Michael Gove calls for 30% of the world's oceans to be protected

Earlier this year the government announced plans to designate 41 new marine conservation areas around Britain’s coastline that will block “harmful” activities like dredging, sea-bed trawler fishing and offshore development.

A six-week consultation is planned after which the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) intends to designate some 11,000 square kilometres of coastline as newly protected – bringing the total so-called “blue belt” protected area to 220,000 square kilometres, or two-fifths of the country’s coastline.

This week Environment Secretary Michael Gove has called on world leaders to treble the world's ocean protection target to ensure 30 per cent of oceans are protected by 2030.

Speaking yesterday as world leaders gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly, he backed plans to see almost a third of oceans designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by 2030.

Currently global targets brokered by the UN will see just 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas protected by 2020. Negotiations on a new target for 2030 will begin in November.

Michael Gove said that nations must go further in their ambition to protect the marine environment from damage from overfishing and pollution.

"Only by working together can we protect our shared home and ensure our marine life continues to be a source of awe and wonder for future generations," he added.

Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey is in New York this week and will push plans for a 30 per cent target among her political counterparts.

"I am delighted to be in New York this week to look at how we can build on the progress made on marine protection and protect the world's oceans," she said.

Here is a Sky News report on the issue:

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