Page 2 - Natural World Winter 2017

UK NEWS

Trusts launch vision
for Living Seas

Report says the Government has a unique The report shows
chance to lead the world in marine conservation how all sea users

can get along

Anew report by The Wildlife to fisheries to aggregate extraction met him in October.
Trusts outlines how a – in a way that balances the needs of “We believe that a healthy,
radical approach to marine wildlife and people. This does not
planning could bring our seas back happen at the moment. wildlife-rich marine environment is
to their former abundance. valuable in its own right and
Joan Edwards, Director of Living fundamentally important for
The Way Back to Living Seas Seas at The Wildlife Trusts, gave a human health, wellbeing and
demonstrates that a joined-up copy of the report to Environment prosperity,” she said afterwards.
network of Marine Protected Secretary Michael Gove when she
Areas will safeguard marine “If the Government takes the lead
wildlife and help the livelihoods of A healthy on this, within the next 25 years our
the many people who depend on sea is vital seas will be more sustainable and
the sea. for future well on their way to recovering
generations their historic levels. This will benefit
It suggests dividing coastal the wildlife that inhabits our seas
waters into five regional seas and and the prosperity and well-being
then managing everything that of local communities and the UK
happens in them – from recreation that depends on them.”

Our key ask The Government should put ‘Regional Sea’ marine
planning and an ecologically-coherent network of
protected areas at the heart of its plan

Involves Restores nature Tracks progress
people
Recognises the Establishes ‘Good
Inspires and value of nature Environmental
connects people to our economy Status’ in all seas
with the sea and commits to
restoring it
Minimises
harm ‘REGIONAL SEA’
MARINE
Ends pollution,
destructive PLANNING
fishing and
unsustainable Plans long-term 2117 Stays sustainable
marine development
Looks at the whole Sets limits for all
ecosystem and activities at sea,
the life it supports including fishing,
when planning for underwater noise,
the future o shore wind and
extraction

2 NATURAL WORLD WINTER 2017