The UK has been told to host an international summit that would draw-up a “visionary” new strategy to safeguard the future of the North Sea.
A report by a group of peers has today called for a “step-change” in the management of the sea, including the creation of common policies on the environment, shipping, fishing and energy.
The House of Lords’ European Union committee made the recommendations after holding an inquiry that was launched last July.
The peers found that despite being “one of the most industrialised seas in the world”, and plans being under way for a 50-fold increase in offshore wind turbines over coming years, there was currently no single map or database plotting the various uses of the sea.
They urged the UK to work much more closely with the other North Sea nations to ensure its future was sustainable.
“Visionary leadership is required and we therefore recommend that the UK Government convene a North Sea ministerial conference to take stock of the overarching challenges and opportunities in the North Sea marine environment,” the report concluded.
“This should build on the environmental focus of earlier ministerial conferences, and take a more holistic approach, extending to the consideration of economic sectors including shipping, fishing and energy.
“Such a ministerial conference should aspire to a common political vision for the North Sea, which, through genuine co-operation, delivers a sustainable and secure resource for the future.”
The committee said greater cooperation was required to create an international energy grid and to develop a cross-border data collection initiative, while the peers also recommended that the UK Government consider giving extra resources to the North Sea Fisheries Advisory Council.
Baroness Scott, chairwoman of the committee, said: “We already have ships queuing to pass through sections of the sea basin and it is predicted that the space allocated to wind farms could increase fifty-fold in the next few years.
“That level of use places significant pressure on eco-systems in the North Sea.
“If the North Sea is left uncoordinated, the conflict between environmental sustainability and economic growth will intensify.
“To avoid that, and to strike the right balance, we will need a coordinated and strategic approach. Despite some excellent ad hoc initiatives, we do not feel that such an approach is in place at the moment.
“We want the UK Government to take the lead in convening a ministerial conference of North Sea states to deliver the urgently needed strategic and political vision for the North Sea.”