7 Sept 2010: Charting Progress 2: The State of UK Seas

Charting Progress 2 is a comprehensive review of the state of our seas and reports on progress since the previous review published in 2005. Arguably Charting Progress 2 is of greater significance than its predecessor, important as that was. It is likely to play a larger part in shaping policy and the future management of UK waters.

The report provides the basis for beginning the transposition of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and will help inform the new planning system being introduced under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. The report not only provides an assessment of the state of our seas, but also includes a section on the productive use of the seas covering all the main commercial and public service activities. The report and the associated Government commentary acknowledge where there are gaps in data and knowledge.

Overall the findings are reasonably encouraging. Better marine management and controls are beginning to have a positive effect, though there is still room for considerable improvement in some areas to achieve the Government\'s objective of \"clean, safe, productive, and biologically diverse oceans and seas\". Achieving the good environmental status demanded by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive may prove a steep and costly climb.

The main pressures on the marine environment are climate change - sea surface temperature has increased by between 0.5 and 1% since the 1870s (much of this since the mid-1980s) and the average sea level around the UK rose by about 14cm during the 20th century - and bottom trawling by commercial fishing vessels. The report concludes that contamination by hazardous substances has reduced in most regions, but some chemicals that are now banned or being phased out are still to be found in sediment and have been detected in some mammals and fish. This presents legacy problems when, for example, ports and harbours are being dredged. Litter, particularly, plastics is also thought to be a problem both on beaches and on the sea bed; information about the levels and impact of litter are identified as an area requiring further research.

Climate change is affecting species and habitats, for example the distributions of plankton species are changing due to the rise in sea temperature. Against a historical decline, the diversity and overall abundance of bottom-dwelling fish have improved appreciably in most regions because of better fishing management practices, but many stocks are reported as still being fished unsustainably. Many estuaries have become significantly cleaner which has led to an increase in both the diversity and numbers of fish. Waterbird populations, such as golden plover, are also increasing in most regions. Populations of seabirds, such as herring gulls, and harbour seals are declining in some regions, but clear reasons for this have not been found.

Further work is planned to strengthen the evidence base and to meet the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. It will be interesting to see just how much of the identified further research and promised management action will actually be carried out and over what timescale, in the light of the severe budget constrains being introduced by the Government.

None of the actions in the Government\'s commentary on the report is new. It is more of a matter of the Government seeking to align already planned actions with the findings of the report. Perhaps reflecting the home Department\'s main interests, the commentary is more specific on environmental and fisheries issues than on the broader economic and social benefits of other marine services (though the relative lack of knowledge and the need to remedy this is recognised). The Government\'s proposed actions comprise:

Healthy and Biologically Diverse Seas 

  • Establish an \"ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas\", with a target to have this substantially in place by 2012.
  • Press for reform of the CFP in ways that will help deliver sustainable fisheries.
  • Reduce UK commercial fishing effort and discards.
  • Reform inshore fisheries management by establishing inshore fisheries and conservation authorities in England and pilot inshore fisheries groups in Scotland.
  • The proposed new marine planning arrangements will take into account environmental considerations.
  • Support further work to assess the status of habitats and species, particularly the development of monitoring programmes to meet the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
  • Continue to work through bodies such as OSPAR, CITES and the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Association to promote measures to conserve biodiversity and to seek to protect habitats and species.
  • Undertake further research to help plug gaps in knowledge.


Clean and safe seas

  • Continue to implement European Directives that prevent pollution.
  • Continue to control closely the dumping of contaminated marine sediments.
  • Encourage the development of management plans for contaminated marine sediments and continue research.
  • Continue measures to control the nutrient inputs leading to eutrophication.
  • Continue research so that risks can be identified and assessed.
  • Continue to tackle the problems caused by point and diffuse pollution, with further measures to deal with pollution from agricultural and urban sources.
  • Undertake further research on the impacts of marine litter and the effect of noise on marine animals.

Productive Seas

  • The new marine planning system will be used to ensure that licensing decisions contribute to national and local economic and social objectives, including the 40 fold increase in UK energy from renewable sources planned for 2020, and facilitate assessment of whether all the activities in the UK\'s seas when combined represent a sustainable use.
  • Through the planning system aim to optimise the sustainable economic potential of marine resources, whilst protecting the marine environment.
  • Undertake further research on the economic value of marine services and the social benefits to the UK.
  • Press for CFP reform and long term management plans that lead to sustainable fisheries.
  • Trial new fisheries management controls and more selective gear.


Ocean Processes and climate change

  • Continue working internationally to help achieve global reductions and undertake research to get more robust information.
  • Continue making plans for adaption within the UK, supported by more focused research.
  • Marine conservation zones will allow for reaction to climate change.
  • Undertake research on ocean acidification and on the effects of climate change on fish stocks.


It is noticeable that many of the drivers for these actions are the result of European legislation (for example, the Birds and Habitats Directives and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive) or require collective action through EU or international bodies. This is in part reflection of the shared use of our seas. However, the UK has played a leading role in shaping the agenda and, through the Marine and Coastal Access Act and the research and monitoring that underpins Charting Progress 2, is potentially well placed to respond. The challenge over the next few critical years will be whether the necessary resources will be available to match the legislative requirements and the Government\'s policy ambitions.

Perhaps reflecting this uncertainty, the Government commentary rather tails off towards the end where it discusses next steps. In two very short paragraphs, the Government reiterates the three existing broad priorities for the Marine Science Coordination Committee and simply states that it will seek more efficient use of resources for marine research and monitoring.