Menu
20/12/2007
Plans To Protect Marine Life Unveiled
Nearly 4,000 square miles of sea around Britain could get special status to extend protection for marine life under new proposals unveiled today.
Seven areas have been earmarked to become, depending on public consultation, the UK's first offshore Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).
They are: Braemar Pockmarks (approximately 240km east of the Orkney Islands); Darwin Mounds (approximately 160km north west of Cape Wrath, off north west coast of Scotland); Haig Fras (95 miles north west of the Isles of Scilly); North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef - off the north east coast of Norfolk; Scanner Pockmark (approximately 185km off the north east coast of Scotland); Stanton Banks (south of the Outer Hebrides); Wyville Thomson Ridge (west of Scotland, in the Atlantic Ocean).
The seven chosen areas would extend protection for important sea life and habitats such as sandbanks and cold-water corals beyond the UK's 12-mile territorial water limits.
Plans to consider the sites for SAC status were published today by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), statutory nature conservation advisers to government.
Following consultation, the JNCC will consider whether to recommend to government that the sites are submitted to the European Commission for approval.
Jonathan Shaw, Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs Minister, said: "The UK has one of the richest marine environments in the world. We want to bring conservation standards at sea up to the level of those that we have on land, to give greater protection to sea life.
"I want to see a network of marine protected areas around the UK by 2012, and these seven new proposed offshore areas would be a big part of that ."
The network will incorporate the Marine Conservation Zones being proposed in the Marine Conservation Zones being proposed in the Marine Bill, SACs and Special Protection Areas.
The deadline for responses is March 13, 2008.
(KMcA)
Seven areas have been earmarked to become, depending on public consultation, the UK's first offshore Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).
They are: Braemar Pockmarks (approximately 240km east of the Orkney Islands); Darwin Mounds (approximately 160km north west of Cape Wrath, off north west coast of Scotland); Haig Fras (95 miles north west of the Isles of Scilly); North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef - off the north east coast of Norfolk; Scanner Pockmark (approximately 185km off the north east coast of Scotland); Stanton Banks (south of the Outer Hebrides); Wyville Thomson Ridge (west of Scotland, in the Atlantic Ocean).
The seven chosen areas would extend protection for important sea life and habitats such as sandbanks and cold-water corals beyond the UK's 12-mile territorial water limits.
Plans to consider the sites for SAC status were published today by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), statutory nature conservation advisers to government.
Following consultation, the JNCC will consider whether to recommend to government that the sites are submitted to the European Commission for approval.
Jonathan Shaw, Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs Minister, said: "The UK has one of the richest marine environments in the world. We want to bring conservation standards at sea up to the level of those that we have on land, to give greater protection to sea life.
"I want to see a network of marine protected areas around the UK by 2012, and these seven new proposed offshore areas would be a big part of that ."
The network will incorporate the Marine Conservation Zones being proposed in the Marine Conservation Zones being proposed in the Marine Bill, SACs and Special Protection Areas.
The deadline for responses is March 13, 2008.
(KMcA)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
13 December 2006
MoD names Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan
The Ministry of Defence has named the Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday as 23-year-old Richard Watson. Marine Watson, of 42 Commando Royal Marines, was part of a patrol in the north of Now Zad in the north of the Helmand province that came under attack from Taliban forces.
MoD names Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan
The Ministry of Defence has named the Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday as 23-year-old Richard Watson. Marine Watson, of 42 Commando Royal Marines, was part of a patrol in the north of Now Zad in the north of the Helmand province that came under attack from Taliban forces.
03 May 2012
Wet Summer Sinks Standards Of Scottish Bathing Beaches
The Marine Conservation Society has recommended fewer bathing beaches in Scotland in its latest Good Beach Guide. The number of beaches in Scotland recommended for their excellent bathing water quality in the annual Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Good Beach Guide has dropped in the last year, putting Scotland behind the rest of the UK.
Wet Summer Sinks Standards Of Scottish Bathing Beaches
The Marine Conservation Society has recommended fewer bathing beaches in Scotland in its latest Good Beach Guide. The number of beaches in Scotland recommended for their excellent bathing water quality in the annual Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Good Beach Guide has dropped in the last year, putting Scotland behind the rest of the UK.
01 June 2015
Royal Marine Trainee Dies During 30-Mile March
A Royal Marine trainee has died following an exercise in Dartmoor. The man, who has not been named, collapsed during a 30-mile march at the weekend. He is understood to have been based at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, Devon. The cause of his death is unknown.
Royal Marine Trainee Dies During 30-Mile March
A Royal Marine trainee has died following an exercise in Dartmoor. The man, who has not been named, collapsed during a 30-mile march at the weekend. He is understood to have been based at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, Devon. The cause of his death is unknown.
31 July 2007
Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan named
The Ministry of Defence has named the Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan on Sunday as Lance Corporal Michael Jones. LCpl Jones was killed in a gun battle with Taliban insurgents in the Nimruz province in the southwest of the country.
Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan named
The Ministry of Defence has named the Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan on Sunday as Lance Corporal Michael Jones. LCpl Jones was killed in a gun battle with Taliban insurgents in the Nimruz province in the southwest of the country.
07 March 2007
Marine killed in Afghanistan named
The Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday has been named as Benjamin Reddy. Marine Reddy, 22, from K Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, was killed when his unit came under fire during a deliberate clearance operation in the Kajaki area of Helmand Province.
Marine killed in Afghanistan named
The Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday has been named as Benjamin Reddy. Marine Reddy, 22, from K Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, was killed when his unit came under fire during a deliberate clearance operation in the Kajaki area of Helmand Province.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:After a dry start this morning rain will spread from the northwest across all parts. This afternoon will be dull with some patchy rain and drizzle. Becoming much milder through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:A cloudy evening and night with a little light rain or drizzle, perhaps some clear periods developing along the east coast. A very mild night everywhere. Minimum temperature 10 °C.
