A network of Marine protected Areas

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are at the heart of marine nature conservation. We are therefore delighted that the Act requires the designation of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) as part of a UK network of MPAs.

This aspect of the legislation is of paramount importance in the delivery of our Vision. It is therefore vital that:

• An ecologically coherent network of MPAs, including a sufficient number of highly protected sites, is designated by 2012

• MPAs protect examples of the whole range of common or ‘typical’ habitats and species found in healthy seas, as well as rare, threatened or vulnerable wildlife

• MPAs have strong, proactive conservation objectives, and are well managed and effectively enforced

• The network boosts the health of the marine environment as a whole, allowing damaged, degraded areas to recover and building its resilience against current and future pressures.