Britain is to call for a third of the world's oceans to be protected from damaging activity by 2030.

The ambitious target, announced at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, would ensure the marine environment has a "buffer" against the effects of climate change, plastic pollution and human exploitation.

It is a significant victory for Sky Ocean Rescue which has campaigned for tighter marine protection.

Just 3.7% of the world's oceans are currently designated as marine protected areas (MPAs).

The UN has a target of protecting 10% by 2020.


But the Environment Secretary Michael Gove called for a far more ambitious target of 30% by 2030, to provide meaningful protection.

He said: "Protection of our oceans is a global challenge which requires global action.

Image: The Environment Secretary Michael Gove has called for 30% of the world's oceans to be protected by 2030

"The UK has already safeguarded vast swathes of precious marine habitats, but we must go further.

"Only by working together can we protect our shared home and ensure our marine life continues to be a source of awe and wonder for future generations."

The announcement was welcomed by UN ocean campaigner Lewis Pugh who wrote a daily blog for Sky News as he swam the 330-mile length of the English Channel from Land's End to Dover this summer to highlight the plight of the world's oceans and call for better protection for UK seas.

He told Sky News: "This is a very, very exciting moment. It's what I've been calling for the full 49 days of this swim. What she [Theresa May] needs to do now is go to all our friends around the world and encourage them to support this pledge."

"It feels like my long swim was all worth it," he added.

Image: Sky News followed Lewis Pugh's 330-mile swim from Land's End to Dover this summer

"What struck me [on the swim] was how little I saw in terms of wildlife. I saw a few birds, I saw a few dolphins, I saw one turtle and not much else...Be under no illusions our oceans are in crisis and the prime minister has responded with this very very bold announcement," the endurance swimmer said.

"People realise we now stand at a monumental moment in history. We need to take action now," he added.

The UK has already pledged to protect almost two million square miles of its extensive marine territory in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Closer to home, 36% of England's waters are currently safeguarded as MPAs, in what the government calls a Blue Belt.

But conservationists say the current level of protection is too weak.

Sky's Ocean Rescue campaign is boosted as third of ocean protection called for at UN by Michael Gove.

Callum Roberts, professor of marine conservation at York University, told Sky News that whole ecosystems need to be protected.

He said: "I would love to see a ban on fishing in our MPAs.

"But at the very least we need bans on bottom trawling and dredging because of the damage they do to the seabed."

Professor Roberts said fishermen benefit from protected areas because "you re-build the fish stocks in the oceans to more healthy and productive levels and they produce more of the fish that we can take."

Sky is working with the World Wildlife Fund to safeguard marine protected areas in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Italy.

Tanya Steele, WWF Chief Executive said: " This is a good and realistic proposal that presents an ambitious vision of a future world working together to ensure this resource is protected and restored.

"But that can only become reality if global leaders sign on to a binding and shared commitment - a global deal for nature. And if we ensure that here in the UK we better manage our own marine protected areas," she added.

"We're working with Sky Ocean Rescue to improve how Marine Protected Areas are managed so that they can truly live up to their name and protect these vital habitats, giving them chance to recover from past damage and thrive again," she said.

:: Sky Ocean Rescue aims to help everyone make simple everyday changes to stop the world's oceans drowning in plastic.

:: To find out more about the issues affecting our oceans and how to #PassOnPlastic visit skyoceanrescue.com.