The Truth About Wildlife
Broadcast BBC2 19:00 Monday 11th July 2011
In this programme, Chris Packham investigates how marine conservation is working around the UK. Despite the wealth of life in our seas, the area of seafloor protected from all forms of industrial activity in the UK is only a tiny fraction of one percent.
At MCS, we believe that marine reserves really work. Trials around the world have shown that giving the seabed some breathing space by stopping any damaging or extractive activities can have amazing results.
On average, diversity, or the variety of life, increases by 21% and biomass, (that’s the actual 'volume' of life), increases by 466% inside marine reserves.
Studies have also shown that fish, invertebrates and seaweeds are typically much bigger, and there are a lot more of them, inside marine reserves.
As the seabed recovers it provides much better habitat for young fish and shellfish, and a safe haven for some species as they mature.
All this abundant life is of benefit to neighbouring areas.
We know that the UK Government is committed to setting up a network of marine protected areas by 2012, a target set in international agreements. However, this doesn’t mean that fishing and all other activities that damage the sea will be restricted in these protected areas. It seems that the Government is keen to see the most damaging impacts controlled in protected areas, whilst allowing more benign activities such as potting and angling continue. We may end up in English waters with something like 30% of our seas protected in some shape or form. However, as Dr Jean-Luc Solandt states in the film with Chris Packham, definitely less than 1%, (and probably less than 0.5%) will be highly protected (i.e. no go areas for fishers, oil and gas, ports etc.) by 2012.
We will continue to work to ensure that:
1. Marine Protected Areas are well-managed, and that they at least stop bottom trawling. This is still not the case with current marine protected areas, making their effects rather limited.
2. We will continue to campaign to increase the proportion of our seas that is highly protected in years to come, for the interests of all sea users.
See yourseasyourvoice.com to have your say!
