MARINE BILL (No. 3)

That this House believes that technological advances and national commitments have led to an intensification of economic activity in the seas with the potential to cause irreparable damage to marine ecosystems; deplores the fact that at present less than 0.001 per cent. of the UK's sea area is fully protected by law for nature conservation; is mindful that the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's Turning the Tide report concluded in 2004 that at least 30 per cent. of UK waters should be no-take reserves in order to deliver the kind of recovery needed to restore ecosystems and thereby make fish populations sustainable; welcomes the proposal to introduce a Marine Bill; but calls on the Government to ensure that it places a duty on the Secretary of State to establish an ecologically coherent network of highly protected marine reserves covering at least 30 per cent. of UK seas out to 200 nautical miles.