WWF welcomed today's announcement by the Deputy Minister for the Environment, Allan Wilson, that the Scottish Executive will produce a new framework strategy on the marine environment by the end of 2004.
Allan Wilson promised in a speech to WWF's Oceans Recovery Seminar in Edinburgh this morning that he will work with stakeholders before Christmas to produce a full consultation early in 2004.
"This is important news for Scotland's coastal communities and for the Scottish economy," said Dr Richard Dixon, Head of Policy for WWF Scotland. "Until now we have had no common vision, little co-ordination and no national marine policy - an incredible failure for a country so dependent on the sea! The result has been a confusion of different laws and dozens of different bodies with overlapping responsibilities. The government must use this opportunity to simplify the current system so that all the many users of the sea can benefit without damaging nature."
The marine environment is estimated to be worth £12bn a year to Scotland's economy - 6 times more than the whole whisky industry! (figures from SEPA). And yet this week it was revealed that commercial fish stocks are in a worse state than ever, fishermen and coastal communities are threatened, oil tankers continue to ply their trade dangerously close to our shores and pollution continues to pour down rivers into the sea.
WWF believes that while a review of existing marine governance and legislation is an important step this must lead to a complete overhaul of the system in the form of a comprehensive Marine Act that will safeguard coastal communities and Scotland's rich marine biodiversity.
"This review is very welcome, it is a strong step on the way to streamlining the current confusion of marine legislation and governance under a single Marine Act for Scotland. Scotland needs a vision for our marine environment and a strategy of how we achieve that. This will mean revising current laws and bringing the different bodies into a single system. Only then can we properly manage our seas for the benefit of both humans and the amazing marine species and habitats around the Scottish coast. A Marine Act is also essential if we are to benefit economically from our marine environment while ensuring that it is properly protected," added Dr Dixon.