The Wildlife Trust is calling for various coastline sites of the UK to be protected as marine reserves. The Menai Strait between Anglesey and Gwynedd and Skomer Island off Pembrokeshire are two areas they say could benefit as fully protected zones, and 15 other sites around the UK.
They have said that creation of marine reserves will assist to protect the increasing drop in numbers of dolphins, and assist other species like basking sharks, seals and dolphins to have safer and healthier areas for giving birth.
The conservationist group are calling for the creation of marine reserves to be included in the Marine Bill, which was published in March 2007, and also to be included in the Queen’s next speech.
The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) introduced The Marine Bill on March 15 2007 and published the following comment:
The Government’s vision for the marine environment is for clean healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas. To help deliver this vision Defra are preparing a Marine Bill.
It will put in place a better system for delivering sustainable development of the marine and coastal environment. This will address both the use and protection of our marine resources."
The Wildlife Trusts have been campaigning for many years for legislation to better protect UK waters, home to more than 44,000 animal and plant species, from corals to basking sharks.
Source: BBC News
