The Marine Conservation Society is campaigning for a marine bill along with other NGO members of Wildlife and Countryside Link (WCL) including the RSPB, WWF and The Wildlife Trusts. We believes that the Bill must include the following and the WCL papers below have been developed jointly to explain the Marine Bill priorities for our seas:

· Legislation to provide for the designation of a representative network of Nationally Important Marine Sites which must include a series of Highly Protected Marine Reserves;

· A forward looking statutory marine spatial planning system, which enables better and more sustainable use of the marine resource and appropriate protection of the natural and historic environment;

· Finally reform of our outdated inshore fisheries is long over due. The bill needs to strengthens the powers of the Sea Fisheries Committees and requires the adoption of a proactive, precautionary ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management.

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