Last week the Marine Bill received Royal Assent and metamorphosed into a Marine Act.
The legislation applies to UK waters and inshore waters around England and Wales so there is further to go with devolved legislation in Northern Ireland and Scotland (Scotland's Marine Bill will be the next to become law and we look forward to celebrating that too). And in England and Wales there is a lot of work still to be done to make sure that the Act is implemented fully and quickly rather than slowly and poorly - so there is more work to do.
The Act is not perfect. But it is much much much better than nothing. And it represents the fulfilment of a promise from the Labour Government. Thank you!
The RSPB has worked particularly closely with three other organisations to lobby for this legislation - the Wildlife Trusts, WWF UK and the Marine Conservation Society.
And RSPB members responded magnificently each time we asked you to sign petitions, write to MPs and lobby Parliament. Thank you too!
The title is a bit of a slap for us in Scotland. We have been campaigning just as hard as anyone else and we have Marine Bill at Stage 2 in the Scottish Parliament - with some parts a significant advance on the UK Act. It forms part of a carefully controlled programme fully co-ordinated over the years together with the UK Marine Act - and both Acts will solve the problem that marine conservation was not properly considered at the time of devolution. After the years of co-operation the Scottish Bill will be passed in a matter of weeks. So why adopt this silly, combative tone? Surely you know all of this? For full information see www.savescotlandsseas.org
Whoa there! A bit too sensitive Queen of Scots - and I would never want to upset a Queen. Nothing combative about this post - remember the RSPB is a UK organisation (there aren't that many now). The title is simply a matter of fact and the post says that there is more to do in all parts of the UK to get full marine legislation around all of our coasts. Looking forward to the Scottish Bill becoming law and then being fully implemented.
Queen of Scots - have edited the post to avoid all doubt! Hope you are happy with that.
Hi Mark yes its me but seems quite a good innocent blog and I certainly not going to criticize but you obviously touched a raw nerve for Queen of Scots.Must say I admire how you always print quite blunt criticism and in a way after I have been critical feel a bit guilty but often feel that unless RSPB know how farmers feel they will carry on with their own thoughts how things are and of course my view is only one person but I do think lots probably think the same and on Stewardship schemes I speak from experience.Once went to a meeting about same and sitting next to a really clever lady co-owner of a large business and surprised me because like it seemed everyone else these schemes so complicated to fill application forms etc that seems have to pay professionals to do the job.Brings me back to seeing as they are really expensive,the costs come to as much as you claim and then to rub it in DEFRA can't even pay the money out to satisfy the EU and UK taxpayers money what should be paid out to UK farmers stays in the EU.
what a farcical government is that.Now IF farmers had got that money and used it for improving bird habitat think what that would have achieved so how about putting that to one of these Ministers when they are telling you what a lot they have achieved.Best wishes to you and Queen of Scots lets hope she comments regularly on your blog(perhaps another secret admirer).
Sooty - thanks! I can only remember one comment that I didn't publish on here and that was, I thought, too disrespectful of someone else! So I'll always try to publish comments, good or bad, but each has to be decided on its own merits. To be honest - the stroppy ones are always the most interesting! Particularly, as with Queen of Scots, when I have inadvertently given completely the wrong impression - always something to learn from!
But all comments are very welcome.