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Marine Act Campaign
Key facts
Key facts
- WWF's Marine Health Check reported that of 16 key marine species and habitats all but two were in decline in UK waters. A recent DEFRA report concluded that there is good evidence of a negative change in marine biodiversity and the functions that the marine environment provides are being altered as a result of human activities.
- To date, estimates show over 22% of the UK's sea bed has been affected by marine activities, such as trawling and other industrial activities.
- Currently only approximately 2% of the UK sea area is afforded any level of protection. Furthermore, less than 1% of our seabed is afforded high levels of protection from all human activities. There is only one No Take Zone in the UK and three marine nature reserves.
- Maritime activities contribute about 5% of the UK GDP in direct economic benefits. There are also many indirect goods and services provided by the UK seas; climate regulation, nutrient cycling, leisure and tourism; their worth being approximately estimated at £8.47 billion, £800 to £2030 billion and £11.77 billion respectively.
- The number of key laws relating to the marine environment exceeds the 30 listed in WWF's draft Marine Bill. In addition, a recent report by Cardiff University (in press) lists over 150 pieces of relevant maritime legislation.
- The UK Government is a signatory to the OSPAR (Oslo-Paris) Agreement and is, therefore, internationally committed to establishing 'an ecologically coherent' network of marine protected areas by 2010. By 2010 the Government must also meet the EU target of halting biodiversity loss and has its own national target of generating 10% of electricity from renewable sources.
- The Government must also implement the ecosystem approach (where a holistic and integrated management approach is taken), as endorsed under the international Convention on Biodiversity.
