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Living Coasts takes Marine Bill Campaign to Parliament
A local conservation charity recently took the protection of our marine environment to the House of Commons.
Living Coasts senior presenter Alison Hauser travelled to Westminster to lobby for a UK Marine Bill. She carried a fish-shaped petition covered in signatures with her as part of a national campaign.
The Petition Fish reception was organised by the Wildlife Trusts and attended by representatives from Wildlife Trusts throughout the country as well as other supporters of the campaign. The Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Hilary Benn MP stressed the government’s commitment to the Marine Bill at the reception, which was held in Portcullis House at the House of Commons.
Alison said: “The petition fish campaign has gathered over 150,000 signatures, including 100 MPs. Our petition fish was completely covered - we squeezed around 560 signatures onto it, as well as a few penguin footprints, which was of great interest to everyone at the reception!”
Living Coasts Director Elaine Lambert said: “This is good for conservation and for the fishing industry. Reserves allow fish to grow older and breed more productively, and allow natural populations to increase to such an extent that they migrate to areas outside reserve boundaries where they can be legally taken.”
Alison added: “We want the Government to show that it shares our commitment to marine conservation by including the Marine Bill in the Queen’s Speech in November. Currently only 0.002% of inshore waters is protected in any way – it’s out of sight and out of mind.”
Living Coasts is also supporting the Marine Conservation Society campaign for marine reserves to be added to the Marine Bill. Torbay MP Adrian Sanders was at Living Coasts on World Ocean Day in June to highlight the need for a network of national marine reserves.
For more information go to www.livingcoasts.org.uk or ring (01803) 202470.
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Living Coasts senior presenter Alison Hauser travelled to Westminster to lobby for a UK Marine Bill. She carried a fish-shaped petition covered in signatures with her as part of a national campaign.
The Petition Fish reception was organised by the Wildlife Trusts and attended by representatives from Wildlife Trusts throughout the country as well as other supporters of the campaign. The Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Hilary Benn MP stressed the government’s commitment to the Marine Bill at the reception, which was held in Portcullis House at the House of Commons.
Alison said: “The petition fish campaign has gathered over 150,000 signatures, including 100 MPs. Our petition fish was completely covered - we squeezed around 560 signatures onto it, as well as a few penguin footprints, which was of great interest to everyone at the reception!”
Living Coasts Director Elaine Lambert said: “This is good for conservation and for the fishing industry. Reserves allow fish to grow older and breed more productively, and allow natural populations to increase to such an extent that they migrate to areas outside reserve boundaries where they can be legally taken.”
Alison added: “We want the Government to show that it shares our commitment to marine conservation by including the Marine Bill in the Queen’s Speech in November. Currently only 0.002% of inshore waters is protected in any way – it’s out of sight and out of mind.”
Living Coasts is also supporting the Marine Conservation Society campaign for marine reserves to be added to the Marine Bill. Torbay MP Adrian Sanders was at Living Coasts on World Ocean Day in June to highlight the need for a network of national marine reserves.
For more information go to www.livingcoasts.org.uk or ring (01803) 202470.