Marine conservation group says UK lacks ambition to preserve seas

Marine conservation group says UK lacks ambition to preserve seas

The Marine Conservation Society says the government's plans for protected ocean areas are too limited

Press Association
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 13 December 2012 02.00 EST

The government has been accused of a "lack of ambition" to preserve the seas, ahead of an expected announcement on Thursday about plans for a series of protected marine areas.

A total of 127 potential marine conservation zones have been selected in a multimillion-pound programme involving wildlife groups, local coastal communities and marine industry representatives.

The areas would be protected from damaging activities such as fishing along the seabed or dredging, with restrictions varying from zone to zone, as part of moves to create a coherent network of protected areas throughout England's seas.

But the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has raised concerns that the government will only designate 31 of the sites as protected by the end of next year, despite many more being severely threatened.

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/dec/13/marine-conservation-ambition-preserve-seas