Dr Lyndsey Dodds, marine policy officer at WWF Cymru says: "There are many positive steps forward, outlined in today's draft Marine Bill, however WWF Cymru is concerned that it is still not clear how this legislation will be implemented in Wales. Without effective legislation across all our seas, many species and habitats will still be at risk. Our marine environment needs to be managed as an ecological unit rather than being divided up by political boundaries."

"In order to secure robust protection of UK seas it is essential that a Marine Bill is passed in both Westminster and Scotland, with appropriate devolved legislation in Wales and Northern Ireland. WWF Cymru urges the administrations of all four countries to work together to achieve the rapid delivery of this legislation and the means to implement it."

WWF Cymru welcomes the Government's commitment to a network of marine conservation zones and tools to create Highly Protected Marine Reserves and wants to see these provisions being applied in Welsh waters.

Lyndsey Dodds says: "Around 30% of Welsh seas are currently included in protected areas, but unfortunately this is not halting the decline of our wildlife. Most of the areas currently protected are designated through European legislation that does not take account of the habitats and species that are important to us at a national level. WWF-Cymru wants the Marine Bill to improve the protection and management of these areas in Wales and is hopeful that the provisions for marine conservation zones provisions will be implemented in here."

Other encouraging measures outlined in the draft Marine Bill include a new UK wide marine planning system to manage our activities at sea. WWF now urges a timeline for the implementation of this planning system, and greater details of how it will work across borders within UK seas.

The introduction of a new Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is vital, but WWF-Cymru wants to see how this will link to arrangements in Wales.

Lyndsey Dodds says: "The UK MMO must deliver a joined up approach to the governance of UK seas and will need to work closely with other bodies that will deliver devolved management functions. We hope that the Welsh Assembly Government in Wales will deliver clear, transparent and accountable regulation of activities in Welsh seas through a single governing body, closely co-ordinated with the UK MMO."

Finally, WWF-Cymru welcomes proposals for simpler licensing of marine developments in the UK draft Marine Bill and is hopeful that a similar system will be implemented in Wales. A new integrated marine licensing system is vital to amend the shortcomings of current marine management, streamline regulation, and secure protection of the marine environment.

Lyndsey Dodds says: "Developers need certainty that they can develop through an efficient licensing system and conservationists need certainty that habitats are protected while such developments go ahead. This can only be achieved with a strategic, forward-looking planning system that takes account of all marine activities, as well as their combined impacts on the environment."

WWF-Cymru now urges the Welsh Assembly and UK Governments to work together to ensure a full Marine Bill is included in the Queen's Speech in November.