An expert led ‘Biodiversity Deep Dive’- commissioned by Welsh Government to assess how nature recovery across land and sea can best be accelerated – has set out its recommendations.

The recommendations centre around the United Nation’s ’30 by 30’ goal, which aims to protect and effectively manage 30% of the planet’s marine and 30% of the planet’s terrestrial environment by 2030. The Biodiversity Deep Dive set out following high-level recommendations, including:

• Transform the protected sites portfolio so that it is better, bigger, and more effectively connected so that plants and wildlife are able to travel and adapt to climate change
• Increase the footprint of the Marine Protected Areas network
• Unlock the potential of designated landscapes (National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) so they deliver more for nature

Recommendations for the marine environment

Specifically in relation to the marine environment, the authors recommended the following:

• Completing the Marine Protected Area network to ensure the shortfalls in the protection of habitats and species of conservation interest are addressed, species and habitats are well-represented and the network is connected and ecologically coherent.
• Finalising the structured evaluation of potential fishing gear interactions with features of Marine Protected Areas and consult on the necessary management measures needed.
• Establish a targeted scheme to support restoration of seagrass and saltmarsh habitats along our coastline
• Create opportunities for marine and freshwater fishers to support natures recovery, and where appropriate undertaking management actions for biodiversity and habitat enhancement.

Response from the Minister for Climate Change

In response to the report, Julie James, the Minister for Climate Change put out a written statement which committed the Welsh Government to the following for the marine environment:

• We will accelerate action to complete the MPA network, to ensure the shortfalls in protection of habitats and features are addressed. This will mean the MPA network is ecologically coherent and connected, improving resilience and condition.
• We will finalise the assessment of potential fishing gear interactions with features of Marine Protected Areas. This will enable us to understand what damage these do to MPA features and what management measures may be needed to prevent this.

Links 

• The press release from the ‘Biodiversity Deep Dive’ is on the Welsh Government website here.

• The detailed recommendations, including Marine, can be read here.

• The written statement from Julie James, the Minister for Climate Change, is here.