Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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Marine Bll gets solid public support
Proposals for better protection and better regulation of the seas around Britain have received broad public support.
More than four in five responses to government consultation supported plans for a Marine Bill which would introduce new laws to improve the conservation and management of the UK's marine environment.
There were 8,519 responses to the Marine Bill White Paper, A Sea Change, with 82 per cent support for the Bill. The responses will help to shape final government proposals.
Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs, said:
"I am extremely encouraged by the level of support expressed for our proposals from across the entire range of people, organisations and businesses that work or have an interest in our marine environment.
"We are committed to a Marine Bill and a draft bill is expected early next year. No other country has attempted such a comprehensive and groundbreaking approach to the enormously complex issue of marine environment management.
"We need to take a strategic approach across the whole UK so that all our seas are afforded the same protection. It is important that we get it right, so that future generations will continue to benefit from a clean, healthy and productive marine environment."
A summary of responses is online at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/current.htm
For more Marine Bill information go to http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/marine/uk/policy/marine-bill/index.htm
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