Marine: UK marine policy
Safeguarding
Our Seas: A Strategy for the Conservation and Sustainable Development
of our Marine Environment.
This report sets out our vision for the marine environment - clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas. It is underpinned by the principles of sustainable development, integrated management, the conservation of biological diversity, robust science, the precautionary principle and stakeholder involvement.
It outlines how we are adopting an ecosystem-based approach to marine management to better integrate marine protection objectives with sustainable social and economic goals. It covers the broad spectrum of policies that affect the marine environment. As well as describing past achievements and progress made, it contains new ideas and initiatives to turn our vision into reality.
These include initiatives to improve marine conservation and conserve biodiversity. They will also improve our management of our marine resources and develop scientific research and involve stakeholders. Our initiatives will also streamline regulation affecting development in coastal waters whilst protecting the marine environment. The report is a valuable first step in turning our vision into reality.
See also this News Release (1 May 2002)
Obtaining the report
The report has been made available in Adobe Acrobat format (650 KB) for downloading from this web site. Printed copies (order code PB 6187, price £22 including postage) are available from Defra Publications, Admail 6000, London, SW1A 2XX, Tel: 08459 556000, Fax: 020 8957 5012, Email: defra@iforcegroup.com
The Adobe Acrobat Reader can be freely downloaded. Viewers with visual difficulties may find it useful to investigate services provided to improve the accessibility of Acrobat documents - http://access.adobe.com
Further activity
See Seas of Change: the Government's consultation paper to help deliver our vision for the marine environment (published 14 November 2002; closing date - 28 February 2003)
Contacting Defra
If you want further information that is not covered by these pages, you can contact us by e-mail: marine.environment@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Page last modified:
01 March 2005
Page published: 09 October 2003