June 20th, 2005 by ie-adminEnvironmental groups have voiced support of MSP Mike Pringle’s proposed levy on plastic bags, as a means of preventing the unnecessary deaths of some of Scotland’s most popular marine wildlife.
Numerous independent scientific studies have shown high concentrations of plastic material, including bags, blocking the guts of 177 marine species, including whales, dolphins, seals, puffins, fulmars and turtles. Some marine species, such as the endangered leatherback turtle, summer visitor to Scottish waters, mistake plastic bags for their normal prey of jelly fish, with deadly results. Many marine species are now affected by the minute toxic particles that plastic items, including bags, are reduced to by photodegradation, leading to a weakening of their immune system.
Real and urgent action is needed to protect Scotland’s seas, say the members of Scottish Environment LINK’s Marine Task Force. In response to today’s statement by Ross Finnie MSP, the Executive’s Environment Minister, Calum Duncan, of the Marine Conservation Society and Convener of the LINK Marine Task Force, said:
“Scotland’s seas are crying out for action, not more discussion, to safeguard their future. While we welcome the Minister’s overarching goal, we are disappointed that he has not clearly set out the measures he will take to meet this goal, or when they will be introduced. This contrasts markedly to the position taken by the UK Government, which is already committed to a Marine Act that will introduce marine spatial planning(2), leaving the Scottish Executive bobbing in their wake”
The National Planning Framework, unlike similar strategies in Wales and Northern Ireland, is not a statutory document, nor is it subject to public consultation, so it cannot be challenged other than through judicial review. It is not subject to any form of inquiry, examination in public or formal adoption procedure.
In order to restore public confidence and create a planning system that reflects the needs of the 21st century, we have launched a Planning Manifesto which recommends that the following five points be incorporated into the new law…
Scottish Environment LINK, the umbrella group for Scotland’s environmental organisations, is calling for the creation of an independent body to ensure that Scotland is a world leader in Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). The call follows the introduction to the Scottish Parliament last week of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Bill, which LINK welcomes as a mechanism to protect and improve the Scottish Environment…
Representatives from Scottish Environment LINK Marine Task Force will travel to Westminster today to visit Scottish MPs in support of the Wildlife and Countryside Link’s Marine Lobby. This show of support by LINK Marine Task Force will raise awareness of the importance of a Marine Act for Scotland aimed at protecting Scottish seas, sea life and the economic activities that rely upon them.
Almost 12 years ago to the day the Braer tanker tanker carrying 85,000 tonnes of crude oil ran aground in hurricane force winds off the Shetland Islands. In the wake of the Braer oil spill, the Donaldson Inquiry recommended that the most sensitive and environmentally valuable parts of our coastal seas should be identified as Marine Environment High Risk Areas (MEHRAs) in order to protect them from such disasters.
It now appears that the publication of the long over due report from the Department for Transport (DfT) containing its choices of Marine Environmental High Risk Areas is finally about to happen. Scottish Environment Groups hope that the report will identify sites in UK waters and will put forward management measures that will at last give much needed protection from the threat of shipping accidents.
LINK question whether the Scottish Executive’s guidelines emphasise enough how the new law should be central to running the country’s public bodies.
These guidelines still present the conservation of biodiversity as an optional add-on. Ultimately Scotland’s future depends on assuring the long term conservation of biodiversity, in which we are all implicated and all have a role to play.”
In a major parliamentary seminar to be held today (Thursday 23rd September), Scotland’s marine environment groups and coastal community members will be telling an audience of prominent MSPs and stakeholders why a radical new approach to looking after Scotland’s seas is urgently needed.
Today Scottish Environment LINK’s Marine Task Force [1] welcomed the Scottish Executive’s public consultation on how to improve management of Scotland’s seas.
“We believe that a radical change is needed in the way we manage Scotland’s seas and that the introduction of new primary legislation offers an effective means of achieving this” said Darren Kindleysides, convenor of Scottish Environment LINK’s Marine Task Force. “The Scottish Executive obviously share our concerns about the future of our valuable marine resources and we applaud them for beginning this important initiative.”
