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Marine Act at last!
The Marine and Coastal Access Bill finally completed its passage through Parliament, and became an Act on 12 November 2009.
This followed years of public campaigning and work behind the scenes by The Wildlife Trusts, including the delivery of 300,000 pledges calling on the Government to fulfil its manifesto promise to protect the UK's seas.
The Trust's Marine Officer, Bryony Chapman, said: 'I am delighted and relieved that we have a Marine Act, which should enable us to manage our seas in a more sustainable way, and protect our precious marine wildlife.
With increasing pressure on our seas from a variety of sources such as fishing, pollution, offshore developments and aggregate extraction, and the entire marine ecosystem threatened by climate change, effective legislation is long overdue.
Kent has some fantastic marine habitats, including massive submerged sand dunes, reefs constructed by rossworms, and wonderful chalk reefs which are rare on an international basis. The Marine Act gives us the opportunity to protect some of our most important and vulnerable areas.
We are indebted to the thousands of people in Kent who have supported our local and national Marine Bill campaign over the past few years, by signing postcards and petition fish scales, writing to and meeting MPs, and running and supporting scores of marine events! We were heartened by the support that many of Kent's MPs showed for the Marine Bill during the years of campaigning by the Wildlife Trusts.
The Act represents a real turning point for marine conservation, requiring the designation of Marine Conservation Zones, as well as reforming fisheries management and establishing systems for planning and managing activities in and on the sea. While we celebrate the arrival of the Marine Act, the work on the ground now begins, to identify where Marine Conservation Zones should be located to form part of an ecological network of areas at sea that will protect our marine wildlife and the sea's valuable resources effectively.
How you can help
We would welcome your ongoing help in our work to ensure effective implementation of the Marine Act, including designation of an effective suite of Marine Conservation Zones. For updated information about how you can help, please sign up to The Wildlife Trusts' Save Our Seas team, and receive occasional e-mail updates about the best times and ways to get involved.
Campaigning milestones, your help bringing the Marine Act into being!
12 November 2009 - Celebration, as the Marine and Coastal Access Bill received Royal Assent, thereby becoming an Act.
November 2009 - The Bill returned to the House of Lords to consider the Commons' amendments.
June 2009 - Following months of debate in the Lords, including many amendments to strengthen its clauses, the Marine and Coastal Access Bill finally moved to the House of Commons.
May 2009 - Mass lobby by staff and volunteers of The Wildlife Trusts and other organisations to call for strengthened clauses to close loopholes and weaknesses in the current drafting of the Marine Bill.
December 2008 - Marine and Coastal Access Bill was included in the Queen's speech. The Bill began its passage in the House of Lords.
November 2008 - Successful campaign to encourage MPs to sign an Early Day Motion calling for the Marine Bill to be included in the Queen's speech. Most Kent MPs signed the EDM, or voiced their support for the Bill.
October 2008 - There were concerns that the Marine Bill may not be included in the Queen's speech, despite earlier assurances. It is crucial that the Bill is included in the Queen's Speech, so that it is guaranteed time in the next session of parliament and not subject to further delays.
June 2008 - The Wildlife Trusts scrutinised and commented on the Draft Marine Bill published by the Government in April. Scrutiny committees agreed with our main concerns and recommendations and the draft Bill was amended to include many of these.
November 2007 – Despite widespread calls, the Queen’s Speech did not include the Marine Bill.
October 2007 - The Wildlife Trusts held a Petition Fish reception at Westminster, displaying 150,000 signed scales, all calling urgently for the Marine Bill to enter Parliament. KWT's Director and Marine Officer spoke to the five Kent MPs who attended (Jonathan Shaw, Gwyn Prosser, Julian Brazier, Roger Gale and Howard Stoate). Other Kent MPs also expressed support.
June 2007 - Kent Wildlife Trust submitted a detailed response to the Marine Bill White Paper.
Autumn 2006 - Letters campaign, urging Defra to strengthen parts of the marine bill.
June 2006 - Kent Wildlife Trust submitted a detailed response to the marine bill consultation document.
December 2005 - Christmas Card campaign - "All we want for Christmas is better protection for our oceans"
June 2005 - Boxes of petition postcards delivered to No. 10 by The Wildlife Trusts, WWF, RSPB and MCS, calling urgently for a Marine Bill.
March 2005 - Mass lobby at Westminster, with staff and volunteers from The Wildlife Trusts and other conservation organisations speaking to their MPs calling for a Marine Bill.
More information
For more information on the Marine Bill visit:
- The Wildlife Trusts Marine Campaign pages.
- To receive our ongoing e-mail updates, sign up to The Wildlife Trusts' Save Our Seas Team.
