What can EU do?

Posted by Willie — 9 May 2007 at 12:00am - Comments

Greenpeace's call for 40 per cent of our oceans to be set aside as reserves may sound radical, or even far-fetched. But it isn't. Others, such as the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution have echoed what we're asking for. And sometimes, size DOES matter.

Large-scale Marine Reserves build in resilience to the ecosystems they encompass, allowing them to adapt to changes we might not even be able to predict (as well as those we are anticipating, like climate change). Most of what politicians have proposed quite simply doesn't go far enough: they are either too small, or too weak (the proposals, not the politicians). That's why we're pushing for Environment Ministers throughout Europe to stand up for the Marine Environment and make sure the Marine Strategy Directive is a strong piece of legislation, with nature conservation at its heart. It can, and should, provide a framework for a pan-European network of Marine Reserves.

Three years ago when our ship, the Esperanza, was in the North Sea calling for Marine Reserves, they were but a twinkle in a savvy politician's eye. Now they are an accepted necessity, and something even politicians are keen to be seen backing. We have political processes now that can make Marine Reserves happen - three years ago they didn't even exist. And international reserves are what we need. Cod and dolphins don't obey artificial limits in the seas where one country's flag changes for another. It is only by setting aside large areas that we can make protected areas work for far-ranging species like these.

So let's make sure the politicians deliver (yes, you groaned at that one, didn't you?) by telling them you think it's time for Marine Reserves. If we don't let the EU's politicians know that protecting the marine environment is important, then they won't see fit to prioritise it.

So, go on, do it for the starfish, who, despite their overabundance of arms, can't email themselves.

About Willie

Hi, I'm Willie, I work with Greenpeace on all things ocean-related

Twitter: @williemackenzie

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