The Society's Chairman e-mailed Dr Sarah Wollaston MP and Gary Streeter MP on 31 July 2012:
I am writing to suggest that you support the designation of the Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) around England and Wales and especially those around the South Hams coast line - the Skerries Bank and the estuaries of the Dart, Avon, Erme and Yealm.
As you will know it is only since 2009 that the Marine and Coastal Access Act made it possible to protect the marine environment through the creation of MCZs. After consulting 1 million stakeholders including the fishing and marine industries and spending over £8M DEFRA proposed a network of 127 MCZs for designation.
But the Government has now delayed the process and has retreated from designating all of them despite the support of Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. The protection of our coasts is essential to our future and of considerable economic importance to our district.
May I urge you to ask the Government to reconsider and designate the MCZs.
Yours Sincerely
John Chalmers
Chairman
Dr Wollaston e-mailed in reply on 9 August:
Dear John,
Thank you for your email regarding Marine Conservation Zones. I agree with you that such zones provide a real opportunity for marine recovery and sanctuary. The maritime heritage of the UK, and particularly the South Hams, is a rich one and deserves to be protected. Slashing the number of MCZs at this stage could impact vital future conservation efforts but it is right that the impact on our fishing industry should be fairly understood especially if some designated areas would result in low impact fisheries being forced out.
I have already written to Richard Benyon MP, Minister for the Natural Environment at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, asking him to clarify Government policy in this area and introduce MCZs as soon as possible. I have specifically asked him to address some of the points you raise yourself and will be happy to send you a copy of his response when I receive one.
Thank you for taking the time to write to me about this important issue.
Best wishes,