I agree that our waters are a precious natural resource and they must be managed carefully. I am therefore pleased that the Government is putting sustainable fishing and protection of our seas at the heart of its future fishing strategy.
As you may know, Ministers have already set up a ‘Blue Belt’ of Marine Protected Areas extending across 38 per cent of UK waters, and the Fisheries Act includes new powers to better manage and control these Areas. Further, under UK leadership, 80 countries have now signed up to an international target to protect at least 30 per cent of the world’s ocean by 2030 and, alongside this, plans to increase protections for England’s waters through a pilot to designate marine sites as Highly Protected Marine Areas have now been launched. I understand that the selected sites would see a ban on all activities that could have a damaging effect on wildlife or marine habitats. I know that the sites to be piloted will be identified by Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee with input from the results of a formal consultation set to launch next year.
The Marine Management Organisation has now consulted on proposals to manage activity in four of England’s offshore Marine Protected Areas: Dogger Bank Special Area of Conservation, Inner Dowsing, Race Bank and North Ridge Special Area of Conservation. I am aware that the byelaws being proposed aim to prohibit fishing activities where there is evidence that they harm wildlife or damage habitats, and will seek to prohibit the use of bottom towed fishing gear in all four sites and additional restrictions for static gears over sensitive features in two of the sites. I understand that these first four Marine Protected Areas were chosen as a priority to help protect their vibrant and productive undersea environments. I know the information received from this consultation is now being reviewed and I look forward to the Marine Management Organisation’s response.
The EU’s Common Fisheries Policy has restricted our ability to impose more stringent protections on our seas. Now that the UK has left the EU, the UK Government has powers to implement evidenced based marine management that will help ensure our seas are managed sustainably, protecting both the long-term future of the fishing industry and our precious wildlife and habitats. The Fisheries Act will help to protect our marine resources and develop plans to restore our fish stock back to more sustainable levels.
I know that many people have concerns about larger vessels fishing in our waters. I would like to assure you that now the Transition Period has ended Ministers are reviewing the UK’s policy on access for supertrawlers. This review is being driven by evidence and needs to consider how any measures fit with obligations under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU, as well as avoid taking any action against individual vessels which could be construed as discriminatory. I am pleased that under the Fisheries Act 2020, vessels permitted to fish in UK waters will have to be licensed and comply with UK rules and regulations including those on sustainability. Furthermore, licence conditions set by UK Sea Fisheries Authorities will apply to both UK and foreign vessels alike.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Kind regards,
Rebecca
Rebecca Pow MP
Member of Parliament for Taunton Deane
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
020 7219 4831
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From: Sybella Loram <Sybellaloram@gmail.com>
Sent: 11 June 2021 16:50
To: POW, Rebecca <rebecca.pow.mp@parliament.uk>
Subject: REVEAL: World Oceans Day
Dear MP,
World Oceans Day is a time to celebrate the beauty and wonder of our seas. But at the same time, we can’t ignore that our oceans are in crisis, under threat from overfishing, pollution, and climate breakdown. So I am thrilled that Greenpeace marked the day by launching Operation Ocean Witness.
They are taking to the waves with a new boat that will patrol our coast and seas to investigate their biggest threat – destructive industrial fishing, which harms small-scale fishers and their coastal communities, as well as marine life. Because despite warm words, the UK Government is still allowing destructive vessels to fish in Marine Protected Areas, set up to safeguard vulnerable marine habitats. Operation Ocean Witness will investigate this devastation in these most precious underwater ecosystems, document incredible marine life and engage with the local fishers who can be responsible guardians of our seas.
I’m onboard with Operation Ocean Witness, because I want the most destructive fishing vessels – supertrawlers and bottom trawlers – banned from the UK’s network of Marine Protected Areas. And as your constituent, I hope that you will back this ban too.
The Government is progressing plans to upgrade protection in a handful of areas, and announced intentions to introduce further restrictions across another 36 Marine Protected Areas in England. This is progress but it isn’t enough. Unless the government fully bans bottom trawlers and supertrawlers from these MPAs this year, it is effectively locking the front door against destructive fishing but leaving the window wide open. Failing to act this year would also jeopardise meeting the Government’s own goal of protecting 30% of our oceans by 2030.
That’s why we need to push the Government to level up ocean protection in every MPA around the country. And World Oceans Day is the perfect moment to redouble efforts to get this done. It’s time to turn the tide, by banning destructive fishing from MPAs, in a win-win for coastal communities and the marine environment.
Will you share Greenpeace’s video on your social media channels, to show your support for Operation Ocean Witness? You can retweet the video here, or I have included a sample tweet for you below: https://act.gp/2Sh5yLC
Industrial fishing is still taking place in our Marine Protected Areas. It’s time to get Ocean Protection Done and stop destructive boats like supertrawlers from fishing in these areas, to support our local fishing communities #OperationOceanWitness https://act.gp/2Sh5yLC
Thank you,
Sybella Loram
68 port Stanley close, Ta26fd
Greenpeace: Go behind the scenes for the summer of ocean protection
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