Fishing should be banned in a third of the seas around the UK, according to conservationists.
Louise Gray, The Telegraph 8 Dec 08;
For the past few decades fish stocks in the oceans around Britain have been depleting due to overfishing, causing a knock-on effect to other species.
Once-common species are now facing extinction, including the common skate, angel shark, sturgeon and leatherback turtle which are all critically endangered.
In order to protect the wildlife that is left, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) want a third of UK waters to be designated as "no-take" nature reserves by 2020 as part of the Marine Bill currently going through Parliament.
Dr Jean-Luc Solandt, biodiversity policy officer for MCS, said: "We have dithered while Rome burns.
"Marine reserves are a cost-effective way to achieve benefits for wildlife and the fish species that rely on habitats being protected for the long term.
"It makes social, economic and ecological sense. We must no longer fear these simple and cheap methods to recover our seas and embrace their proven value for marine management."
He warned that currently the Bill, which puts a duty on ministers to create marine conservation zones but does not indicate what they would look like or what level of protection they would receive, was "just window-dressing in terms of recovery and sustainability".
In addition to the 30 per cent of the seas that should be protected as broad habitats, specialist areas such as sea grass beds and reefs should be safeguarded, he added.
A Defra spokesman said: "The Marine Bill is a new flexible tool which will allow us to provide better marine protection, for example through Marine Conservation Zones to safeguard rare and threatened habitats and species.
"Separately the UK wants to secure a sustainable Common Fisheries Policy which ensures both conservation of fish stocks and a living for fishermen and dependent industries."
Call to widen curbs on UK fishing
BBC News 8 Dec 08;
Fishing should be banned in almost a third of UK seas to help stocks recover from decades of harm, campaigners say.
The Co-operative Group wants 30% of UK waters to become "no-take" reserves by 2020 to reverse decades of overfishing.
It says just eight out of 47 fishing stocks are healthy and warns once-common species now face extinction.
The campaign, backed by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), calls for the measures to be included in the government's Marine Bill.
The Co-operative's Marine Reserves Now campaign aims to help wildlife recover from overfishing and habitat destruction.
Spokesman Paul Monaghan said: "The need for an extensive network of marine reserves around the UK is an uncomfortable truth.
"In UK waters there are 22 species - such as the common skate and Atlantic halibut - listed as critically endangered.
"Most worryingly, the rate of biodiversity loss is accelerating, highlighting the need for quick and decisive science-led action," he said.
Other once-common species facing extinction include the angel shark, sturgeon and leatherback turtle.
Dr Jean-luc Solandt, the MCS's biodiversity policy officer, said: "Marine reserves are a cost-effective way to achieve benefits for wildlife and the fish species that rely on habitats being protected for the long term. it makes social, economic and ecological sense."
'Window-dressing '
He said the recently published Marine Bill puts a duty on ministers to create marine conservation zones, but does not indicate protection levels.
In terms of recovery and sustainability, it was "window-dressing", he said.
The Marine and Coastal Access Bill, aimed at helping wildlife thrive in biologically diverse seas, is due to have a second reading in the Lords this month.
The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution recommended four years ago that 30% of UK seas be protected as marine reserves closed to commercial fishing.
There are two highly protected marine reserves - off Lundy Island, in the Bristol Channel and Lamlash Bay, in Scotland.
The MCS also wants protection for specialist areas like sea grass beds and reefs.
Around 10% of Lyme Bay, in Dorset, was permanently closed this summer due to the damaging effects of scallop dredging and bottom trawling on reefs, corals and rare sponges.
