Bermuda's relationship with the ocean is something very special. It surrounds us, sustains us and shapes who we are.

Our reefs protect our shores. Our waters support fisheries, tourism and livelihoods. They are where generations of Bermudians have fished, sailed, swum, dived and made memories. For an island of only 21 square miles, the ocean is not simply something beyond our coastline. It is part of who we are.

But the ocean we have inherited is not as healthy as it once was, and its future cannot be taken for granted.

Bermuda now has an opportunity to strengthen protection of our marine environment through the adoption of the Marine Spatial Plan and the establishment of a network of marine protected areas. As decisions on the plan approach, we are asking Bermudians to make their voices heard by writing directly to their MPs.

Importantly, the plan includes greater protection for our nearshore waters. These are the places closest to us, most heavily used by us and, in many cases, under some of the greatest pressure.

Our nearshore reefs and habitats support marine life, fisheries, recreation and livelihoods while helping to protect our coastline from storms and erosion. If marine protected areas are to make a meaningful difference, protection must include the places where it is needed most.

Getting to this point has taken years.

The Marine Spatial Plan has been informed by scientific research, extensive public consultation and engagement with people who use and depend upon Bermuda's waters. It has been debated, questioned and refined, as it should be for a decision of this importance.

But consultation cannot continue indefinitely.

At some point, years of research, discussion and planning must translate into action.

Earlier this year, nearly 70 organisations joined the Bermuda National Trust in publicly supporting the adoption of the Marine Spatial Plan. That support came from across our community, including environmental organisations, scientists, educators, tourism and business representatives, and people who simply care deeply about Bermuda and the future of our ocean.

Scientists and technical experts have spoken in support of greater marine protection. So too have members of our boating community, fishers, young Bermudians and residents concerned about the future of our fisheries, environment and economy.

We recognise that not everyone agrees on every aspect of the plan. Those whose livelihoods depend directly on the ocean deserve to have their concerns heard and taken seriously. Good environmental policy should listen to those voices.

But disagreement cannot become a reason for indefinite delay.

Marine-protected areas are not a solution to every challenge facing Bermuda's ocean. They are one tool in a much larger toolbox. They must be complemented by effective fisheries management, meaningful enforcement, scientific monitoring and responsible management of the wider marine environment.

That is precisely why the Marine Spatial Plan matters.

It provides Bermuda with a framework to protect some of our most important and vulnerable marine habitats while also planning responsibly for the many ways we use our ocean today and will use it in the future.

We also need to remember that environmental decisions are rarely just about today.

The decisions we make now, or the decisions we fail to make, will have consequences long after the present political cycle has ended. Once important habitats are degraded and species are lost, restoring them can be extraordinarily difficult, expensive or, in some cases, impossible.

We have seen this on land in Bermuda. We should not make the same mistake with our ocean.

That is why the Bermuda National Trust, together with the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce and Nonsuch Expeditions, is asking residents to “Write Your MP to Protect Our Ocean”.

Our MPs were elected to represent us, but they need to hear directly from the people they serve. They need to understand that the future of Bermuda's ocean matters to their constituents and that there is public support for meaningful action.

Writing to your MP takes only a few minutes. An online tool will identify your MP and provide a suggested message that can be sent as written or, even better, personalised.

Tell your MP why Bermuda's ocean matters to you.

Tell them about the reef you have watched change over your lifetime. Tell them about the days you have spent fishing with family, swimming off the rocks, boating through our waters or diving beneath them. Tell them if your livelihood depends on a healthy ocean.

Tell them about the Bermuda you want your children and grandchildren to inherit.

For generations, we have benefited from the extraordinary natural environment that surrounds this island. With that privilege comes a responsibility to leave something behind for those who follow us.

What matters now is that we do not remain silent.

Bermuda has an opportunity to make positive and lasting change for our ocean and our future. After years of consultation, research and discussion, we should not allow that opportunity to drift away.

Please write to your MP today.

It takes only a few minutes, but collectively our voices can send a powerful message.

Bermuda’s ocean matters. Its future matters. And now is the time to act.

Write Your MP to Protect Our Ocean: bermuda.eaction.online/Write-Your-MP-to-protect-Our-Ocean.

• Myles Darrell is the head of natural heritage at the Bermuda National Trust