A call for Marine Reserves
Marine Reserves campaigner Haris Livas-Dawes calls for marine reserves in the Hull Daily Mail of 21st July:
A recent correspondent complained about the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy, and I certainly agree it is a disaster. Like the Common Agricultural Policy, also a disaster, it is devised by politicians who ignore science. What that correspondent failed to mention is that a bill to improve the character of British seas, including our North Sea, is making its way though parliament, just having exited the House of Lords and moved to the Commons.
However, this bill in it present form is inadequate, rather like the early Climate Change Bill, which was also inadequate until it was beefed up. Readers should write to their MPs and demand the strengthening of this bill.
It does call for Marine Reserves but information around the world shows that unless they are highly protected they will do nothing to increase species. We already have a few Marine Reserves, but they are not doing their job because all kinds of exploitative activities still go on therein. Highly protected means no exploitative activities at all, including trawling, which destroys the sea bed.
The original bill did not call for these marine reserves to be in an ecologically connected network, but fortunately it has been amended to include this, as it is worthless to have marine reserves dotted here and there with no connection between them.
The timing of this bill is also left in limbo in its present form. Marine Bills are required by EU members, but without a time limit there is no obligation on the Government to move forward speedily.
And, most unusual, there is no mention of science in the bill. Obviously the establishment and location of these reserves should be based on science and it’s science that tells us that our seas are dangerously over-fished.
Your correspondent mentioned Charles Clover and The End of the Line. May I also recommend The Unnatural History of the Sea written by Callum Roberts of York University, which provides the science.
The Marine arm of Friends of the Earth, called Marinet, has been lobbying for 30% of UK seas out to 200 nautical miles to be highly protected marine reserves by 2015.
This is the only way to save our seas.
Tags: MARINET