Marine Strategy Framework Directive consultation: UK initial assessment and proposals for Good Environmental Status – a joint response from Wildlife and Countryside Link, Scottish Environment LINK, Wales Environment LINK and the Northern Ireland Marine Task Force

We welcome the opportunity to provide comments on this consultation and are pleased the UK Government, Northern Ireland Executive, Scottish Government and Welsh Assumbly Government have issued this consultation jointly. We welcome the considerable amount of work and research that has been undertaken. However, in general we are very disappointed with the lack of ambition shown by Government within this consultation. We do not believe that the UK will succeed in achieving Good Environmental Status with the targets that have currently been set.