Prime Minister Gordon Brown has today confirmed that the Government is preparing the long-awaited "Marine Bill" for introduction early in the fourth Session of Parliament - possibly within a matter of weeks. This follows ongoing campaigning by wildlife organisations MCS, RSPB, WWF and the Wildlife Trusts, including: a full page advertisement calling for the Bill in national newspapers today; an "Early Day Motion" put forward in parliament; and support for the Marine Bill and Marine Reserves by BBC presenters Kate Humble and Simon King in "Autumn Watch" programmes this week. It also coincides 25 years to the day with the Marine Conservation Society's inaugural registration as a UK charity (registered charity no. 1004005) on November 5th 1983.

At Prime Minister's Question time today, Angela Smith (MP for Sheffield, Hillsborough, Lab) asked: "More than 70 Members have signed early-day motion 2189 calling for the inclusion of the marine Bill in this year’s Queen Speech. Will the Prime Minister assure us that the Bill will be included and that it will give adequate protection to our marine wildlife?"

The Prime Minister answered "I know that my hon. Friend has taken a great interest in these matters. We are discussing them with the devolved Administrations to deliver a coherent approach across the United Kingdom. The Government continue to prepare the Bill for introduction early in the fourth Session and do not intend to reduce its scope or coverage."

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is celebrating 25 years as the UK charity protecting our precious seas, shores and wildlife today. MCS has been celebrating with a series of events and initiatives throughout 2008 to highlight the need for better protection of our seas, and today's news is a positive sign that progress will be made to better protect our marine wildlife. However, MCS is well aware that much work needs to be done.

Melissa Moore, Senior Policy Officer said "MCS is thrilled, on this our 25th anniversary, by further commitment from the Prime Minister that his Government will introduce a Marine Bill in the next few months. We call on Government to ensure that the remaining flaws and loopholes are ironed out to ensure that it can meet its promise of an ecologically coherent network of Marine Conservation Zones."

The Marine Bill is vital to enable the designation of Marine Conservation Zones to protect nationally important wildlife such as pink sea fans, eel grass beds, seahorse, maerl and basking sharks. At present less than 0.001% of our seas are highly protected from damaging activities.

One of the key themes MCS has chosen to celebrate their silver jubilee this year, is people's relationship with the sea and coast - their fondest memories of the sea, what the sea means to them and how the sea and coast has changed in the last quarter century. The MCS Silver Jubilee Gallery will shortly be made live online at www.mcsuk.org.

The Report "Silent Seas" was published and launched by the Marine Conservation Society at an event in Leicester Square on 13th October. This documents the damaging effects of over-fishing, coastal pollution and inadequate habitat protection and warns that without radical mitigation, including Marine Bills, UK seas could suffer ecological disaster

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For further information contact:
Melissa Moore, MCS Senior Policy Officer – Tel: 07793 118386 Mr Richard Harrington, MCS Communications Manager – Tel: 01989 561585 / 07793 118384

Editors Notes:
1) The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to the protection of our seas, shores and wildlife. MCS campaigns for clean seas and beaches, sustainable fisheries, protection of marine life and their habitats, and the sensitive use of our marine resources for future generations. Through education, community involvement and collaboration, MCS raises awareness of the many threats that face our seas and promotes individual, industry and government action to protect the marine environment. MCS provides information and guidance on many aspects of marine conservation and produces the annual Good Beach Guide (www.goodbeachguide.co.uk), the Good Fish Guide and www.fishonline.org on sustainable seafood, as well as promoting public participation in volunteer projects and surveys such as Beachwatch, Adopt-a-Beach and Basking Shark Watch www.mcsuk.org.

2) In 2008, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is celebrating 25 years as the UK charity protecting our precious seas, shores and wildlife. MCS will be running a series of events and initiatives in 2008 to highlight the need for better protection of our seas, celebrate the wildlife they support and give opportunities for people to take an active part http://www.mcsuk.org/jubilee/upload.php. To help in their mission to protect our seas, shores and wildlife, and in recognition of their 25th Anniversary, MCS has established the Oceans 25 Ambassador partnership initiative to recognise, and work with, those businesses that are leading the field in developing sustainable practices in support of clean seas, sustainable fisheries and protection for marine wildlife. Four companies have pledged their support to help MCS achieve its mission, as founding members of the Oceans 25 Ambassador group - Loch Duart, Waitrose, Loch Fyne Oysters and Dragon Feeds.

3. NGOs including MCS, WWF, RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts believes that the Bill must include:

• 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 duty bestowed upon the nature conservation authorities to set up and control damaging activities inside protected sites
  
  
• Legislation that addresses the existing weaknesses and gaps in the management of inshore fisheries, strengthens the powers of the Sea Fisheries Committees, requires the adoption of a proactive, precautionary ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management, and underpins this management with new, adequate and secure funding
  
  
• 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;
  

MCS in Scotland is chairing a joint campaign for a parallel Scottish Marine Bill (see www.savescottishseas.org) since the Scottish Government controls most activities, - including marine conservation, fisheries, aquaculture and renewable energy - within 12 nautical miles (nm) and some activities – including fisheries and aspects of renewable energy development - to 200nm. The Westminster UK Bill must provide a management framework for reserved matters in UK waters, which must integrate with the forthcoming Scottish Marine Bill, already committed to by the Scottish Government. Work is already underway in Scotland to inform a consultation due in Summer 2008 for a Scottish Marine Bill. Since similar legislative measures may also be needed in Northern Ireland and Wales to plug any devolved gaps, the UK Government will need to work closely with all the devolved administrations as it frames the UK Bill.
For more information on the work in Scotland contact Calum Duncan, MCS Scottish Conservation Manager on 0131 226 6360 or email Scotland@mcsuk.org