Dr. Simon Berrow:

I thank Deputy Bruton. It is a difficult question. Clearly, I do not believe we have the capacity in the key agencies that are charged with responsibility for the marine and biodiversity. It is very welcome that a review of the National Parks and Wildlife Service is under way. It is badly needed. It has been pushed between Departments for many years and it is chronically under-resourced. That is welcome but it will take time. Do we have the time to build that capacity? I am not sure.

The marine sector is fragmented. To get a licence for this or permission for that, it is all over the place. For many years, different governments have suggested that we need a proper Department with responsibility for the marine and a proper marine sector. Obviously, the Marine Institute has grown hugely in recent years and has been playing a very important role in co-ordinating marine strategy and research. It is only an agency, however. How do we pull those together in a timely fashion to address the very urgent issues? I am not really too sure, to be honest. It is probably a bit beyond my pay scale. The bottom line is, no.

I look at the National Parks and Wildlife Service, which has three or four marine people who have to cover everything from benthic to marine mammals to sea birds, and all planning applications, and comment on it in a knowledgeable way. They do the best they can. Many of us, including Ms McMahon, have called for perhaps an independent agency that represents all parts of it, which can take on that responsibility, including monitoring. I am not sure if that is the best answer but I am afraid it is the best I can come up with at the moment.