MARINE ENVIRONMENT

That this House notes that the marine environment surrounding the United Kingdom supports around 44,000 species; further notes the importance of clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas; is concerned about the ever-increasing pressure on the marine environment from coastal and offshore activities; believes that continued degradation threatens the long-term survival of internationally valuable habitats, wildlife and maritime archaeology; believes that such degradation of the marine environment is detrimental to the economic activities dependent on marine resources; notes that the United Kingdom does not have a strategic and co-ordinated approach for managing marine resources and for protecting the biological and cultural heritage; and calls upon the Government to introduce a system of integrated marine management, marine spatial plans and marine protected areas by enacting a Marine Bill in this Session.