Young’s Seafood has welcomed the publication today of a Government White Paper that launches consultation on a proposed new Marine Bill.

Mike Parker, deputy CEO of Young’s Seafood says, “We welcome the concept of a Marine Bill intended to result in proper co-ordination of the diverse issues affecting marine and fisheries planning. UK legislation in this area has evolved over a long period of time and become highly fragmented, which makes regulation and environmental management more difficult.”

He continues, “We are particularly pleased with the stated intention to provide stronger enforcement to eradicate IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing. This issue on its own represents one of the most crucial challenges to global fisheries management because it is impossible to properly manage and sustain any fishery where IUU remains a problem.”

The introduction to the White Paper highlights the intention of the Marine Bill to “…introduce a new framework for the sea, based on marine planning, that balances conservation, energy and resource needs.”

The White Paper on the Marine Bill can be accessed via DEFRA’s website, click here.

The consultation on the Marine Bill White Paper closes on 8 June 2007.