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Marine Bill Campaign

We need you to help make the “Marine Bill” much stronger for marine conservation.

PLEASE SIGN the e-letter to Defra below by 26th June

Why we need your help
The draft Marine Bill published in April following years of campaigning by MCS and supporters such as yourself. The bill could be ground breaking but in its present draft it has too many flaws and loopholes to deliver on its promises for marine conservation. We therefore need your help to persuade Defra that it should be strengthened when published in full later this year. Click here to see governments marine bill

About the campaign:
A Marine Act is urgently needed to introduce new laws to better protect our marine wildlife and habitats and ensure the sustainable management of our seas and resources. MCS, together with other national NGOs has campaigned for years for new marine laws. While the Government is committed in theory and have produced a White Paper, in practice they are refusing to prioritise this for parliamentary time and as such we are worried that it may never see the light of day.

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Copy of the actual email being sent:

Marine Bill Team
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR

Dear Marine Bill Team
I want the marine bill to be a ground-breaking bill, but in its present draft it has too many flaws and loopholes to deliver on its promises.

I am concerned that the measures proposed are not strong enough to actually deliver a network of Marine Conservation Zones. These need to toughened up. I want to see a 'duty' to designate such a network and timescales on when it will be delivered.

I believe sites should be selected purely based on scientific criteria, not socio-economic considerations. I think that 30% of our seas should be designated as highly protected marine reserves. I think the get out clause should be removed that states that industry and government can damage a Marine Conservation Zone if it is "impossible or impracticable" not to, or if their activity is in public interest.

To effectively manage all UK waters, I urge all the devolved administrations to sign up to the UK Marine Policy Statement, for it to be delivered. I believe the Marine Management Organisation should be the consents body for all marine activities, not an Independent Planning Commission that knows nothing about marine issues.

I welcome the proposed inshore fisheries reform but think the bill needs to be further improved with clear purposes and more conservation orientated membership to ensure that sustainable fisheries and conservation are actually delivered by the new Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities in more than their name.

Yours sincerely