Devon demonstrates huge support for strong marine protection

A huge wave of public support will shake Westminster today as a quarter of a million people call for greater protection for UK's seas and coastline. 250,000 signatures on the Wildlife Trusts' Petition Fish will be presented to Natural Environment Minister, Richard Benyon at a Parliamentary reception at the House of Commons, hosted by the Wildlife Trusts. Devon Wildlife Trust collected 6,500 of these signatures across the county. Devon Wildlife Trust hopes to meet local MPs to highlight the unprecedented opportunity that this country has to protect our marine environment using Marine Conservation Zones. There are 14 recommended MCZs off the coast of Devon of which just 4 made it onto the Government's consultation list recently announced. Sites not designated include some of south and north Devon's most spectacular scenery and wildlife. The list of non designated sites in north Devon include: Bideford to Foreland Point, Hartland Point to Tintagel and the Taw-Torridge Estuary; for south Devon the list includes: the Axe, Otter, Dart, Avon, Erme and Tamar estuaries. A new poll, commissioned by The Wildlife Trusts, also shows the extent of public support for greater marine protection. 92% said that in circumstances where sea life is threatened by commercial activity such as industrial fishing or dredging, priority should be given to protecting nature, even if this means putting restrictions on where commercial activities can take place. A new report published today highlights the benefits to be gained by society and the economy if the Government adopts a network of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) around UK shores in 2013. Our surrounding seas have an astonishingly varied range of submerged landscapes which support wonderful marine life: from cold water coral beds to sponge meadows, canyons and sandbanks. MCZs were conceived to protect the plants, animals and habitats within them from the most damaging of activities, whilst mostly allowing sustainable activity to continue. Securing the benefits of the Marine Conservation Zone Network was written by the Centre for Marine and Coastal Policy Research at Plymouth University and commissioned by The Wildlife Trusts. Its publication coincides with The Wildlife Trusts' parliamentary event and with the Government's current public consultation http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/12/13/marine-conservation-zones-1212/ on MCZs (which closes on Sunday, 31 March). The report reveals that designating MCZs is likely to increase current benefits such as food security, resilience against environmental challenges and pollution at these sites. It predicts that there would be potential additional benefits for commercial fishing, improved natural coastal protection and recreation too. The report highlights the importance of MCZs working together as a network and points out that non-designation of sites is likely to result in their deterioration. Devon Wildlife Trust was disappointed that the full network of 127 recommended MCZs were not on the Government's list published for public consultation in December. Today, Devon Wildlife Trust calls for: 

• The Government to designate all 31 of the proposed MCZs in 2013 and enforce appropriate management in these sites as soon as possible. 31 Marine Conservation Zones are a step forward, but nowhere near enough for an ecological coherent network. 
• The Government to set a clear timetable for the rest of the network to be designated, including the 10 Devon MCZs that have been left off the list of sites in the first round of designation. 
• The sites identified by Natural England as being most under threat to be designated urgently. 
• The evidence that the Government spent £5m collecting last year (which has not yet been used) to be taken into account immediately, along with that collected by stakeholders in 2012. 
• Proper protection of sites as soon as they are designated - including banning bottom-trawling and dredging in these areas.

Joan Edwards, The Wildlife Trusts' Head of Living Seas, said: "We'd like to encourage the public to respond to the Government's consultation. The public can help us ensure that the 31 sites that the Government have selected are only the start. We need to ensure that the remaining sites are not forgotten." 

Simon King OBE, The Wildlife Trusts' President, said: "Whilst disappointed all 127 recommended Marine Conservation Zones are not immediately being designated, we are heartened to hear the Government confirms it has every intention of designating 127 and more if necessary. We understand that resources don't allow this to happen in the first year - nonetheless the pressure is on. Time is of the essence. With every passing week, month, year, we are at risk of losing more of this precious resource." 

Go to www.wildlifetrusts.org to respond to the consultation.

Recently, The Wildlife Trusts asked a leading polling organisation, ICM, to conduct a UK-wide survey on attitudes to our seas and their protection. More than 1,100 people took part. Here's what they had to say across the UK........

• People like to spend time near the sea - it means a lot to them 72% of participants had spent at day at the seaside during the preceding 12 months and 80% said that the UK's seas are important to their personal quality of life. 
• Healthy seas are important- they provide a range of valuable services 96% of people rated the health* of the marine environment as important. 95% said that the sea is important as a source of food, 89% that it is important for recreation; and 97% that it is important as a habitat for fish and other wildlife. Our seas are not as healthy as they once were 70% felt that there are fewer fish in the sea than there were 20 years ago.
• Our seas are in desperate need of protection On average, participants thought that 21% of the UK's sea area is already protected in Marine Reserves. On average, participants felt that 56% of our seas should be protected in Marine Reserves. 
• And this protection should be valued above other activity 92% stated that in circumstances where sea life is threatened by commercial activity such as industrial fishing or dredging, priority should be given to protecting nature, even if this means putting restrictions on where commercial activities can take place. 
• * Health was explained as the quality of the water, the condition of the natural habitats and the well-being of wildlife