Potential Liberal Democrat Conference Policy Motion – Restoring Our Seas

Any member of the Liberal Democrats can put together a motion to Liberal Democrat conference with some support from other members. If it is then passed by conference it becomes Party Policy.

The below motion has been drafted by Folkestone & Hythe Local Member member George Hoff. It has the support of a number of members of the Folkestone and Hythe Local Party. George is seeking the widest possible support from a range of Local Parties and organisations. If you are a Lib Dem member you can add your support too.

If you are a Lib Dem member and happy to see this motion submitted to Spring Federal Conference in York 2026, please email your name and membership number to George Hoff george_hoff@aol.com

Liberal Democrat Conference Policy Motion – Restoring Our Seas

Conference notes with concern that:

1. The practices of bottom trawling and dredge fishing have had a significant impact on the biodiversity and productivity of marine habitats in the United Kingdom.
2. Foreign-owned ‘supertrawlers’ operating in UK waters have caused damage to the marine environment with significant by-catch including marine mammals.
3. Government policy lacks a holistic approach when it comes to protecting the marine environment and recognising its role in the climate emergency.

Conference recognises that the key to a healthy and productive marine environment is a healthy seabed, able to combat climate change and produce sustainable fish stocks.

Conference also recognises that healthy seas require healthy rivers, and that government policy must view them as one system.

Conference believes that the Liberal Democrats are best placed to bring in the policy changes to protect and restore our marine environment.

Conference reaffirms the Liberal Democrat commitment to:

1. Manage our seas for nature by:
2. Reforming marine spatial planning to deliver a new, integrated approach, focused on sustainability.
3. Reforming the fishing quota allocation system to reward the most sustainable fleet, and ensure all catch limits are set at sustainable levels.
4. Putting in place effective management rules, to support the ecology of each protected area, including a ban on bottom trawling in marine protected areas.
5. Ensuring at least 30% of our seas will be fully or highly protected by 2030.
6. Funding coastal local government to increase the monitoring of the health of coastal waters and to develop ways to increase the communication of results.
7. Manage our lakes, rivers and streams for nature by:
8. Taking urgent measures, including mandating major infrastructure upgrades in the sewage system and implementing natural catchment solutions, to end sewage pollution, prevent harmful run-off from agriculture, and ensure developments do not add to the pollution burden on our precious freshwaters.
9. Introducing nutrient budgeting in English catchments, requiring projects in vulnerable areas to demonstrate ‘nutrient negativity’ before they proceed.
10. Setting new ‘blue flag’ standard and introducing a ‘blue corridor’ programme for rivers, streams and lakes to ensure clean, healthy water.
11. Abolishing Ofwat and replacing it with a regulator with real and meaningful powers.

Conference resolves to:

1. Introduce a total ban on bottom trawling and dredge fishing within the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
2. Introduce a total ban on trawlers over 100 metres in length within the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
3. Create new no-take zones (NTZs) around sensitive or critically important habitats.
4. Establish Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) to better protect whales, dolphins, porpoises and seals.
5. Support projects aimed at restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems, including the reintroduction of beavers, restoration of oyster beds and planting of seagrass meadows.
6. Instruct the Environment Agency to identify and remove obsolete barriers from English rivers and streams to facilitate the passage of nutrients and migratory fish.
7. Work with international partners to help restore and protect rivers, lakes, seas and oceans globally.