UK MARINE AND COASTAL ACCESS ACT 2009

That this House welcomes the coalition Government's commitment to implement the provisions of the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009; calls on the Government to ensure that sufficient resources are dedicated to the development, implementation, evaluation and enforcement of this key piece of legislation; acknowledges the work of Wildlife and Countryside Link, a coalition of environmental organisations including the Marine Conservation Society, the RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts and WWF-UK for their ongoing campaign for the effective implementation of the Act; seeks an ambitious approach by the Government and devolved administrations to deliver positive improvement in the marine environment in order to meet obligations under the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive to achieve Good Environmental Status in all UK waters by 2020; further welcomes the opportunities being given to stakeholders to contribute to the selection of marine conservation zones; believes that the new marine planning system should be robust, strategic and founded on an ecosystem-based approach; and calls on the Government to meet its international obligations by ensuring that an ecologically coherent and well-managed and enforced network of marine protected areas, including highly protected sites, is established by 2012.