Marine Protected Areas
Most commonly the term Marine Protected Area (MPA) is used to describe an area of the sea which may be identified as being important for marine wildlife, habitats, cultural heritage or for fisheries purposes.
MPAs are designated areas of our oceans, seas and coasts where
species and habitats are protected through legal or other effective
means from activities that are damaging or cause disturbance.
Fishing activities which do not have a significant impact on
wildlife will be unaffected, some fishing activities might need to
be restricted in certain areas, but if so, it may be possible to
find wildlife-friendly ways to keep working.
MPAs can be established for different reasons. Marine nature
conservation MPAs are areas identified for biodiversity protection.
They are used for nature conservation where their primary
objectives relate to the conservation and recovery of marine
wildlife and habitats. However they may also benefit fish
populations.
More generally, the term 'Fisheries MPA' is used to describe a tool for fish stock management and recovery. The reality is that marine fisheries and the marine environment are so closely and inextricably linked that protecting one often means protecting the other, and many sites will be protected by a number of designation
The Government has committed to put in place an ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas by 2012. The MPA network will be developed specifically for the conservation and recovery of marine biodiversity and ecosystems.
The new MPA network will comprise:
- Existing and new Natura 2000 sites or European Marine Sites and Ramsar sites
- New national MPAs
For general information on Marine Protected Areas see:
- SACs with Marine Components
- UK Marine SPAs
- Representativity and replication for a coherent network of Marine Protected Areas in England's territorial waters
- Proposals for an ecologically coherent network of MPAs
- Principles for delivering an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas
- Protecting our marine environment through the Marine Bill
Seafish publications
- Seafish guide to Marine Protected Areas
- Seafish Guidance note: Protected Wildlife Sites
- Seafish Guidance note: Marine Wildlife Species
Key sources for further information:
- Defra
- Scottish Government
- Welsh Assembly Government
- Northern Ireland Executive
- Joint Nature Conservation Committee
- Natural England
- Scottish Natural Heritage
- The Countryside Council for Wales
- UK Marine Protected Areas Centre
For further information contact:
Mark Gray
Environmental Assessment Support Officer
t: 01248 605038
e: m_gray@seafish.co.uk
European marine sites
Designated to protect wildlife and habitats of European importance, a network of European Marine Sites (sometimes called Natura 2000 sites or the Natura network) comprise both Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs).
National MPAs
New national MPAs are being proposed under the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009) and the Marine (Scotland) Bill. In England and Wales these sites will be known as Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) and in Scotland, Marine Protected Areas.