The marine environment is an extraordinary place, providing habitat for more than 44,000 animal and plant species, including the many whales, dolphins and porpoises which we know are either resident around the UK or simply passing by throughout the year. Despite this wealth of biodiversity the seas are poorly protected, when you compare them to terrestrial habitats.

We are becoming increasingly aware of the fragility of the marine ecosystem as inshore and offshore activities increase, placing an overwhelming burden on the sea and its inhabitants. New legislation is needed to provide comprehensive protection from land to sea, where at present, many activities go unchecked. We need greater coherence in planning and licensing of activities which are permitted to take place, with a lead organisation taking a co-ordinating role.

Marine Connection have therefore welcomed the broad support for new marine legislation from all political parties, and we were particularly pleased to see the Government include a draft Marine Bill in its legislative programme for the current session of Parliament. The commitment to a Marine Bill was a ground breaking event, representing more than five years of work by environmental and conservation groups alike (Wildlife & Countryside Link).

On 29th March this year, the Government opened a 12 week public consultation on the Marine Bill, ending on 23rd June. Marine Connection will respond in detail, but this is where we really need your help! This is a one-off opportunity to make a difference and improve the way we currently manage and conserve our seas, and your support is paramount.

Marine Connection are calling for comprehensive legislation to achieve better protection for marine wildlife and effective management of our seas. Wide ranging reform is needed which not only considers the small creatures such as the starfish and anemones but also the whales, dolphins and porpoises, at the top of the food chain. In order to truly protect whales and dolphins, we need to take an ecosystem based approach, considering not only the habitat in which they live but the complex food web on which they depend.

The Marine Bill must include:

- A forward looking statutory marine spatial planning system.
- A network of Nationally Important Marine Sites which must include Highly Protected Marine Reserves.
- A duty on the appropriate competent authorities to enforce marine
protection measures.
- A proactive, precautionary ecosystem-based approach to fisheries
management.

For further information on the charity's views on the Marine Bill and
Cetaceans click here.

You can help us make a difference for the UK's whales, dolphins and
porpoises! We urge you to write a letter to the Government and provide a sample letter for you to use. Do not feel that you have to use this, feel free to personalise it, add your own writing style or alternatively write your own from scratch, using the information provided here and in our cetacean bycatch document. Your voice really does count in this consultation.