The Westminster Marine and Coastal Access Bill has now received Royal Assent. Both this Bill and the Scottish Marine Bill are intended to introduce a framework for the sustainable management of the seas around the UK / Scotland, ensuring the need to protect our seas is integrated with economic growth of marine industries. Whilst the [...]

The Marine and Coastal Access Bill provides for a new system of marine planning that will be a key tool in helping the UK Government deliver its vision for the Marine Environment. Marine Planning will set out our policies and priorities for the future, and direct decision-makers and users towards more efficient, sustainable use and [...]

Extracted from a recent debate in Westminster where replacing the Sea Fisheries Committees with Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities was being discussed; certain key areas have been highlighted which it is felt will increase the confidence anglers can have that their voice will be heard. Huw Irranca-Davies: Part 6 will replace the sea fisheries committees [...]

Martin Salter MP A few days ago, in my capacity as chair of the all-party angling group and my party’s spokesman on angling, I convened a meeting with the new governing body for angling, the Angling Trust, which brought together representatives from coarse, game and sea fishing. It discussed several issues, some of which have [...]

Bernard Jenkin MP The North Essex test of the Bill is whether the sustainability of the inshore fisheries is protected and improved; only then will Essex fishermen and their successors enjoy a sustainable industry. The Bill must also provide for recreational fishing, which I believe is one of the most unsung and under-exploited generators of [...]

Parliamentary spokesman for Angling and Reading West MP Martin Salter spoke yesterday in the House of Commons in support of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill which received an unopposed Second Reading and will now go into its final committee stage. The Bill, which is expected to become law in October, has been eagerly awaited [...]

Steps will be taken this week to designate the first UK offshore Natura 2000 sites (beyond 12 Nm) if proposals for the marine protected areas (MPAs) are formally approved by the EC. This means areas such as the Darwin Mounds and Braemar and Scanner Pockmarks will gain protection from damaging human activities. But no matter [...]

Venue : Room 613 Millbank – London Date : 27th Jan 2009 Time : 11-1pm Attendees Keith Porter – DEFRA/Chair, Kevin Williamson – MFA, Anthony Hynes – DEFRA, Eileen Imamoo – DEFRA, Virginia Hall – DEFRA, Mike Smith – CEFAS, Leon Roskilly – SACN, Michael Bailey – Brixham Sea Angling Club, Andy Rye – Plymouth [...]

Tyneside will be the home of the headquarters of a new body to regulate and manage the sea around England. Marine and Fisheries Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said Tyneside is ideally placed to host the groundbreaking new Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The MMO, part of the government’s pioneering Marine and Coastal Access Bill, will be a [...]