Marine Bill sample letter

Ben Bradshaw MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Defra
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR

Dear Minister,

I am very concerned that at present the UK's whales, dolphins and porpoises, amongst the greater marine biodiversity of the UK are not adequately protected. The seas offer such a wealth of marine life and resources yet they are placed under an increasing pressure from fishing, extraction, construction, shipping and other uses.

It is vital that the forthcoming marine bill introduces a comprehensive, ecosystem based approach to the planning and management of our seas. By their very nature cetaceans are mobile, exhibiting both temporal and spatial variation in distribution and behavioural patterns, which may be linked to changes in prey. Legislation should adopt an ecosystem approach to be able to deal with these potential changes in an effective manner.

In particular it is vital that we establish a network of Nationally Important Marine Sites, including a suite of Highly Protected Marine Reserves, where extractive use will be prohibited. These sites will permit wildlife to recover to a near-natural state, protecting nursery areas, spawning grounds, important feeding sites and locations of rare and/or vulnerable species. As such they will become wildlife hotspots, creating a spill-over into the surrounding areas and providing a vital role in conservation. New protective legislation needs to be proactive, flexible and swift in implementation to be able to cope with protection of both mobile and sessile species living in a complex ecosystem.

Legislation should also address the current weaknesses in inshore fisheries management. The inshore fishery management body should be given the power to close fisheries that are known to have a catch of cetaceans, turtles, seabirds and/or seals, until a suitable, working mitigation device and/or measure have been identified.

I would like you to assure me that the Marine Bill will approach protection of the marine environment from an ecosystem perspective, providing Nationally Important Marine Sites, a suite of Highly Protected Marine Reserves and provide for increased powers to manage inshore fisheries.

Yours sincerely