BBC News - New marine zone plans scrapped by minister

BBC News - New marine zone plans scrapped by minister: "'Strongly held views'
The Welsh government proposed the zones last year with the backing of the Countryside Council of Wales and the Marine Conservation Society.

The minister for natural resources said the decision had been made after the thousands of responses to the consultation brought "divergent and strongly held views".

Mr Davies said to "avoid any continuing uncertainty over the options presented in the 2012 consultation, I am also withdrawing all the proposed sites".

His comments come after the findings were published of a task and finish team which reviewed the feedback.

Now, he will concentrate on the existing 125 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that cover 36% of Welsh seas to see if any changes can be made rather than creating additional zones.

"We are now in a stronger position to assess our current contribution to the network's ecological coherence," he said.

"I have, therefore, commissioned an assessment of our current MPAs to identify if there are any gaps and what the options might be to fill those gaps.

"If any measures are required, I believe they should be simple, proportionate and fit for purpose.""

'via Blog this'

Some common sense coming forward at last, this was one of that female minister's pet projects, what was her name now? Can't remember but much damage was done.