Natural England - Marine Protected Areas

Marine Protected Areas

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are zones of the oceans and shores where species and habitats are protected from damage or disturbance. MPAs are places where marine species can thrive and regenerate.

The UK Government is committed to establishing a network of Marine Protected Areas by 2012 and has set out a vision for this target:

‘Our vision is to recover and protect the richness of our marine life and environment through development of a strong, ecologically coherent and well-managed network of marine protected areas (MPAs) that is well understood and supported and best meets the needs of society as a whole.’

By linking MPAs together into a coherent network, supported by wider environmental management measures, we will promote the recovery and conservation of marine ecosystems. The network will contain MPAs of different sizes containing different habitats and species, connected through movements of adults and larvae, with a range of protection levels that are designed to meet objectives that single MPAs cannot. A well designed network is key to achieving biodiversity goals.

The UK has committed to establishing an ecologically coherent network of MPAs under several agreements including the OSPAR Convention, World Summit on Sustainable Development and Convention on Biological Diversity.

Why do we need MPAs?

Some human activities damage or cause disturbance to marine habitats and their species. Within an MPA such activities may be managed or restricted.

MPAs are essential for healthy, functioning and resilient ecosystems – they help us achieve and maintain clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas.

Specifically, MPAs enable us to:

  • Protect and restore the ecosystems in our seas and around our coasts.

  • Ensure that the species and habitats found there can thrive and are not threatened or damaged.

  • Maintain a diverse range of marine life that can be resistant to changes brought about by physical disturbance, pollution and climate change.

  • Provide areas where the public can enjoy a healthy marine environment, learn about marine life and enjoy activities such as diving, photography, exploring rock pools and coastal walking.

  • Provide natural areas for scientific study.

Lundy: case study of a marine protected area

Marine Protected Areas in England

There are five designations which together will form the MPA network in England:

  • Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)
    These contain marine habitats or species of European importance.

  • Special Protection Areas (SPAs)
    These contain populations of particular species of birds of European importance that depend on the marine environment.

    SPAs and SACs are together termed ‘European marine sites’.

  • Marine Nature Reserves (MNRs)
    There are 3 in the UK of which only one, Lundy, is in England. Lundy MNR will become a Marine Conservation Zone under the Marine Bill.

  • Subtidal Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
    Although most SSSIs are on land there are some which extend into the marine environment. 

  • Voluntary Marine Protected Areas
    Several voluntary MPAs have been established by local groups or councils. Activities may be managed by voluntary codes of conduct.

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee have produced an information document on different types of MPAs.

Map of current MPAs (UK Marine Protected Areas Centre).

Marine Protected Areas and the Marine and Coastal Access Bill

A key proposal of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill is to strengthen the network of Marine Protected Areas. It will do this by creating a duty on Ministers to designate new areas of national importance as Marine Conservation Zones to protect the range of marine habitats and species in England’s seas.

Natural England’s work on Marine Protected Areas

Our work falls into three main categories:

  • Identifying Marine Conservation Zones designated under the Marine and Coastal Access Bill

  • Identifying new Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas 

  • Improving management of existing European marine sites.

Read our Policy Position Statement on Marine Protected Areas pdf document.

Reports and events

  • Marine Conservation Zones

    Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) will be a new type of Marine Protected Area (MPA) brought in under the UK Marine Bill. Marine Conservation Zones will form a key part of the UK MPA network.

    More

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