Lifeline for our UK Seas
Today (3 April 2008) sees the long-awaited publication of the draft Marine Bill, a crucial piece of legislation that environmental organisations have been calling on the Government to introduce for several years. In 2000 WWF-UK warned that our seas were in crisis, and without holistic marine legislation, key habitats and iconic species including basking sharks, leatherback turtles, and harbour porpoises would decline.

Since then we've been through lengthy consultations, and have waited three years so far for the Government to fulfil what was a commitment in their election manifesto. In the mean time vulnerable marine species and habitats continue to decline. It's vital that today's draft Bill leads swiftly to a full Marine Bill in the Queen's Speech. We need a robust Marine Bill to be passed in both Westminster and Scotland with appropriate devolved legislation in Wales and Northern Ireland, so urge the administrations of all four countries to work together to avoid any further unnecessary delay.

Why a Marine Bill?
If you are wondering why we need a Marine Bill, consider the fact that at present, only 0.001% of UK seas are afforded high levels of protection from all damaging activities. This is comparable to an area the size of London's Kensington Gardens being protected in the whole of the UK, and is, quite literally a drop in the ocean.

Now is a particularly crucial time to look to UK seas, as we face the global environmental challenge of climate change as well as the continuing impacts of human activities. UK seas are amongst the most heavily exploited in the world, and by reducing the resilience of our marine ecosystems we are reducing the ocean's climate change buffering capacity.

Protected areas for key species
Our marine biodiversity faces threats such as rising sea temperatures and acidification because of climate change, and at the same time, fisheries and many other human activities are taking their toll. In WWF's Marine Health Check 2005, 13 out of 16 key species and habitats were found to be in decline or severe decline.

While welcoming the Government's commitment to a network of marine protected areas covering 14 - 20% of UK waters as a huge step forward, we need to be sure that this will provide the necessary protection for vulnerable species and habitats. There is a considerable body of science that suggests that such a network should cover 20 - 30% of waters with some work even suggesting as much as 40%. We certainty need our wildlife to be able to adapt to climate change and this will only be possible if we provide them with the right level of protection.

Many activities continue to take place in our seas including aggregate extraction, oil and gas extraction, cable and pipelines, tourism, fishing, and port expansion. In addition, the UK has the best wind energy resource in Europe, and UK seas provide the best tidal and wave energy resource in Europe. The Marine Bill offers an opportunity to properly manage all our activities at sea for the first time, reducing conflict between different users, and speeding up developments.

Need for the right legislation
Key to this will be the establishment of a new Marine Management Organisation (MMO). We have waited a long time for a central body that can facilitate joined-up government and facilitate marine planning and management in UK seas and feel that the MMO should have a duty to further sustainable development in UK seas, not just contribute to it as government suggests.

WWF-UK will not be alone in welcoming the publication of the draft Marine Bill.

However, it is crucial that we get the right legislation that balances the needs of the marine ecosystem with those of sea users. It's unlikely we would ever allow such environmental degradation to go unnoticed on land. Now is the time to put it right once and for all and allow our over-exploited marine ecosystems to begin to recover.


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WWF has been campaigning for a new UK Marine Act for many years. In September 2004, the Prime Minister finally agreed to introduce new marine legislation.

In January 2005 WWF published its own Draft Marine Bill to show how this new law could:

• ensure that all future developments at sea are environmentally sustainable; and
• reverse the decline of British marine wildlife and habitats.

In spring 2006, the government launched a consultation exercise on what the Marine Bill should cover. WWF responded to this consultation and gave evidence to the Environmental Audit Select Committee, on the scope of the bill.

The government published its Marine Bill White Paper in March 2007. This was a welcome step towards the sustainable management of our marine environment. The deadline for feedback on the White Paper was 8 June, and WWF-UK sent in its own detailed response, as well as contributing to input from the Wildlife and Countryside Link's Marine Task Force, a combined team of all the major NGOs concerned with the marine environment.

WWF offices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have also responded, as it is imperative that we have marine legislation in all UK seas. A Marine Act will be needed in Scotland, as well as complimentary legislation in Wales and Northern Ireland.

In April 2008 the Government published its Draft Marine Bill.

It is now essential that the Government introduces a Marine Bill in the next Queen's Speech this November so that there is no further delay in the recovery of our seas.

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