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Nice post...and exactly the thing the forum was set up for.

The law relating to the setting up of this partnership scheme,I presume, is the new Marine and Coastal Access Bill due for ascent this autumn.

I'm surprised that no invitation was sent to the West Country Rivers Trust to be involved.
Give them a call and ask if they WERE invited.....it may be that they or the partnership saw no link to 'river' and 'marine'......in which case point out their own objectives:
This should catch some attention.....but could possibly look better coming from a member or supporter

The other NGO that should maybe have been asked ...(or tackled by you) is Salmon And Trout Association......Derrr!...... why did I add this as an edit

__________________
Two things to have in life - A good bed and a good pair of boots -and if you aren't in one you should be in t'other

...and what was their response?

__________________
"A homeward tramp thro' mist wrapped night,
With heart and creel in common light,
Complete content, the day has brought it,
They fished for pleasure - and they caught it"

P F Morgan
taken from the catch record book at Llanthony Hotel, Honddu Valley, Aug 1942

www.monnowlogue.com
www.monnow.org.uk

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this article is on the news page of msn to day may be useful for any one lobbying!
regards
bert

LONDON (Reuters) - Much of Britain's marine biodiversity is under threat from human activity, according to a report on Wednesday which highlights the plight of harbour porpoises and Atlantic salmon.
Legislation currently passing through parliament does not go far enough to protect marine species, says the WWF-UK conservation organisation.
It says the danger comes from activities like oil and gas exploitation, fishing and emerging threats such as climate change.
Its latest research shows:
-- Despite being the most heavily protected species in the UK, populations of the harbour porpoise are still declining in areas around the UK due to incidental capture or by-catch
-- The pink sea fan, one of the most exotic of our sea bed species, continues to be damaged by fishing gear and is being put at greater risk of natural disease.
-- Seagrass beds which provide rich habitats for an array of marine life, including seahorses, and are an important source of food for wading birds, are still being damaged by activities such as anchoring and trawling, and depleted populations show no sign of recovery.
-- Atlantic salmon continue to decline and the UK-wide population is considered unstable. The numbers of salmon returning to British rivers from our seas are still a fraction of populations 30 years ago.
"Now is the crucial time to put things right, with a long awaited UK Marine and Coastal Access Bill close to being finalised," WWF-UK said.
However, it added, it has concerns that the legislation making its way through parliament will not go far enough to secure the health of some of our flagship species.
The organisation's marine officer, Dr Lyndsey Dodds, said in a statement: "WWF's Marine Health Check has shown no improvement in the status of iconic species such as the harbour porpoise since the year 2000.
"It is clear that the mish-mash of current laws governing the use of our seas is having a catastrophic effect on marine wildlife.
"We need to ensure that new legislation will reverse this trend and reduce the many pressures being placed on our most vulnerable species."
The WWF wants to Bill to be strengthened and says economic interests could still take precedence over conservation needs.
(Reporting by Olivia Smart; Editing by Steve Addison)