"Protect Northern Ireland's seas" says Ford on World Oceans Day

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 8th Jun 2005

Alliance Party Leader, David Ford, has called for the protection of the seas and marine environment of Northern Ireland, while speaking in favour of a massive signature campaign for new UK marine laws. Over 165,000 pledges of support have been presented to the UK Government today.

David Ford, who was previously on the Environment Committee at the Northern Ireland Assembly, said: "The Alliance Party takes the protection and safe management of our marine environment seriously. That's why I developed a Marine Conservation bill, which was due to be presented to the Northern Ireland Assembly at the time of its suspension.

"It is vital that any legislation being brought forward by the Government to introduce a new framework for managing the seas around the UK include Northern Ireland.

"I completely endorse the wider campaign that has demonstrated the significant level of public support for better protection and management of our seas. Quite simply, our seas, and all their abundance, are worth looking after properly."

ENDS