5. What policies are in place to increase biodiversity in marine environments? OAQ(5)0090(ERA)

Thank you. I recognise the value of maintaining and enhancing marine biodiversity and building the resilience in our marine environment. The marine strategy framework directive requires us to achieve good environmental status of our seas. It sets out the measures we are taking to protect, maintain and restore the environment.

Thank you for that, Cabinet Secretary. The Welsh Government supports the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and that commits us to halting the decline in biodiversity by 2020, and then starting to reverse that decline. I read just recently about the fall in the numbers of sewin in Welsh rivers and seas. A mark of Wales in many ways—sewin. It does bring home how vigilant we need to be in this area and ensure that these targets are met and exceeded.

Yes. I absolutely agree with the Member and I am very committed to Wales completing its contribution to a well-managed ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas. You’ll be aware of the network assessment that we undertook last year, which demonstrated that Wales is already making a significant contribution towards the UK network, for instance. We’ve got 128 marine protected areas in Welsh water, but we are working to ensure that that network is effectively managed, so that it does continue to contribute to the conservation and improvement of our area.

I went on a visit on Monday to Cemlyn, which is a coastal site owned by the National Trust on the north Anglesey coast. It’s a very important site in terms of biodiversity, including a high percentage of the global population of the sandwich tern. It is one of the oldest nature reserves in Britain, going back almost a century. Anyone who’s familiar with Cemlyn will know that it’s in the Shadow of Wylfa. Does the Minister agree with me, therefore, that the developers of Wylfa Newydd should be proactive, and take all possible opportunities to support the National Trust in its efforts to safeguard and develop this sensitive site for future generations?

Yes, absolutely. It’s a very important site, and I would absolutely agree with the Member.

Cabinet Secretary, before meeting you this morning, the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee warmed up with a session on our marine inquiry, which we’re commencing. Members were struck by the sheer complexity of legislation in this area, overlapping responsibilities, the wide range of different protection areas and the rules around them. I wonder with the extension of Welsh responsibility beyond the 12-mile limit, so taking that area from the UK Government, and with Brexit, will there be scope for rationalising the system with one based more around the principles of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, and promoting that goal of increased biodiversity in our marine environment?

Yes, absolutely. I think that’s one of the opportunities, as opposed to the risks and the challenges, and you’re quite right. David Melding mentioned the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. We have the EU nature directives. We have our own directives, as you say, and we’ve got our own legislation in place now, both in the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 and the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, so I think there is the possibility of doing that.