Marine Stewardship Report

HC Deb 15 January 2004 vol 416 cc827-8W

Mr. Sarwar

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has made to introduce legislation to protect and manage the marine environment following the publication of the Marine Stewardship Report. [147538]

Mr. Morley

The Marine Stewardship Report announced a Review of Controls on Development in Marine and Coastal Waters. It also announced a Pilot project in the Irish Sea as the next step of the Review of Marine Nature Conservation. Both of these Reviews are examining whether new arrangements, including new legislation, are required to better manage and protect the marine environment. The Government will take a decision on whether new legislation is needed once it has seen the recommendations from these Reviews.