Asked by: Kerry McCarthy (Labour - Bristol East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of bottom-trawling in marine protected areas on the 30by30 initiative.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The 30by30 target, Target 3 of the Convention on Biological Diversity Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, is a global target to protect 30% of the global ocean and of land by 2030. Nearly 8.3% of the global ocean is now protected. Achieving a global 30by30 target will require an international effort, from all countries and sectors and the UK is leading the way. In England, we have established a comprehensive network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) covering 40% of our waters, and we are now focusing on making sure they are properly protected.
Marine regulators make evidence-based, site by site assessments on the fishing activities that could prevent MPAs from achieving their conservation objectives. Nearly 60% of the 178 English MPAs are already protected from damaging fishing activity. This includes byelaws made last year, which ban bottom towed gear over sensitive features in the first four offshore sites. The Marine Management Organisation consulted earlier this year on similar proposals for a further 13 sites. We are aiming to have all MPAs in English waters protected from damaging fishing activity by 2024.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the UK’s obligations to protect marine habitats in international waters.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK complies with its obligations under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea to protect and preserve the marine environment. The UK played a key role in securing a landmark international Agreement to Protect Marine Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) in March 2023. We will continue to play a leading role in implementation, including supporting developing countries. The Agreement will help to achieve the target to effectively conserve and manage at least 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030 set out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. We support the work of regional seas bodies such as the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, which has designated ten Marine Protected Areas in the high seas, and are a signatory to the Hamilton Declaration on Collaboration for the Conservation of the Sargasso Sea.
Asked by: Alyn Smith (Scottish National Party - Stirling)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of negotiating a universal declaration of ocean rights.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides the overarching legal framework for the governance of the ocean. Numerous other agreements at a global and regional level add greater detail. These cover issues including shipping and safety, fishing, and environmental protection. The draft text of an international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction - the BBNJ Agreement - was agreed at the UN in March. This is a landmark agreement for biodiversity and will mean much greater protection for over 60 per cent of the global ocean. It is unclear what added value a universal declaration of ocean rights would achieve.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are participating in the Freshwater Challenge launched at the UN Water Conference on 23 March; and if not, why.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is committed to raising ambition on the environment internationally and at CBD COP15 the UK was at the forefront of efforts to secure an ambitious agreement to protect 30% of the world’s land and ocean by 2030, including through the conservation and restoration of freshwater habitats. Domestically, in our Plan for Water, we reaffirmed our 25 Year Environment Plan and Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 commitment to ensuring at least 75% of our waters are close to their natural state as soon as is practicable. We set out a clear strategy to tackle both water quality and water use – including more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement on those who pollute. We were recently made aware of the Freshwater Challenge and the Government is carefully considering any potential role the UK could play in supporting the initiative.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the High Seas Treaty will be ratified.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Draft text for an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction - the BBNJ Agreement - was agreed on 5 March. It will be adopted by the Intergovernmental Conference at a further meeting, later this year. This is a landmark agreement for biodiversity and will mean much greater protection for over 60% of the global ocean. The UK will work to ratify the Agreement as soon as possible, and work with global partners to ensure it is implemented quickly and effectively.
Asked by: Henry Smith (Conservative - Crawley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans that the UK will ratify the UN High Seas Treaty; and what steps he is taking to encourage global partners to do so.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Draft text for an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction - the BBNJ Agreement - was agreed on 5 March. It will be adopted by the Intergovernmental Conference at a further meeting, later this year. This is a landmark agreement for biodiversity and will mean much greater protection for over 60% of the global ocean.
The UK will work to ratify the Agreement as soon as possible, and work with global partners to ensure it is implemented quickly and effectively.
Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans that the UK will ratify the UN High Seas Treaty; and what steps he is taking to encourage global partners to do so.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Draft text for an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction - the BBNJ Agreement - was agreed on 5 March. It will be adopted by the Intergovernmental Conference at a further meeting, later this year. This is a landmark agreement for biodiversity and will mean much greater protection for over 60% of the global ocean.
The UK will work to ratify the Agreement as soon as possible, and work with global partners to ensure it is implemented quickly and effectively.
Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to support high seas marine protected areas in relevant regional fisheries management organisations..
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Draft text for an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction - the BBNJ Agreement - was agreed on 5 March. It will be adopted by the Intergovernmental Conference at a further meeting, later this year. This is a landmark agreement for biodiversity and will mean much greater protection for over 60% of the global ocean.
The UK will work to ratify the Agreement as soon as possible, and work with global partners to ensure it is implemented quickly and effectively.
The UK uses its engagement in Regional Fisheries Management Organisations and other international forums to push for outcomes focused on managing fisheries sustainably, protecting marine ecosystems (including through Marine Protected Areas) and combatting illegal fishing.
Asked by: Peter Aldous (Conservative - Waveney)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to propose new Marine Protected Areas under the mechanism established by the new High Seas Treaty.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Draft text for an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction - the BBNJ Agreement - was agreed on 5 March. It will be adopted by the Intergovernmental Conference at a further meeting, later this year. This is a landmark agreement for biodiversity and will mean much greater protection for over 60% of the global ocean.
The UK will work to ratify the Agreement as soon as possible, and work with global partners to ensure it is implemented quickly and effectively.
The UK uses its engagement in Regional Fisheries Management Organisations and other international forums to push for outcomes focused on managing fisheries sustainably, protecting marine ecosystems (including through Marine Protected Areas) and combatting illegal fishing.
Asked by: Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru - Ceredigion)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increasing the area of UK seas covered by a permanent ban on bottom towed fishing gears on her Department's support of the Global Ocean Alliance target to protect at least 30 per cent of the global ocean by 2030.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Domestically, since 2010 we have created over 100 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) which now protect over 38% of UK waters. In English waters we have built a comprehensive network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and are now focused on making sure they are properly protected. Nearly 60% of our 178 English MPAs are already protected from damaging fishing activity and all MPAs in English waters will be protected from such activity by 2024.
Internationally, the UK continues to champion the 30by30 ocean target, now supported by over 120 countries, including through its leadership of the Global Ocean Alliance and as ocean co-chair of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People. It is important that areas contributing to the 30by30 target are effectively managed, and that each site is afforded a level of protection appropriate to its conservation objectives. The UK remains committed to making a significant contribution to this global target in our own waters, and we are encouraging other countries to do the same.