UK Marine bill marks new approach to ocean conservation

Conservation groups celebrate as a marine bill is included in the Queen's speech
Alok Jha, guardian.co.uk 3 Dec 08;

A marine bill to protect the UK's ocean wildlife and improve public access to the coast was included in today's Queen's speech after years of campaigning by conservation groups.

The marine and coastal access bill is a new approach to managing the marine environment that will include conservation zones, a new planning system, reform of fisheries and access to the coasts. It will also include the establishment of a new organisation to manage the seas around the UK.

Marine conservation zones (MCZs) will protect nationally important habitats and species such as eelgrass beds, seahorses and sea fans.

According to the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), there are more than 6,000 sites of scientific interest on land, but only three sites protecting habitats of national importance at sea.

Melissa Moore, senior policy officer of the MCS, welcomed the government's commitment to the marine bill but said it needed "toughening up" if it is to leave a lasting legacy for nature conservation.

"It is now in the hands of MPs and Lords who need to further strengthen the bill if it is to achieve its goals for healthy ecosystems. Any weakening would be disastrous for our seas," she said.

Access to the coast will also be improved under the new bill. Specifically it will try to secure a long-distance route around the coast of England including beaches, cliffs, rocks and dunes, with public access for coastal walking and other recreational activities.

The MCS has warned, however, that fragile coastal habitats such as estuaries, saltmarsh and bird sanctuaries are excluded from any proposed new routes.

The new marine planning system will aim to introduce longterm objectives for the seas around the UK, and encourage the creation of more detailed local marine plans.

All of the regulation and enforcement of the new rules will fall under the remit of the new marine management organisation.

Natasha Barker, senior marine policy officer at WWF UK, said the new marine bill could not come too soon for UK seas and its wildlife and coastal communities.

"In the time it's taken to introduce the UK marine bill, the impacts of climate change have amplified the many pressures already taking their toll on marine biodiversity. Now we finally have an opportunity to reverse the decline."

She added: "We must also connect the land and sea to ensure future marine plans take into account terrestrial activities and improve management of our coastline."

Earlier this year MPs urged the government to ensure more "concrete safeguards" for landowners than were included in the draft marine bill published in April.

Marine Bill to protect UK's ocean wildlife included in Queen's speech
A controversial Bill to protect the UK's ocean wildlife and improve public access to the coast was included in the Queen's speech.
Louise Gray, The Telegraph 3 Dec 08;

The Marine Bill will create a network of marine national parks where wildlife is protected, introduce a new planning system for the oceans, reform fisheries and improve access to the coasts.

Conservationists welcomed the legislation but the fishing industry and landowners are more wary.

Melissa Moore, senior policy officer at the Marine Conservation Society, welcomed the government's commitment to providing the same protection to wildlife at sea as wildlife on land.

But Philip MacMullen, head of environmental responsibility at seafood industry body Seafish, said economic activities in the sea should not be forgotten. He called for the Bill to include protection for the traditional rights of access for fishermen.

The rights of access to the coast have also caused controversy.

Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, president of the Country Land and Business Association, said landowners would be fighting for the right of appeal and compensation if a planned coastal route around Britain goes through their land.

He said: "The Government apparently sees no need for an independent right of appeal despite recommendations in favour of it from both pre-legislative committees. In the draft Bill, there was no provision for compensation, even when loss could be proven. The CLA will be lobbying on these issues once the Bill is published. Unless they are addressed, natural justice is at risk."

Safe havens will protect marine wildlife
Lewis Smith, The Times 4 Dec 08;

Nature reserves designed to provide safe havens for marine wildlife are to be created as part of legislation announced yesterday.

The announcement of a marine Bill, a Labour manifesto pledge, with powers to create protected zones within Britain’s 200-mile limit marks the final phase of a conservation campaign that has lasted more than 15 years.

At least 100 different types of marine habitat are under consideration for protection as marine conservation zones and a high proportion of the 8,000 species off our shores are expected to benefit. Only three marine nature reserves have been created since the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, and the Bill is intended to speed their introduction dramatically, with a network of scores of protected zones by 2012.

Hilary Benn, the Environment Secretary, described the announcement as a “significant day for our seas and the wonders that lie beneath them”.

“This new system of protection and management of our seas will help to halt the decline in biodiversity and to create clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas,” he said.

Devolved powers have already been agreed for the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish assemblies but it is expected that they will work with the Joint Ministerial Committee to ensure that legislation is created nationally. In Scotland, a marine Bill is expected to be introduced early next year.

It was unclear last night when the Bill would be introduced for England, but earlier this year Jonathan Shaw, then the Fisheries Minister, promised that it would receive Royal Assent by the middle of next summer.

Planning rules for marine developments, whether huge wind farms or new harbour walls, will be streamlined under the Marine and Coastal Access Bill to create a single licensing authority – the Marine Management Organisation.

The Government’s cherished plan for widening public access to the coastline by securing a long-distance path along the entire coast of England will be included within the Bill. Safeguards to landowner rights remain a contentious issue.

Marine conservationists have been fighting for the Bill since the early 1990s when they realised that the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act was inadequate for protecting life in the seas.

Under the forthcoming legislation the conservation zones will have different levels of protection depending on the needs of individual species and habitat types.

The strongest type of protection will ban any form of commercial activity within a zone, similar to the no-take zones that ban fishing around Lundy in the South West and Lamlash Bay in the Isle of Arran.

Only 0.0008 per cent of Britain’s seas – about three square miles – are covered by no-take zones, compared with the 30 per cent that the Marine Conservation Society believes is necessary to allow wildlife to recover at least partially from the steep declines of the last century. Under the European Habitat’s Directive, 80 marine sites have already received protection but it applies to a handful of species and habitat types and has been criticised for being limited and often unenforced. Among the habitat types most in need of protection are sub-tidal sea grass beds – which have declined dramatically since the 1930s – and maerl reefs, formed of hard algal growths.

The announcement of the Bill was greeted with relief and delight among environmental groups. Natasha Barker, at WWF-UK said: “We finally have an opportunity to reverse the decline in our seas.”

Mark Avery, the RSPB conservation director, said: “The UK’s seas are internationally important for marine wildlife, including seabirds, whales, fish and corals. Despite this importance, the conservation movement has been waiting for decades for adequate protection. This has been a manifesto commitment for several years and we trust that the legislation will not be watered down before it reaches Royal Assent.”

However, at Seafish, the seafood industry body, Philip MacMullen said conservation zones were only part of the solution to improving marine stocks. He maintained that “the current, more responsible attitude to the management of seafood stocks on the part of the industry” would be a factor.

Sir Martin Doughty, the chairman of Natural England, welcomed the coastal access proposals: “There are enormous social, health and environmental benefits in enabling the public to access more of England’s coastline.

“The Bill presents a real opportunity to take a historic step in the way people enjoy England’s wonderful countryside and coastline.”

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