Turning the tide together: Our parliamentary year in review

In February, the Water (Special Measures) Act became law, giving regulators new powers to hold water companies accountable and crack down on environmental damage. This landmark legislation strengthens protections for our seas and sets a precedent for tougher action against polluters. We worked closely with Peers to table amendments to strengthen the Water Special Measures Act.

The High Seas Treaty – designed to safeguard marine life beyond national boundaries – reached the number of ratifications needed to become international law in 2025. This historic achievement means countries can now work together to properly protect vast areas of the ocean. In September, the UK Government introduced legislation to allow for domestic ratification, where the Marine Conservation Society was mentioned in parliament as a supportive partner by Minister Malhotra.

In March, we published our annual State of Our Beaches report, shining a spotlight on the scale and type of litter affecting UK coastlines. The findings revealed a nearly 10% increase in plastic pollution compared to the previous year. This evidence was instrumental in shaping government policy and was recognised by the UK Government’s Nature Minister herself, who joined us for a beach clean in Brighton. In Scotland, we secured a debate on the State of Beaches findings, and in Wales, our data was used in a Cross-Party Group report.

In Wales, we met with Welsh Government Ministers and civil servants on a number of marine policy issues.

This follows legislation for a ban in Wales already passed in Cardiff – where the Deputy First Minister cited our Beachwatch data in support of a ban – and we’re going to keep pushing for strong regulations to be passed in Scotland.

The ocean never stands still, and neither do we. As we celebrate the achievements of 2025, we are already planning our course for 2026. Here are some of the priorities we will be working towards in the new year:

Scottish and Welsh elections 2026

The 2026 Scottish and Welsh elections are expected to mark a period of real political shift. We’ve already launched our Manifesto for Welsh Seas, and our Manifesto for Scottish Seas is almost ready. As we head towards the devolved elections in May, we’ll be working closely with political parties to encourage them to adopt our policies and protect our ocean. After the elections, we’ll continue building strong relationships with the newly elected representatives to ensure our seas remain a priority.

Water Sector Reform

Next year, we are expecting a Water Reform Bill to progress through Parliament. As part of this work, we will continue to push for a comprehensive reset of the water sector – one that truly prioritises the health of our seas. This means setting clear, enforceable targets across all industries that impact water quality, from chemical manufacturers to highways, ensuring that every sector plays its part in safeguarding marine ecosystems.

PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Action Plan

We also look forward to progress on tackling PFAS – the so-called “forever chemicals” that persist in our environment and threaten marine life. This year, the UK Government has committed to producing a PFAS Action Plan. Our hope is for a strong national commitment to banning PFAS in consumer products and phasing them out across all other uses.