Marine Protected Areas
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are valuable tools for conserving the nation's natural and cultural marine resources as part of an 'ecosystem approach' to management. They are "any area influenced by tides, together with its overlying water and associated plants, animals, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by law to protect part or all of the enclosed environment". The protection afforded is aimed at improving the condition of habitats within the protected areas and increasing the distribution of marine species and/or habitats.
Why Have MPAs?
In the UK, MPAs are set up primarily for the conservation of our marine biodiversity and to protect species and habitats of international or national importance. The main types of MPA in the UK are:
The UK also has voluntary MPAs such as:
- Voluntary Marine Conservation Areas (VMCAs)
- and Voluntary Marine Nature Reserves (VMNRs).
Some areas - such as those around national ship wrecks or oil rigs and other structures – are protected incidentally because they are difficult to access. There are also areas that are closed permanently (commonly known as 'closed areas') to various types of fishing activity. Such closures are set up in response to dwindling fish stocks and are therefore designed to enhance fisheries. Examples include the no trawling areas established by the North Eastern Sea Committees off the Yorkshire coast, the boxes in the North Sea and Irish Sea to protect spawning herring and the mackerel box in the western channel which protects the juveniles of the western mackerel stock.
The interactive map illustrates the location of the different MPAs in the UK. For each site there is information about its designation, interest features and a link to a relevant website.
Finding Sanctuary
Finding Sanctuary is a partnership project that aims to create a network of Marine Protected Areas around the coasts and seas of the South West England.
Click Here to find out more about Finding Sanctuary