Marine nature reserves planned
- Wed, 11 Nov 2009
- Comments (2)
A call to set up more than 70 new marine nature reserves by 2012, has been made by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and The Co-operative Group. They say the areas are needed around the UK to protect endangered fish, coral and other wildlife. Six years of surveying work carried out by divers has produced recommended areas which would increase the amount of UK seas protected in marine reserves from just 6km square to 212km square.
In UK seas there are 22 species of wildlife considered to be facing the threat of global extinction. Once common species such as common skate and Atlantic halibut are now listed as endangered, and only eight of the 47 fish stocks found around the British Isles remain in a healthy state.
Under the new Marine and Coastal Access Act, the Government will have a 'duty' to designate marine conservation zones (MCZs), where commercial fishing and dredging, will be banned.
Have your say!
Latest comments
November 12 21:42
Salty Bob
Don't do it. All this admin is employing more folk than the whole marine industry. Let's save a few quid and let nature be.
November 16 20:14
Solent Drifter
As both a diver and leisure angler, I have seen the benefits of reduced fishing and conservation measures such as "look but don't touch" and "catch and release". We are all in agreement that marine reserves work and could even pay dividends if utilised as working, recreational environments but these plans will not work until we have in place, an effective way of policing these areas and hindering the the effects of French and Spanish fleets "accidentally" crossing the line and taking what they can in short "hit and run" sorties. This is not an uneducated accusation, as a boatman, I have seen this happen and (all credit to our Fishery Protection Vessel) seen them put back over to their own side of their fishing boundaries. If you want to protect our stocks.. improve our fishery protection.