This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Plans to protect marine environment
08/12/2005
In a report, published jointly today by the Scottish Executive, Defra and Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies, the administrations stated their commitment to working together towards clean, healthy, safe, productive, and biologically diverse oceans and seas.
Environment Minister Ross Finnie said:
"This report demonstrates our commitment to conserving biodiversity and improving the sustainable management of the sea. It highlights the large amount of work already underway in Scotland and other parts of the UK and outlines where the four administrations in the UK are working together to develop new solutions.
" Safeguarding Sea Life complements Seas the Opportunity, the new strategy for Scotland's coasts and seas, both based on the principle of sustainable development.
"I am convinced that is the best means of conserving Scotland's marine environment while ensuring the long term prosperity and sustainability of the industries on which coastal communities depend for their livelihoods."
The report responds to 16 key recommendations made in the Review of Marine Nature Conservation and points out that much of the work recommended in the review is already under way.
The need to manage human activities in the marine area based on a better understanding of marine ecosystems and their environmental limits is recognised. The report also affirms a commitment to developing networks of marine protected areas to conserve marine biodiversity and sets out new strategic goals for marine nature conservation based on the development of marine ecosystem objectives.
In addition, the response sets out how the administrations will use wider marine management regimes, including spatial planning, to meet its sustainable development objectives.
- The Review and the response can be accessed via:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/ewd/rmnc/index.htm.
- The Scottish Executive Marine and Coastal Strategy published on 12, September 2005, is available on:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/08/26102543/25444
The Review of Marine Nature Conservation was completed in 2004 by a working group comprising of environmental, industry and Government representatives. The group was tasked with looking at how the UK can improve marine wildlife conservation.