Marine Environment (Hansard, 6 February 2002)

§ Lord Judd
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper. I declare an interest as vice-president of the Council for National Parks and as a trustee or member of other environment charities.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the value of the marine environment in the seas around the British Isles in terms of 635 employment, industrial activity, leisure and recreation and cultural heritage, and what action they are taking to protect and enhance this asset.

§ Lord Whitty
My Lords, there is no standard definition of the marine environment within the standard industrial classification, which provides the basis for official statistics on specific industry sectors. The marine-related activities undoubtedly make a valuable contribution to GDP and to employment.
Our seas are also rich in biodiversity. A range of measures is in hand to afford them further protection. The forthcoming marine stewardship report will set out our strategy for the sustainable development and conservation of the marine environment.

§ Lord Judd
My Lords, while I thank my noble friend for that reply, will he not agree that there is a crisis threatening this very special asset? Will he further agree that this crisis is evidenced by declining fish stocks, in toxic poisoning of marine mammals and in the disappearance of wetlands, not to mention the accumulation of radioactive waste and the effects of climate change? Is not responsibility for managing this asset spread through too many authorities and departments? Should there not be designated Ministers in every department in Westminster and in devolved administrations to ensure the application of strategic policy with clout?

§ Lord Whitty
My Lords, on these occasions, I am always advised that the demarcation of government departments and ministerial responsibility is a matter for the Prime Minister. I am not supposed to comment further. However, I believe that in this area there is a degree of co-ordination and that the pressures which my noble friend rightly describes on the marine environment are catered for by the responses of the various agencies, the majority of which come under the aegis of my department.

§ Lord Greaves
My Lords, last March the Prime Minister announced that there would be a series of marine stewardship reports. In his reply to the noble Lord, Lord Judd, and to a series of Written Questions from the noble Lord, the Minister referred to, the forthcoming marine stewardship report". Can he tell us, first, when that report will come out; and, secondly, what that and the other reports will cover and what the timetable is for them?

§ Lord Whitty
My Lords, the report to which my replies to my noble friend refer is the first of a series of 636 reports which will address the full range of impacts placed on the marine environment, including shipping, climate change and some of the other pressures that he referred to. We hope to publish that first report in the spring.

§ Lord Molyneaux of Killead
My Lords

Lord Campbell of Croy
My Lords

§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)
My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Molyneaux, first.

§ Lord Molyneaux of Killead
My Lords, do the Government contemplate any change in the jurisdiction over Rockall and the surrounding seas?

§ Lord Whitty
I think that the answer to that is, "No", my Lords. If I am misinformed on the matter I shall let the noble Lord know.

Lord Campbell of Croy
My Lords, do the Government include in their estimate those assets which are on and under the seabed—for example, oil, gas and substances used in medicine?

§ Lord Whitty
Yes, my Lords, the economic exploitation of some of the resources of the marine environment are particularly important. So it is not just a question of conservation; it is also a question of carrying out the economic activities ranging from oil and gas right through to very precious materials which can be used in smaller quantities with environmental protection in mind. Certainly that is the major dimension of our approach to the marine environment and a major source of employment.

§ Baroness Nicol
My Lords, is my noble friend aware of the report by 150 international leading marine scientists which has drawn attention to the fact that fisheries benefit greatly from the proximity of marine nature reserves? Can he explain why the seven marine nature reserves, which were identified over 20 years ago in 1981, have not yet been attended to? Only two have been designated from that list of seven. One more was added in Northern Ireland and that has since been designated. What is the hold up? Why have the Government not carried forward the programme which was under way when they took office?

§ Lord Whitty
My Lords, the Government are committed to improving nature conservation of marine nature reserves. We are considering ways in which conservation out to 200 nautical miles can be improved. Hitherto we have concentrated on the 12-mile limit. We are considering over 100 Natura 2000 sites. They are special areas of conservation under the habitats directive and the special protection areas for birds under the birds directive. To date, there 637 are 62 candidates for special area conservation status. So this is an ongoing programme which will protect the most important sites already identified.

§ The Duke of Montrose
My Lords, is the Minister aware that the House of Commons Agriculture Committee in the Session 1998–99 produced a report on sea fishing which recommended that, the Government establish for the first time a clear, agreed and coherent strategy for the management and development of the UK fishing industry"? In January 2001 the Fish Industry Forum produced a draft strategy which included its requirements. Can the Minister tell the House whether this strategy has been developed by the Government; and, if so, when will it be published?

§ Lord Whitty
My Lords, the noble Lord will know that on the one hand the common fisheries policy is largely determined at the European level and that there is a review of the common fisheries policy which is starting this year. The Fisheries Council and my colleague, Elliot Morley, who is involved in that, are beginning to focus on that matter. So that is one dimension. Other aspects of how we develop and protect the British industry will be followed in that context. Fisheries is also a devolved matter. Therefore, both the Scottish and Northern Irish authorities have their own strategic approach to these matters.