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Marine Protected Areas

17 March 2021

Lead MP

Tony Lloyd
Rochdale
Lab

Responding Minister

Rebecca Pow

Tags

ClimateAgriculture & Rural Affairs
Word Count: 3599
Other Contributors: 0

At a Glance

Tony Lloyd raised concerns about marine protected areas in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key Requests to Government:

Lloyd called for the UK Government to lead internationally in establishing global treaties to protect oceans, implement a whole-site approach to marine protection areas, and end bottom trawling by supertrawlers. He urged for consistency across different coastal regions within the UK.

How the Debate Unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:

Lead Contributor

Rochdale
Opened the debate
Tony Lloyd expressed deep concern about the current state of marine protected areas, highlighting issues such as over-fishing, industrial fishing practices, plastic pollution, and sewage dumping. He mentioned that only 1% of the oceans are currently protected, whereas scientists recommend at least 30%. The yellowfin tuna is endangered due to overfishing, while bottom trawlers cause significant damage to seabeds and marine biodiversity. Lloyd also noted problems with nomadic fishing practices, where vessels fish intensively without proper management.

Government Response

Rebecca Pow
Government Response
This is a personal debate with shared interests between the Government and the hon. Member for Rochdale on marine life and MPAs. We have made significant progress, including stopping raw sewage dumping in rivers and designating 371 MPAs covering 38% of UK waters. In England, there are 178 MPAs covering 40% of English waters. The Government has also protected over 90 areas from damaging fishing activities through byelaws and consultations for offshore MPAs. We welcome the Benyon review's recommendations on highly protected marine areas and plan to pilot some soon. Regarding large fishing vessels, we are examining evidence-based policies but note pelagic trawlers do not typically harm seabed habitats. The UK has banned pulse fishing in our waters. We aim to be a global leader by pushing for 30% of the ocean to be protected within MPAs by 2030 as part of the Global Ocean Alliance and High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, which now includes Bangladesh bringing us to 41 countries supporting this target.
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About Westminster Hall Debates

Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.