of the North Sea as dead and lifeless, the underwater shots reveal a world of colour and variety. Soft coral known as 'dead men's fingers', octopus, lion mane jellyfish and strawberry rose anemone are just a few of the species already captured on film.
This is in direct contrast to other areas in the proposed reserves where fishing, dredging and oil exploration have ravaged the ocean floor, destroying coral and driving out wildlife.
Greenpeace are urging governments to make the Viking Bank and Dogger Bank into marine reserves - totally off limits to fishing, dredging, and mineral exploration.
They are two of seven areas in the North Sea that Greenpeace proposes should be made into marine reserves, because of their ecological importance and role in fish spawning and development.
Studies of marine reserves from around the world, including the Leigh Marine Reserve in New Zealand and the Apo Island Reserve in the Philippines, show that protecting areas of the sea leads to regeneration of fish and other marine species, both inside and beyond the reserve.
Further information
For more information or to organise a place onboard Esperanza during the North Sea tour (spaces strictly limited), contact Greenpeace press office on 020 7865 8255 or visit our Oceans website.
Photographs and broadcast quality background footage are available from the Greenpeace Press Office. Black and white illustrations of the proposed marine reserve areas, beam trawling and gill netting are also available, along with an illustration demonstrating the range of threats facing the North Sea.
