An extended network of Marine Protected Areas and a Marine Park will be created, if plans to be put forward by the Minister for the Environment are approved.
Deputy Jonathan Renouf (pictured) intends to ask States Members to endorse his vision for stronger protection of the marine environment, by bringing forward a Proposition by the end of this year.
The Minister will soon publish the first draft of the Marine Spatial Plan, which is similar to the Island Plan, but for Jersey’s territorial waters. It will then go to public consultation.
Deputy Renouf said: “In the course of preparing the draft Marine Spatial Plan, it has become evident that a clear scientific basis exists to expand and add to our network of Marine Protected Areas. This will allow us to create a Marine Park in the Island’s waters, covering around 30% of our territorial waters. This network will form part of Jersey’s delivery of the ’30 by 30′ initiative agreed at COP15 in December 2022.
“The Proposition, which I plan to lodge in the next few months, will set out the detailed timetable and methodology for establishing the boundaries of the park, and its management. There will be a full consultation with all stakeholders, including with our own fishing fleet, and our neighbours in France and Guernsey.”
In 2022, government representatives and organisations from around the world met in Montreal for COP15. The ‘30 by 30’ target is a pledge made to conserve 30 percent of the globe’s terrestrial and marine habitat and protect it from destructive practices by 2030.
Currently 6.4% of Jersey’s waters are designated Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which are areas where towed fishing gear and destructive extractive process is not permitted. They cover ecologically important shallow marine habitats including seagrass and Maerl beds and are recognised at international level through the OSPAR Convention.
