Marine Working Group

Chair: Joan Edwards, The Wildlife Trusts
Acting Vice Chair: Kate Sugar, RSPB
Secretary: Kirsten Loveday

The Marine Working Group works to ensure better protection of marine wildlife and effective management of our seas by seeking the full implementation of the Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009). The group also monitors the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and the implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

Update from the group: January 2012

Link Marine Working Group meeting

The Marine Working Group’s first meeting of the year took place on 31 January, to finalise the group’s work plan for the year. Tim Robbins, Chief Officerat the Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries Conservation Agency (IFCA) joined the meeting to discuss IFCA’s role in the development and protection of Marine Protected Areas.

Marine Conservation Zone designation

At the end of last year, Link met with the Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries, Richard Benyon MP, to discuss why the Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) designation will be delayed by six months. The key points that the Minister raised were the lack of an evidence base for the MCZs and a deficiency in data. Link expressed disappointment that the Government’s commitment to have an ecologically coherent network of MCZs in place by 2012 has been missed. Link is currently organising another meeting with the Minister for February.

True State of Our Seas

In response to the Government missing its 2012 target, Link has produced the third in its series of Marine Act Parliamentary Bulletins. The True State of Our Seas expresses concern over the increasing pressures placed on UK seas and the wildlife they support and explains why action is needed now to reverse the damage.  The bulletin was sent this month to a large number of MPs and peers.