Global Ocean Treaty

The Liberal Democrats recognise that our oceans are a vital part of the global ecosystem and believe that more protection and safeguards must be implemented to prevent the loss of the marine environment, which has devastating consequences. This is, of course, particularly important to me as the MP for West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, which has such deep connections with the ocean.

My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I are pushing for the strongest possible marine environmental targets, both internationally and domestically.

International action remains one of the strongest ways to address this issue because the problems facing our oceans extend beyond borders.

We support the calls of organisations like the High Seas Alliance and Great Blue Ocean for the UK government to lead the way on ocean protection by ratifying the Global Ocean Treaty into law.

Alongside these international measures, we will continue to push for the UK to provide greater resources for international environmental cooperation, particularly to tackle illegal and unsustainable trade in marine wildlife and fish.

We have been pushing Ministers for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to explain exactly the effects of fully or highly protected Marine Protected Areas on the ecological health of our waters. You can read the Government response here:

My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I seek every opportunity to raise this issue with the government and push for action to protect our oceans.