Centre member Dr Ray Ward, discusses marine environmental issues with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Dr Raymond Ward, Reader in Marine Science, was invited to a round table event with George Eustice, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Dr Ward discussed the positive impact of the recent nearshore no trawling bylaw, driven by Sussex IFCA and signed off by the Secretary on behalf of DEFRA earlier this year. Dr Ward also raised issues concerning the substantial levels of environmental pollutants, ranging from microplastics, and heavy metals, to nitrates/phosphate and pharmaceutical compounds in our coastal ecosystems. Dr Ward also stressed the importance of the development of a marine carbon metric system of accounting to help conserve, protect and enhance the huge amount of carbon sequestered and stored in our ‘Blue Carbon’ systems, particularly saltmarshes, seagrasses and macroalgal habitats.