Thursday 3 April 2008

"There are many positive steps forward outlined in today's draft Marine Bill, including a huge leap forward from the current situation where only 0.001 per cent of UK seas are offered high levels of protection from damaging activities. However WWF-UK is concerned that there is still no indication of how this legislation will deliver for the whole of the UK's seas. Without effective legislation across UK and devolved seas, many species and habitats will still be at risk," said Sally Bailey, North East Atlantic Marine Manager at WWF-UK.

"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. Our marine environment needs to be managed as a single ecological unit and as such WWF urges the administrations of all four countries to work together to achieve the rapid delivery of this legislation and the means to implement it," she added.

Need for more protection
While broadly welcoming the Government's commitment to a network of marine conservation zones covering 14 to 20% of UK seas by 2012, WWF-UK points out that this may not provide the necessary level of protection needed.

Bailey explained: "There is a considerable body of work that suggests that a network of marine protected areas should cover from 20 - 30% of waters with some work even suggesting as much as 40%. The Government must ensure it sets the right criteria for identifying the areas most in need of protection. WWF is also disappointed that the Government's commitment to a network within the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (known as the 'OSPAR Convention') by 2010 will not be met and strongly encourages no further slippage against the worldwide deadline of 2012."

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

Call for a new central body
The introduction of a new Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is vital, but WWF-UK claims its effectiveness will depend largely on its remit and whether it will hold responsibility for all marine planning, including the development of all marine renewable projects and the licensing of carbon capture and storage in UK waters.

Bailey said: "We have waited a long time for a central body that can facilitate marine planning and management in UK seas. We urge the Government to invest the MMO with the necessary degree of powers to ensure that all major developments at sea take environmental issues into account 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."

Planning and strategy
Finally, WWF-UK welcomes proposals for simpler licensing of marine developments. 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.

Bailey stated: "This planning system is urgently needed for the Government to reach its commitments to be strategic and integrate the management of activities at sea, including national and international CO₂ emissions reduction targets. 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 proper planning system that supports the protection of an ecologically representative network of marine protected areas."

WWF-UK now urges the Government to ensure a full Marine Bill is included in the Queen's Speech in November.

"We welcome this draft Marine Bill and the opportunity it provides to safeguard our seas and the amazing wealth of wildlife inhabiting them. However this is only the first stage of a longer process and if the Government is serious about protecting our seas it must include a full Marine Bill in November's Queen's Speech," Bailey concluded.