Questions over Welsh conservation

While welcoming the consultation, which opened on 19 April and runs to 31 July, the Marine Conservation Society has expressed concern that initial projections could be pegged back.

A mooted list of ten potential sites is, it says, “expected to be reduced to only three or four by the time sites are due to be designated in spring 2014”.

“MCS believes that more and larger sites should be selected for the marine environment to recover, and reap the benefits that protection affords for wildlife and people,” it adds.

The prospect of a modest shortlist indicates “a real lack of ambition on the part of Welsh Government”.

To ensure that “all ten places” are given “proper consideration”, the MCS wants “as many people as possible to take part in the consultation”.

For full details of the Welsh programme and how to get involved, go to www.wales.gov.uk/marine.

MCZs for England have already been the subject of consultation. The MCZ projects for England, Wales and Scotland are all administered separately.

Related links
Views sought on Scottish conservation