With so many competing demands on our seas and oceans, are international treaties adequately protecting this vital ecosystem?

• Inquiry: Governing the marine environment
• Environmental Audit Committee

While much attention has been focused on protecting ecosystems on land in a bid to meet the Government’s 30x30 target, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) is considering how the UK is faring in meeting its obligations to protect marine environments.

The UK has signed and ratified a number of international agreements to champion marine protection. However, with so many competing pressures on the oceans—such as fishing, undersea cabling, renewable energy, shipping, leisure and research demands—do existing international commitments meet the need to ensure a sustainable marine environment?

As part of this work, EAC will be undertaking a stocktake of the UK’s international commitments, and how far they go towards meeting the Government’s pledge to protect 30% of marine environments by 2030. Members will also be asking, in light of competing pressures on the marine environment, whether the Government has a comprehensive strategy in place to ensure its marine spatial planning is fit for the future, and what the benefits and drawbacks are from the operation of Marine Protected Areas and Highly Protected Marine Areas.

Chair comment

Environmental Audit Committee Chair, Toby Perkins MP, said:

“Time is ticking to meet our pledge to protect 30% of land and seas by 2030. While much of the focus has been on land, what progress are we making in protecting our seas and oceans? Are international agreements that the UK has signed and ratified driving progress in maintaining environmental protection as our seas and oceans buckle under the pressure of so many competing demands?

“Through this inquiry, our Committee will consider the current state of play ahead of the UN Oceans Conference in June 2025. If we find there are limitations to the current governance arrangements of the marine environment, we will urge Ministers to get these issues high up on the conference agenda.” 

Committee members comment:

Environmental Audit Committee members, Barry Gardiner MP and Anna Gelderd MP, said:

“It is crucial that we act with urgency to ensure the sustainable future of our marine-based industries, our local fishing communities, and our precious marine ecosystems allowing them to not only survive, but also thrive.

“The High Seas are a global common good, but they have been recklessly exploited. The U.K. has the opportunity through the Global Oceans Treaty to establish a robust marine governance framework that balances protection of the marine ecosystem, sustainable fishing, and other uses of the marine environment.

“We urge anyone with information and views on these vital matters to submit evidence to the Committee.

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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