Marine: UK issues
The threats facing the marine environment surrounding the UK are numerous. As an island nation, the seas and the life they contain are an integral part of the UK's national identity.
The following pages illustrate some of the important subject areas and decision making evidence relating to Defra's protection of the UK's marine environment.
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UK Science and Monitoring
Defra is committed to a better understanding of the marine environment in order to ensure adequate protection through the use of marine monitoring programmes. Important science and monitoring programmes such as the State of the Seas report can be found here. -
UK Policy
The evidence resulting from marine science and monitoring is used to generate advise and aid the direction of policy decisions. Reports resulting from this process include the "Seas of Change" Consultation Paper and the Marine Stewardship Report - "Safeguarding Our Seas" can be found here. -
Oil and Chemical Spill response / dispersants
See Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA) website -
Integrated Coastal Zone Management
The marine environment supports a wealth of activities, many of which occur simultaneously. Details on Defra's work into the integrated management of activities within the coastal zone can be found here. Contaminated Marine Sediment
The Contaminated Marine Sediments Steering Group is a Defra initiative to assist and facilitate the development of the UK strategy for handling and managing contaminated material to be dredged from UK marine waters, and to support and advise on the practical implementation of the strategy.
Page last modified:
4 December 2007
Page published: 01 March 2005