There was great disappointment and frustration amongst campaigning NGOs when the Queen's Speech last autumn included a commitment only to produce a draft Marine Bill - not the full Marine Bill as had been expected. The Marine Conservation Society stated that “a draft Marine Bill will amount to little more than another consultation” - there have been two consultations already! - and urged the Government to “speed up the process if it is to meet its manifesto commitment for a Marine Act before the next election”

MARINET, the Marine Information Network for Local Groups of Friends of the Earth, has decided that its key campaign will be to maximise pressure on the Government to ensure that, firstly, a Marine Bill is placed before Parliament in October this year, and secondly, that the Bill incorporates powers enabling the Secretary of State to create Highly Protected Marine Reserves which will cover at least 30% of UK seas out to 200 nautical miles (this percentage was recommended by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution in its 25th Report (“Turning the Tide” published 2004). The Bill would also enable the designation of much needed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) - at present less than 0.002% of our seabed is fully protected. In January 2003 the Island of Lundy, off the North Devon coast, became the first MPA and already dramatic improvements in marine life in this small area are evident. This policy is urgently needed in order to rebuild the UK fishing industry and to restore marine biodiversity, both of which have been severely damaged over the long-term by poor management and policy decisions. The proposed Bill covers marine planning and licensing, marine nature conservation, fisheries, and a new administrative agency - The Marine Management Organisation.

Whilst welcoming last year's DEFRA White Paper, MARINET has submitted a detailed list of observations, reservations and recommendations which it believes the proposed legislation needs to recognise in order to achieve enduring success. The full submission can be read on the MARINET website (for summary and conclusion go to pages 13/14).

If you would like to help, please write to your MP, asking him/her to urge the Secretary of State to ensure the Bill is placed before Parliament in October 2008 and that it incorporates the powers outlined above. If you would like to be more active with the MARINET Campaign Team, please contact Malcolm Hunter for further details: 96 Cedar Road, Highfields, Leicester LE2 1FY; Tel. 0116 221 9639 email Malcolmthered@aol.com or Stephen.marinet@btinternet.com

Christine Harding

— Web Master auto generated by txt2dokuwiki