Wednesday 17 October 2007

Four schoolchildren presented the petition which has been organised by WWF, the RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts and Marine Conservation Society. The marine campaign coalition are calling on the Prime Minister to include a full, not a draft, Marine Bill in the Queen's Speech in November. The groups want the Bill to put marine planning at its heart, give much stronger protection to marine wildlife, include measures to designate and conserve nationally-important marine wildlife sites, including highly-protected marine reserves.

Jan Brown, Senior Marine Policy Officer at WWF says: "Our seas have been in decline for some time and it is imperative that the Government addresses the urgency of the situation and introduces a Marine Bill now. The facts are inescapable, our seas are in crisis. We need to act and cannot afford another year of delay by the Government."

A report published this month by WWF warns that without integrated marine legislation, underwater habitats are being destroyed and damaged beyond repair. Bottom trawling, scallop dredging, and sand and gravel extraction are all taking their toll on our marine environment, but so too are unregulated activities such as bait digging, unlicensed commercial fishing, and water based recreation.

Springwatch TV presenter Kate Humble, who is amongst those who have signed the petition, said: "As a diver I know what an amazing wealth of wildlife we have in the seas around the UK but I'm also aware of the pressures the marine environment is under. That's why I'm supporting the call for a Marine Bill now to introduce marine reserves to give our wonderful sealife the protection it deserves."