Marine Protected Areas (MPA)

Only 2% of the UK’s sea area has any level of protection awarded for wildlife, and less than 0.001% is considered as fully protected from all damaging activities. The tide is now turning. By 2012 the UK Government has committed to have established an ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in UK waters. The Marine and Coastal Access Act brought in the laws necessary to create a network of MPAs in English and Welsh inshore waters (out to 12 nautical miles from the coast) and in offshore waters (beyond 12 miles) around the UK. The Scottish Marine Bill, published recently, will bring in comparable powers in Scottish waters, and a Northern Ireland Bill is expected in 2012.  This is a very significant and exciting time for the management of the UK’s seas. The Wildlife Trusts aim to ensure that the new laws result in an effective and well-managed network of MPAs throughout the UK marine area, so that our seas and sea life receive the protection they have so long been awaiting.

What are MPAs?

MPAs are areas designated to protect marine ecosystems, ecological processes, habitats and species. Their primary objective is the conservation and recovery of marine ecosystems. They have, depending on their requirements, different levels of protection, from partial restrictions to complete exclusion of damaging activity. They are an important tool in nature conservation and can in cases address wider issues, such as pollution and fisheries.
 

MPA Network

In England, the MPA network will consist of four types of site designation: Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). MCZs are an exciting new designation,  introduced through the Marine and Coastal Access Act. The MPA network will be established for the conservation and recovery of our marine biodiversity, aiming to protect species and habitats of both national and international importance.

To instigate the establishment of the English MPA network, Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee have created four regional MCZ projects. These are called Balanced Seas (operating in the Eastern Channel), Finding Sanctuary (for South West England), Irish Sea and MCZ Project and Net Gain for the North Sea.
 

What are The Wildlife Trusts doing to help achieve Living Seas and an ecologically coherent network of MPAs?

The Wildlife Trusts aim to work alongside and within these regional projects to ensure that they deliver the best possible MPA network for each region – and, in so doing, to help achieve our vision of ‘Living Seas’.

Twelve Wildlife Trusts (from Northumberland down to Suffolk) have committed to working together to influence the development of MPAs in the North Sea so as to achieve the greatest possible benefit for marine wildlife. As voluntary organisations, independent of governments, we can help drive the MPA process forward, voicing our concerns openly and honestly and responding rapidly to changing situations. On a local, regional and national scale, we can use our resources to make the vision of Living Seas a reality. However we cannot do this alone, click here to see how you can get help us achieve this aim.