Marine Conservation Society Press Release
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Protected Areas On The Horizon For Welsh Seas
19th April 2012Consultation on much-needed protection for the marine environment launched today
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) welcomes the Welsh Government’s consultation on creating ”Marine Conservation Zones” in Welsh waters, which opens today and runs until July. MCS urges members of the public to have their say and take this important opportunity to better safeguard Welsh seas.
If designated, the potential sites will have a higher level of protection than any previously seen in Wales, and MCS supports the Welsh Government's decision to set up these sites. However, MCS understands that the list of ten potential sites is expected to be reduced to only three or four by the time sites are due to be designated in spring 2014. MCS believes that more, and larger sites should be selected for the marine environment to recover, and reap the benefits that protection affords for wildlife and people.
Gill Bell, MCS Wales Programme Manager says, “The kind of protection these designations will provide is just what our seas and sea life need. But the shortlist of sites really is very short, and the areas of sea in question are quite small. It shows a real lack of ambition on the part of Welsh Government. We now want to see all ten places given proper consideration towards protecting them. We need as many people as possible to take part in the consultation.’
MCS believes the Welsh Government has a great deal of catching up to do to match countries like New Zealand that already have 34 such sites; Australia, with 33.3% of the Great Barrier Reef as fully protected; and California, where a number of much larger sites has just been set up.
MCS is calling for members of the public and sea users to show their support for Marine Protected Areas in this consultation, which can be done at www.wales.gov.uk.
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