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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Protection urged for UK sea life | Protection urged for UK sea life |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Conservation scientists have identified eight "biodiversity hotspots" around Britain's coast which they say ought to be priorities for protection. | Conservation scientists have identified eight "biodiversity hotspots" around Britain's coast which they say ought to be priorities for protection. |
| The Marine Biological Association (MBA) and WWF want these areas to be given protected status under the government's proposed Marine Bill. | The Marine Biological Association (MBA) and WWF want these areas to be given protected status under the government's proposed Marine Bill. |
| They include areas of importance for fish, mammals, birds and shellfish. | They include areas of importance for fish, mammals, birds and shellfish. |
| The government says it remains committed to introducing a Marine Bill within this term of Parliament. | The government says it remains committed to introducing a Marine Bill within this term of Parliament. |
| Its absence from the Queen's Speech surprised and angered conservation groups. Publication of a white paper could come as early as March. | Its absence from the Queen's Speech surprised and angered conservation groups. Publication of a white paper could come as early as March. |
| Special sites | Special sites |
| Currently, the UK has 56 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) which include marine habitat, with a further five under consideration. | Currently, the UK has 56 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) which include marine habitat, with a further five under consideration. |
| These are particularly diverse areas, and we want them to be highly protected marine reserves Kate Reeves, WWF Development is restricted in these areas; but WWF believes hotspots need a higher level of protection, as has recently been implemented around the Isle of Lundy, the UK's first "no-take zone" where fishing is banned. | These are particularly diverse areas, and we want them to be highly protected marine reserves Kate Reeves, WWF Development is restricted in these areas; but WWF believes hotspots need a higher level of protection, as has recently been implemented around the Isle of Lundy, the UK's first "no-take zone" where fishing is banned. |
| "It's part of our international commitments (on biodiversity), and if the government doesn't now come forward with the bill we will be immensely upset," said WWF's marine policy officer Kate Reeves. | "It's part of our international commitments (on biodiversity), and if the government doesn't now come forward with the bill we will be immensely upset," said WWF's marine policy officer Kate Reeves. |
| "These are particularly diverse areas, and we want them to be highly protected marine reserves," she told the BBC News website. | "These are particularly diverse areas, and we want them to be highly protected marine reserves," she told the BBC News website. |
| With such a range of habitats around the coast, scientists need a way of identifying which ones should be priorities for protection. | With such a range of habitats around the coast, scientists need a way of identifying which ones should be priorities for protection. |
The Marine Biological Association and partners have used a complex set of criteria. Broadly speaking, an area is considered special if:
| The Marine Biological Association and partners have used a complex set of criteria. Broadly speaking, an area is considered special if:
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| They assessed more than 120 sites around the UK, and detailed eight areas which they feel are especially deserving of protection. | They assessed more than 120 sites around the UK, and detailed eight areas which they feel are especially deserving of protection. |
| These include Plymouth Reefs in the southwest of England, Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland and the Menai Strait in Wales. | These include Plymouth Reefs in the southwest of England, Rathlin Island in Northern Ireland and the Menai Strait in Wales. |
| All are notable for a huge richness of species. Unst in the Shetlands contains the only British representatives of species that thrive in the Arctic, including some sea urchins and sea cucumbers. | All are notable for a huge richness of species. Unst in the Shetlands contains the only British representatives of species that thrive in the Arctic, including some sea urchins and sea cucumbers. |
| The estuary of the Blackwater in Essex is important for wading birds, yet threatened by human development; while the Dogger Bank in the North Sea is important for the harbour porpoise and as a spawning ground for herring. | The estuary of the Blackwater in Essex is important for wading birds, yet threatened by human development; while the Dogger Bank in the North Sea is important for the harbour porpoise and as a spawning ground for herring. |
| The government acknowledged the need for marine protected areas in the consultation which it ran last year on the scheduled Marine Bill. | The government acknowledged the need for marine protected areas in the consultation which it ran last year on the scheduled Marine Bill. |
| Protection can have benefits for people as well as nature. The Isle of Lundy no-take zone has led to a significant rise in the number of lobsters, which could provide a boost to the local fishing industry. | Protection can have benefits for people as well as nature. The Isle of Lundy no-take zone has led to a significant rise in the number of lobsters, which could provide a boost to the local fishing industry. |