Marine Bill Campaign
Please help us ensure the Marine Bill is in the 2008 Queen's Speech this December, and not delayed yet again.
Less than 0.001% of our seas is fully protected from damaging activities such as fishing, and dredging for sand and gravel.
The Wildlife Trusts and other organisations have been campaigning for years for a Marine Bill which manages our limited resources in a sustainable way and provides proper protection for marine wildlife, including a network of Highly Protected Marine Reserves.
The Government has been working on a Marine Bill, and published a Draft Bill in spring 2008. It is now important that the Marine Bill is introduced at the earliest opportunity.
The Government has failed to reassure us that its progress into Parliament will not falter at this crucial stage. Please help us to ensure it is included in the Queen's Speech on December 3rd 2008, which would guarantee it time in the next session of Parliament.
What you can do to help
Please write to your MP and ask them to sign the Early Day Motion number 2189 - "Taking Forward the Marine Bill" which urges the Prime Minister to include the Marine Bill in the Queen's Speech.
i) If you don't know who your MP is, visit http://www.theyworkforyou.com and enter your postcode.
ii) Visit the list of MPs who have signed a new Early Day Motion supporting the Marine Bill ('EDM 2189: Taking forward the Marine Bill'), and check whether your MP has signed it.
iii) Go back to http://www.theyworkforyou.com, enter your postcode to go to your MP's page, and click on 'Send an email to...'.
iv) If your MP has signed the EDM, politely thank him/her for signing it. Ask him/her to write to the new marine minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, urging him to make sure that the Marine Bill is included in the 2008 Queen's Speech
v) If your MP has not signed the EDM, politely ask him/her to consider signing it. Bear in mind that some MPs are unable to sign EDMs because of the position they hold. Others do not sign EDMs on principle. If your MP chooses not to sign the Marine Bill EDM, please be respectful of his/her decision. However, if this is the case, you could ask him/her to write to the new marine minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, urging him to make sure that the Marine Bill is included in the 2008 Queen's Speech.
We would welcome your ongoing help in our campaign for an effective Marine Bill. 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 in the campaign.
Campaigning
December 2008 - please help us to ensure the Queen's Speech includes the Marine Bill this year!
October 2008 - There are 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 this year, so that it is guaranteed time in the next session of parliament and is 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 will be amended to include 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. 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 have also expressed support.
June 2007 and June 2006 - Kent Wildlife Trust submitted detailed responses to the Marine Bill White Paper in 2007, and to the previous consultation document in 2006.
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.
