5. Debate on the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee report: 'Turning the tide? Report of the inquiry into the Welsh Government's approach to Marine Protected Area management'

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:11 pm on 10 January 2018.

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Photo of Mike Hedges Mike Hedges Labour 4:11, 10 January 2018

Diolch, Llywydd. Can I thank David Melding, Simon Thomas, Joyce Watson, Neil Hamilton, John Griffiths, and the Cabinet Secretary for taking part in this debate—and Paul Davies for taking part in this debate? And I think it's really—. I think it really is important that we've got a number of people who aren't members of the committee taking an interest in this committee report. I think we've all seen, far too often, a committee report is the committee talking to the main body amongst ourselves, and I think it's very nice to see so many people interested. Can I say, Cabinet Secretary, I think you've seen today you have the goodwill and support of the committee, of Members across the Chamber, and I think you know you've got that from the non-governmental organisations and, more importantly, perhaps, the public, who are all keen on ensuring that our marine environment is well looked after?

I think your response was very positive. You talked about a resilient marine environment and the Welsh Government's strategic role and I think nearly every Member who spoke talked about the Welsh Government's strategic role; I think that is the key—that Welsh Government is responsible for the strategy. I welcome that you put all documents available on demand—that they are, on demand, to be now put on the internet; I assume that means the Welsh Government website. And I welcome the willingness to work with partners, because they really do want to work with the Welsh Government. They don't want to fight with you. They don't want to quarrel with you. They want to work with you for a better marine environment.

Can I reiterate what Paul Davies said? Can we have regular updates? Not just to the committee, because the eight of us knowing about it is nice, but all 60 of us knowing about it in a Plenary is so much better. And I think that, really, people have mentioned the same things all along. David Melding talked about the ineffective management being a threat, designation does not always mean effective management, and the importance of good data and monitoring. And Simon Thomas said virtually the same thing using different words. But, really, it's about making sure the data's right, making sure the designations are right and effectively funded, and everything is working properly. We want a successful marine environment. I think, if we had a vote on it, 'Do we want a successful marine environment?', we would have 60 hands going up, or 60 people pressing 'yes' on the buttons. 

Can I welcome Joyce Watson back onto the committee? Because I think her interest in both the marine environment and the rural areas is very strong. Scallop dredging has been stopped. That was an interest for several of my constituents, as well as people living in west Wales. She raised the importance of marine life, and I think that sometimes we talk about the marine environment and perhaps we don't always think beyond fish—the whole series of marine life out there, which aren't just fish.

The concern about boat pollution, I think, is something that we perhaps underestimate. We talk about the dangers of cars in urban areas, but you've got boats going out there, often with diesel, sometimes older boats that spill diesel—only small amounts. The effect that can have on the marine environment can be dramatic. 

I think Neil Hamilton emphasised, again, the cross-party consensus and an enforcement strategy based on risk. I think that's something the Cabinet Secretary accepted as well. 

John Griffiths is proud of Welsh seas and the coastal environment. I think that's another thing—. We could put that down as a cross-party resolution. I think that's another one where we'd get 60 yesses. People are proud, and we need to build on the ambitious vision.

Brexit—that's going to happen. I think we just need to make sure that we keep the best of the old and we bring in the new. I think it's no good lamenting that we are leaving the European Union. It's about saying, 'We'll keep everything that's good and we'll add to it and make it better.'

I think that, again, with Paul Davies's discussion with stakeholders, it's very important that we all talk to stakeholders. I think that one of the great strengths of us being here as opposed to being Members of Parliament is that we get more time in our own constituencies and a chance to go and talk to people in our constituencies, to discuss these matters. We need to work with stakeholders because they all want this to work. There's nobody trying to undermine the marine environment. No-one is trying to undermine the marine plan. No-one is trying to sabotage it. Everybody wants it to work. We really do need to give a high priority to marine protected areas, as Paul Davies said. 

Can I just finish by asking for—? Given the first thing that I asked for when I led off, can I ask the second one again? Can we please have regular updates, perhaps annually, to this body, not just to the committee? I think that you've seen today the amount of interest that exists, not just among the eight of us on the committee, but among lots of people who aren't on the committee, who represent areas that have a substantial amount of coastline, where it is an issue that affects them, affects their constituents, and is a matter that is brought to their attention on a regular basis. Thank you.