Government response: Governing the marine
environment
Government ministers say the UK will not implement an outright
ban on bottom trawling, despite pledging earlier this year to
extend the ban on bottom-towed fishing gear to offshore protected
areas.
Today the Environmental Audit Committee publishes the
Government's response to its report on ‘Governing the marine
environment'.
The report, published in June, recommended that ministers push
ahead with banning practices such as bottom trawling that damage
the seabed within offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
A few days after the report was published, the Government
announced it would progress with this ban, and it is currently
consulting on the changes. However, in its response to the
Committee's report, the Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs (DEFRA) says it is not the Government's policy to
introduce whole-site bans on bottom towed fishing gear in MPAs.
“Our approach is to only restrict fishing which is assessed as
damaging to the specific protected features in each MPA”, it
says. “DEFRA is working to ensure damaging practices do not occur
within our MPAs where they could harm protected habitats and
species, but blanket bans are disproportionate and not in line
with legislation.”
England's MPAs are designed to achieve the long-term conservation
of nature, but these areas are multi-use, meaning that activities
like bottom trawling can take place if they do not damage the
specific protected features. Bottom trawling is only completely
banned in the UK's three Highly Protected Marine Areas
(HPMAs).
In a letter also published today, the Chair of the Committee
writes to newly appointed Secretary of State . The Chair repeats the
Committee's call to completely ban bottom trawling within
offshore MPAs, and asks her to clarify whether she will ensure
that the government's approach does not undermine the integrity
of protected waters.
The letter also queries the Government's decision not to update
the Marine Policy Statement (MPS) published in 2011, which
includes support for oil and gas. The Committee concluded in its
report that the MPS was outdated and recommended that it be
updated. However, in its response, the Government said it would
not update the MPS as its commitment to not allowing any new oil
and gas licences meant that this aspect of the MPS no longer
carried any practical effect.
In his letter, the Chair says the Committee is concerned that
relying on other plans, in the absence of an updated MPS, “risks
undermining transparency and consistency in decision-making” and
urges the Government to reconsider.
Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, MP, said:
“Bottom trawling is a destructive practice. We hugely welcome the
Government moving forward with banning it in more protected areas
of our oceans. However, the Committee is disappointed that the
Government has not committed to wider bans within Marine
Protected areas which risk undermining the integrity of Marine
Protected Areas.
Once the Government's consultation is complete, I urge ministers
to set out exactly how they intend to protect our vital marine
life from exploitation.
We also believe that updating the Marine Policy statement would
demonstrate its importance and provide clarity to all users of
our seas.
The government has made some very welcome strides in this area in
recent months, and these steps would further demonstrate their
commitment to our crucial marine ecosystems.”
