Heels dragging over the marine environment

"Once again, our seas have been dealt a disappointing blow. Year after year, we have been tantalisingly close to getting a Marine Bill in each Queen’s Speech. A Bill was a commitment in the 2005 Labour manifesto. Since then we have had two consultations, yet we now only have a reference to a draft Bill with no guarantee of it reaching the statute book.

"This Queen’s Speech gives the Marine Bill a low priority. With around half of NI’s wildlife found in or around our seas and only 0.001% currently fully protected, we urgently need to improve the management of our marine environment, by fully integrating commercial pressures with the needs of healthy and productive seas."

"Our seas can no longer afford further delay. At a time when they are already facing the effects of climate change, as well as the increasing pressures of human activities, we should be making decisions which enable it - and us - to survive in the long term.

"The UK Government and the Assembly must work together to ensure that a full UK Marine Bill and robust devolved legislation is evolved in parallel without further delay. This will ensure that we get a proper system in place with zoned marine planning and protected sites at its heart, helping to resolve conflicts in the marine environment and providing much stronger protection for marine wildlife".