Draft UK marine Bill

Scottish Environment LINK’s Marine Task Force want to see protection for all of the UK’s Seas. We welcome the opportunity to respond to DEFRA’s consultation on the draft UK Marine Bill, but due to the mix of devolved and reserved matters both within and beyond 12nm we also recognise the vital importance of parallel marine legislation being developed in Scotland and Northern Ireland. We therefore strongly welcome the Scottish Government’s proposal to develop a Scottish Marine Bill. Scottish Environment LINK’s Marine Task Force is calling on all four administrations to ensure that these separate pieces of legislation are compatible, and that their implementation delivers comprehensive and coherent protection and management throughout UK seas.