Thanks to Tom Hickey – Senior Public Affairs & Policy Officer, Marine Conservation Society

 The Conservative manifesto outlines the pledge to build on the recent Pitcairn announcement with a “Blue Belt” of MPAs in the OTs subject to local support and environmental need, and complete the domestic network of MCZs.  It also pledges that “all at-risk species, including cod, plaice, haddock and seabass, will be fished sustainably by the end of the next Parliament”, alongside further devolution of regional management, and re-balancing of fishing quota.

The Labour manifesto actually says very little, but the subsequent Green Plan document commits to match both the domestic and UKOT Conservative MPA commitments, specifically pledging to deliver an “ecologically coherent network” of MPAs at home. They also pledge that “quota  allocation  contributes  to  the  restoration  and maintenance of a thriving industry, including the revival of coastal communities and the protection of the marine environment.”

The Liberal Democrats also specifically commitment to an ecologically coherent network of MPAs, as well as: “a one million square kilometre southern Atlantic Ocean reserve”; a reserve in the Arctic Ocean; “fully implement recent reforms of the Common Fisheries Policy”; and improve UK enforcement of the EU Birds and Habitats Directive.

 The Green Party manifesto commits to all of the above! Plus, “increase the amount of land offered long-term protection through the European Union’s Birds and Habitats Directive, make sure these Directives are properly enforced and defend them in the EU against attempts to weaken them.”

The SNP manifesto focuses predominantly on the importance of a healthy and sustainable fishing industry, alongside the pledge to develop their zero waste strategy.

UKIP dedicate an entire section to fisheries, unsurprisingly advocating “establish a 12-mile zone around our coastline for UK fishermen and a 200-mile exclusive economic zone under UK control”. They also pledge to ban pair trawling for bass, as well as establishing “no-take’ zones to aid spawning and replenish fish stocks”.