Oceans need protection, MPs urge

Ocean floors are being damaged through human activities, MPs say

Urgent UK government action is needed to protect the sea's environment, an all party committee of MPs has said.

Ocean floors and biodiversity are being damaged through human activities, says the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.

It is calling for laws to be updated and for a cabinet sub-committee to be established to oversee marine issues.

The MPs say they are particularly concerned over the lack of knowledge on the effects of deep sea trawling.

The MPs said the government must ensure work carried out in universities and research institutions that underpins scientific understanding of marine ecosystems could continue.

Sea pollution

Data management should be improved so that best use can be made of existing information.

The marine environment... needs government protection Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

The MPs said: "On land, people can see the impact of human activities on the environment.

"But at sea, pollution, damage to fish stocks, degradation of habitats and declines in biodiversity are less immediately apparent."

Committee chairman Michael Jack MP said: "The report highlights the complexity of the issues which affect policy towards the marine environment which needs government protection, as far as the seas around the United Kingdom are concerned.

"But this will not be achieved unless the government creates a much improved mechanism to ensure all the departments that have both an interest and a responsibility in this area, work together much more effectively than at present."