Natural England

Natural England sees the publication today (Thursday 15 March) of A Sea Change, - the Marine Bill White Paper - as the key tool to achieve our objective of establishing a network of Marine Protected Areas by 2012.

The Marine Bill will have a significant impact on the use of the sea and the way in which the marine environment is managed.

The Bill will allow the identification a network of marine conservation zones (a form of marine protected area), some of which will be similar to the UK's first No Take Zone off the coast of Lundy, north Cornwall.

Natural England is keen that the Marine Bill allows the control of damaging activities in areas where they might harm habitats and species and is particularly eager to see the lessons learned in Lundy applied to a strategic network of Marine Conservation Zones.

Natural England's chief executive Dr Helen Phillips said: "While Marine Protected Areas can't necessarily help far ranging fish like cod, they do benefit many other species and can contribute to the recovery of damaged habitats. Divers monitoring the sea bed near Lundy have found lobsters seven times more in number, compared to surrounding waters since 2003. The scallop stock in an area closed to fishing off the Isle of Man is twenty times bigger than in fished areas nearby, and scallop catches have also increased around the closed area. A network of Marine Protected Areas could give habitats and species much needed time and space to recover from industrial scale fishing."

The introduction of a new system of marine spatial planning is essential for sustainable use of the seas and to deliver an effective and coherent approach to the management of the marine environment. Marine spatial planning should provide a means to proactively reach our long-term environmental, social and economic aspirations.

Moves to modernise Sea Fishery Committees in England, opening them up to new membership and increasing their environmental remit, are positive moves.

Dr Phillips added: "Fishing has by far the greatest impact on marine habitats and species so we welcome suggestions to increase the responsibility and roles of the Sea Fisheries Committees in marine conservation."

Stakeholders, including Natural England as the Government's independent advisor on nature conservation, now have twelve weeks to respond to the draft Bill. Natural England will submit its response to the consultation by the deadline 8 June 2007.

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. The Marine bill White Paper is available to download from the Defra website

2. Lundy Island is located 12 miles off the north coast of Devon in the Bristol Channel. It is England's only Marine Nature Reserve. The No-Take Zone covers 3.3 km2 on the east side of the island. It was established in 2003 via a Devon Sea Fisheries Committee bylaw to enhance protection for the island's marine wildlife.

3. No-Take Zones are areas where fishing and other extractive activities are prohibited. No-Take Zones can help prevent deterioration of the marine environment due to human disturbance. Natural England views these areas as an essential tool for the protection and recovery of the marine habitats and species.

4. Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings. We increase opportunities to make the natural environment an enriching part of people's everyday lives, and improve its long term security by contributing to the sustainable management of our natural resources.

For futehr information contact Natural England's Press Office on 0845 603 9953, mobile 07970 098005 or email pressoffice@naturalengland.org.uk