The Marine Strategy Directive (MSD) is a piece of European legislation designed to have a more holistic approach to the way Europe's oceans are managed. It sets out a framework for how oceans management can take into account the different issues like industry, recreation, and - crucially - the environment. The Directive offered an important opportunity to enshrine a strong environmental protection within the new legislation, including laying the groundwork for a network of Marine Reserves throughout Europe's seas.
Archive content: get an update on the Marine Bill here
The UK government is proposing a Marine Bill, to bring together all of the legislation covering our seas and the activities that take place there. As with the EU's Marine Strategy Directive, this is an opportunity to make oceans management more holistic, and an opportunity to make sure that protection of the marine environment is taken seriously.
A report looking into the role of marine reserves in boosting ecosystem resilience to climate change.
The IPCC (Integovernmental Panel on Climate Change) is warning that we have eroded the ocean's ability to cope with and mitigate the consequences of global warming. They recommend that we reduce our exploitation levels of marine fish and other maritime activities in order to improve the resilience of our seas and oceans and ultimately safeguard their role in stabilising the climate.
Commenting on the publication of today's Marine Bill White Paper, Willie Mackenzie, oceans campaigner for Greenpeace, said:
"After climate change, protecting the oceans is one of the greatest environmental challenges, and the Government admits this. But there’s simply too many 'coulds' and not enough 'wills' in this white paper.
Greenpeace today expressed strong support for Islington MP Emily Thornberry, one of very few MPs prepared to stand up for our seas. An Islington Tribune article supports some bizarre accusations, made on separate occasions by the SNP and Liberal Democrats, following a speech by Ms Thornberry at the Commons fisheries debate last year, that because Islington is not by the sea, she has no right to defend our oceans.
Posted by jossc — 18 December 2006 at 9:00am
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On Monday we staged a 'funeral' for the 'last cod' at the Defra (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) office in Westminster. This was to coincide with the EU Environment Council meeting where our minister Ben Bradshaw, together with his European counterparts, was again failing to protect our oceans.
