Members of York and Ryedale Friends of the Earth, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Miss Earth (Caroline Duffy) met with York MP Hugh Bayley to call on his to support the establishment of a network of highly protected marine reserves in UK waters. The meeting was on the front page and on page 3 of the local paper – The Press. Hugh Bayley has signed EDM 337 and has written to Huw Irranca-Davies, the minister responsible for the Marine and Coastal Access Bill to invite him to a public meeting. The meeting with campaigners is also featured (and illustrated!) on the MP’s website

Map showing Greenpeace's proposals for Marine Reserves in the North Sea

Greenpeace have proposed locations for seven Marine Reserves covering 40% of the North Sea.

Full details, including an interactive map showing species distribution and current extractive activities, are available on Greenpeace’s website, along with details of Greenpeace’s own Marine Reserves campaign, which is working to secure Marine Reserves not just for the UK but all European waters. They say:

In Europe we now have a real opportunity to make Marine Reserves happen, and we must do all we can to make sure that our politicians deliver a large-scale network of fully-protected Marine Reserves through European and national legislation.

Here’s a great Greenpeace video, explaining the need for a global network of Highly Protected Marine Reserves.