Marine: Cleaner Seas report
Cleaner Seas
This leaflet briefly describes the seas around the United Kingdom, identifies the main threats to life in those areas, and sets out the main efforts being made to protected the marine environment.
My own commitment to protecting the oceans comes from personal experience. Before going into politics, I earned my living at sea and now, in Parliament, I represent Hull - a city with a strong maritime tradition.
Man's impact on the sea has changed over the centuries. In the latter half of the twentieth century particularly, we have certainly seen a tremendous expansion of human activity in the seas and oceans of the world: ships have become bigger, and so the potential for oil pollution has increased; offshore oil and gas have become world-wide businesses; technical advances have transformed the fishing industry; new chemicals threaten our seas; and there is growing demand for seabed mining.
Seven tenths of the earth's surface is comprised of oceans and seas - that gives some indication of the scale of the task we face in protecting the marine environment. To get a full solution to protecting the richness and diversity of marine life, it is clear that we need to work hard on a number of fronts. It needs commitment and perseverance from us all, if we are to ensure that our use and enjoyment of the oceans does not prejudice the right of our children to use and enjoy them in the future - nothing less will do.
John Prescott - Deputy Prime Minister
Page last modified:
01 March 2005
Page published: 21 September 1988