Group calls for UK fishing ban
Marine conservationists have called for areas of the UK’s seas to be turned into "no-take" nature reserves.
Launching its Marine Reserves Now campaign with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), the Co-operative said there should be a fishing ban on one third of UK waters by 2020. It argues that time and space must be set aside to allow sea life to replenish after decades of over-fishing and habitat destruction.
The group says that just eight out of 47 British fishing stocks are at healthy levels and it warns that once-abundant species – including the common skate – are now facing extinction.
The campaign calls for the measures to be included in the Government’s Marine Bill.
Methods set out in the campaign to protect wildlife include introducing areas of no-take marine reserves where damaging activities such as fishing are forbidden, to turn around the decline of the UK’s seas.
Dr Jean-Luc Solandt, biodiversity policy officer for MCS, said: "Marine reserves are a cost-effective way to achieve benefits for wildlife and the fish species that rely on habitats being protected for the long term.
"It makes social, economic and ecological sense. We must no longer fear these simple and cheap methods to recover our seas and embrace their proven value for marine management."
Copyright © Press Association 2008
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