The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) says its anticipating real progress following the Government’s announcement to deliver a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s) across the UK.
MCS’s Biodiversity Policy Officer, Dr Jean-Luc Solandt said: “We’re pleased to see the report published. MCS has been working for ten years to get complete protection for a wide variety of species and habitats. While we would like some clarification on what new protection measures may result in future, we anticipate real progress at last."
It’s hoped that Marine Protected Areas will be a vital safeguard for many species of sea life, from the rare and threatened to the more common.
The strategy says that all UK Governments, agencies and those with an interest in protecting our seas are committed to delivering a coherent network of MPAs to meet international, EU and national commitments contained in the groundbreaking Marine and Coastal Access Act.
Launching the UK Government strategy, Marine Environment Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, said: “Our ‘blue’ spaces are just as important as our green spaces for our very existence. The seas and oceans help to provide us with the air we breathe, strongly affect the world’s climate and support 80 per cent of the world’s biodiversity. They need the same protection as the land. This strategy looks to the longer term, and will help to deliver a network of MPAs that will provide this protection so that we achieve our aim of a healthy, clean and vibrant marine environment.”
The network will be made up from conservation measures including:
· Marine Conservation Zones, included in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009;
· Marine Protected Areas, designated under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010;
· Special Areas of Conservation – a requirement of the EU Habitats Directive;
· Special Protection Areas designated under the EU Wild Birds Directive;
· Sites of Special Scientific Interest; and
· Ramsar sites, which protect important wetlands.
The Strategy also sets out how MPAs will be considered in wider planning and licensing functions administered by the new Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The MMO will play an important role in helping to deliver conservation objectives and will ensure that any adverse affect on MPAs will, as far as possible be
