Marine Protected Areas

HL Deb 03 June 2003 vol 648 cc153-4WA

Lord Hunt of Chesterton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Given that the required legislation is not yet in place, what the calendar will be for the implementation of the recommendations of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development on marine protected areas for the United Kingdom's exclusive economic zone. [HL2961]

Lord Whitty:

While the United Kingdom has not declared an Exclusive Economic Zone, this does not affect the rights that the UK may assume as a coastal state in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, including an obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment.

The UK played a leading role at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in securing a package of challenging international commitments on marine issues, including a commitment to establish networks of marine protected areas by 2012. The main mechanism for meeting this commitment within UK waters will be the designation of Natura 2000 sites offshore, under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. My department will shortly be issuing a consultation document on extending the provisions of these directives to offshore waters, which will provide the legal basis for the designation of sites. I expect the first site to be designated before the end of the year.

Work on identification and protection of marine protected areas is also being undertaken within the OSPAR Convention, having regard to the commitment under the North Sea Conference to establish a network of sites in the North Sea by 2010.

Legislative mechanisms are being considered within the framework of the Defra-sponsored Review of Marine Nature Conservation and its associated Regional Seas Pilot Project in the Irish Sea. This is likely to conclude in early 2004.