WWF-UK: Marine Protected Areas
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Marine Protected Areas
WWF is calling for nature conservation to be given an equal status alongside development in our seas. Sadly, it is currently the 'poor relation' of marine development, and caring for our precious marine wildlife is lagging behind plans for human activities.
To boost conservation, WWF believes the marine bill must establish a national network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). These are areas where special management is needed to protect our marine wildlife - from cold-water corals to basking sharks.
Many MPAs could be 'multi-use' areas, where a range of activities can still go ahead, as long as they are mindful of specific management aims. A suite of Highly Protected Marine Reserves (HPMRs) is also urgently needed to protect the most vulnerable habitats and species. In these reserves, most human activities would not be allowed.
The government has an international commitment to conserve important species and habitats in UK waters. Parts of the UK marine environment have already been identified, mostly under EU law, as areas in need of species and habitat conservation, yet they continue to suffer from over-exploitation and a lack of protection, in the absence of nationally important MPAs.
Many MPAs could be 'multi-use' areas, where a range of activities can still go ahead, as long as they are mindful of specific management aims. A suite of Highly Protected Marine Reserves (HPMRs) is also urgently needed to protect the most vulnerable habitats and species. In these reserves, most human activities would not be allowed.
The government has an international commitment to conserve important species and habitats in UK waters. Parts of the UK marine environment have already been identified, mostly under EU law, as areas in need of species and habitat conservation, yet they continue to suffer from over-exploitation and a lack of protection, in the absence of nationally important MPAs.
