The Government’s sheer lack of an adequate plan for designating marine protected areas in English waters to meet the international 2012 deadlines has become apparent.
Following a lengthy and costly process to identify a network of sites for marine wildlife, the Government has announced [ http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/11/15/wms-marine-conservation-zones/] that of the proposed national list of 127 sites - which will now not go for consultation until the end of next year - only a subset will actually be designated initially. Moreover, after comments made by Government last week, the RSPB understands that the initial number of sites may now total fewer than a quarter of the original proposed list.
Tony Whitehead, spokesperson for the RSPB in the South West said: “Two years ago, we were delighted that the importance of marine conservation was finally recognised with the introduction of the UK Marine & Coastal Access Act. However, the latest position suggests the Government is showing no ambition for providing a comprehensive network of marine protected sites in a timely fashion.”
Apart from the reduction of the number of proposed marine protected sites that will be designated in a first tranche, the RSPB is concerned there are no guarantees about when further sites will be put forward after this initial and limited tranche.
The RSPB also points out that the full complement of 127 proposed marine conservation zones still does not include many sites proposed for mobile species, such as dolphins and seabirds.
With such sweeping reductions planned in the number of sites going forward to designation after next year’s belated consultation, the RSPB is very concerned there will be nothing left in the English marine conservation zone network for seabirds at all, and the benefits for other marine wildlife will be dramatically reduced.
A lack of supporting evidence for sites is being blamed now as the stumbling block for the shortfall in the first tranche of sites, but the lack of marine data is news to no-one. The RSPB has been highlighting the dangerous lack of investment in data collection at sea to Government for over a decade and the implications for marine protected area designation for many years; so far to little avail.
From the outset, the English regional projects, including Finding Sanctuary which covered the south west, were set up to work on the basis of “best available evidence”, which is exactly what they have done. While the available evidence may not be perfect, it is certainly enough to support site designation in many locations.
Thousands of RSPB members and supporters have stepped up to the challenge facing Government on marine protection by supporting our call for a coherent network of marine protected areas across the UK, including sites for seabirds. They have also made donations to our campaign to fund more marine research and monitoring. This announcement shows clearly that the Government cannot demonstrate the same level of commitment.
Martin Harper, RSPB’s Director of Conservation added: “While wanting to wear the mantle of ‘Greenest Government Ever’ our Government seems strangely reluctant to invest in and come up with a convincing business plan to deliver the commitment for protecting our seas. We can, and will, continue to do all we can to support marine research and site designation, but in reality we will never get the evidence we need to support the marine protected network area unless Government steps up and provides resources to support adequate monitoring of our sealife.”
To support the RSPB campaign and step up for seabirds, please visit www.rspb.org.uk/marine
to sign a pledge encouraging the UK government to protect all the sites of importance for seabirds in our waters.
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