Marine and Coastal Access Act passed to create UK's designate marine conservation zones
Last updated 01/12/2009 14:00:32
Basking shark. Photo © Gavin Parsons-MCS
After a decade of campaigning, the Marine Conservation Society welcomes the Marine and Coastal Access Act which was given the Royal Assent on 12th November.
Melissa Moore, MCS Senior Policy Officer said, "This is a major milestone for marine conservation in the UK. We strongly welcome the Marine Act and congratulate government on producing it. Two years from now we will have a network of Marine Conservation Zones in place giving nature some space to recover."
Under the new Marine and Coastal Access Act, the UK Government will have a duty to designate marine conservation zones (MCZs), which will include a range of protection levels including ‘no take' marine reserves closed to damaging activities such as commercial fishing and dredging.
It has committed to introduce a network of these zones by 2012. A Marine (Scotland) Bill is expected to be enacted in early 2010.
Over 124 scientific studies have been compiled regarding the overall
affect of marine reserves on ocean wildlife diversity and biomass.
On
average, diversity increased by 21% and the biomass (weight) of marine
species increased by 446% inside marine reserves (Partnership for
Interdisciplinary Study of the Oceans (2008) - the science of marine
reserves. www.pisco.org)