January - villagevoices.org.uk

Oceans cover 70% of our planet.
They are described as being our
life-support system, because they regulate
climate, mop up harmful greenhouse
gases, give us food and create
some of the oxygen we breathe. And
yet the North Sea and other UK waters
are daily being abused, polluted and
over-fished: fragile sea beds are ripped
by heavy fishing gear and dredging for
gravel, and the depths are considered a
fine dumping ground. Marine industry
—oil and gas extraction, wind turbines,
relieved and delighted when Royal
Assent was granted to the Marine and
Coastal Access Bill in November.
The Bill is now an Act of Parliament.
Ten years of campaigning and pressure
by their members and the public
has achieved a massive boost for sea
life, and Government has pledged to
introduce new protection for our seas
by 2012. Special zones will be created
to give greater protection for marine
life—some may be large areas of sea,
whilst others could be small, localised
Rob Spray
barrages and other offshore activity—
contribute their share of the damage.
Suffolk Wildlife Trust and all the
other county wildlife trusts were
This page (above) Common Lobster
Opposite page (top) Horse Mackerel
(bottom) Beadlet Anemone
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hotspots of wildlife value that require
particular protection. Eventually, it
is hoped there will be a network of
Marine Protected Areas in UK waters.
The new Act also created four Marine
Conservation Zones, one of which
will help protect North Sea marine
life from Northumberland to Kent.
January 2010 page