Students Lobby Stormont To Protect Sea Life

Students from across Northern Ireland stood up for Northern Ireland's "spectacular" sea life at Stormont today.

They gave evidence to the Assembly's Environment Committee as part of a public consultation on the proposed Marine Bill.

The sixth-formers are part of the Northern Ireland Marine Bill Advocacy Group and are supported by a Queen's University zoology student, by the Northern Ireland Marine Task Force and by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds).

They asked for an independent Marine Management Organisation to be set up to oversee marine activity around Northern Ireland, bringing the region in line with England, and they want new marine reserves to protect sea life.

Matthew Ferguson from Down High School said: "To continue with business as usual would devastate our seas, crippling an invaluable resource and stopping me from seeing spectacular species that my dad knew as common to these waters."

Zoology student Carol Moorehead said: "We have put considerable effort into gathering and representing the opinions of local people in our coastal communities including divers, fishermen, sea anglers and marine biologists. There emerged a consensus that the present system of managing our seas is just not working. We believe an independent organisation will be vital."

Anna Lo chairs the Environment Committee. She said: "We are very impressed to see young people getting involved in politics at this level."

For more information about supporting the Marine Bill, go to www.nimtf.org

(NE)