Plans to protect fish stocks by setting up conservation areas were unveiled in a draft marine bill to be presented to parliament. The draft law streamlines the system of planning for developments at sea, such as offshore wind turbines, and provides for greater public access to the coast.

The government has promised a bill for several years but the move has been delayed, partly because of the difficulty of reconciling the needs of fishermen with concerns of conservationists. Under the draft proposals, the government would designate areas of sea as "marine conservation zones", where fishing would be limited. Fiona Harvey and Jim Pickard