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.
The Marine Conservation Zone Project has been established by Defra, Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to identify and recommend Marine Conservation Zones to Government, in English territorial waters and all UK offshore waters apart from Scotland.
The Marine Conservation Zone Project will be delivered through four Regional Projects covering the South, the South-West, Irish Sea, North Sea and South-East. They will work with sea users and interest groups to identify Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) and provide recommendations for sites within their regions to Government. Work has started to develop the processes through which they will be identified. The UK administrations are aiming for designation in 2012.
- Marine Conservation Zones
- Marine Conservation Zone Project
- Marine Conservation Zone Project: Wales
- Marine Protected Areas in Scotland
- The Marine Conservation Zone Project information
- Natural England Marine Conservation Zones
- Guidance notes for Marine Conservation Zones
-
Marine Conservation Zone Wales March 2010 newsletter
Four regional MCZ projects
- Finding Sanctuary, South-West England
- Irish Sea Conservations Zones
- Balanced Seas, South-East England
- Net Gain, North Sea
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).