Independent review backs introduction of new Highly Protected Marine Areas
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Review recommends introduction of Highly Protected Marine Areas as
essential for marine protection and recovery Areas would offer
total protection for all species and habitats within their
boundaries Panel recommends identifying new pilot sites in English
waters An independent Review led by former Fisheries
Minister Richard Benyon, and published today on World Ocean Day, is
calling for the introduction of Highly Protected Marine Areas in
English...Request free trial
An independent Review led by former Fisheries
Minister Richard
Benyon, and published today on World Ocean Day, is calling
for the introduction of Highly Protected Marine Areas in English
waters[1]. The
review was commissioned on last year’s world
ocean day by then Environment Secretary Michael Gove as part of the Government’s
drive to protect our waters.
These highly protected marine areas would
enable a greater recovery of the marine ecosystem and enhance the
Government’s commitment to a national ‘Blue Belt’, which has
already seen an area of 92,000 square km protected - 40% of
English seas.
The UK currently has a range of protections in
place through a network of 355 Marine Protected Areas, which
offer protections for a designated feature or habitat within
their boundaries. Highly Protected Marine Areas would go further
by taking a ‘whole site approach’ and only permitting certain
activities within their boundaries such as vessel transit, scuba
diving and kayaking. Activities that could have a damaging
effect on habitats or wildlife, including fishing, construction
and dredging would be banned. The Review claims the introduction
of such areas could lead to a significant biodiversity boost for
our seas by giving our marine life the best chance to recover and
thrive.
The Review, which was supported by a panel of
independent experts, also sheds light on the potential social and
economic benefits of introducing highly protected marine areas.
These benefits include increased tourism and recreational
activities, opportunities for scientific research and education,
and positive effects for human health. It also suggests that any
potential fishing restriction could be counterbalanced by a
stronger and biodiverse marine wildlife - with potential
long-term benefits for the fishing industry from providing areas
where sea life can develop and breed undisturbed.
Three Marine Protected Areas: Flamborough
Head, Lundy Island and the Medway Estuary currently have in place
‘no take zones‘ which prohibit all methods of fishing.
The panel has made a number of recommendations
which will now be considered by Government with a formal response
made in due course.
Key recommendations
include:
Environment Secretary George Eustice said:
“Our ‘Blue Belt’ of Marine Protected Areas has
already raised the bar for marine protection and we are committed
to the highest standards of sustainability for our seas that set
a gold standard around the world.
“That’s why we asked the panel to conduct this
Review and I am very grateful to them for their work. I welcome
and agree with the spirit of ambition, which is in line with our
25 Year Environment Plan, and we will now carefully consider the
recommendations set out in the Review.”
Chair of the Independent Review Panel
Richard
Benyon said:
“The sea has provided food, materials and
recreational opportunities for thousands of years. However, human
activities have significantly impacted these habitats and
species, which we now know need greater protection.
“Our review demonstrates that in order to
deliver the protections our most threated habitats need, Highly
Protected Marine Areas need to be introduced, and I hope that
government will engage with local communities and stakeholders to
more forward plans to designate these new sites.”
Chair of Natural England Tony Juniper,
said:
“I welcome the recommendations put forward by
the Panel. This Review is an important marker of how we can use
highly protected areas to mitigate the impact of human activities
on the ocean, and support its recovery to a more natural
state.
“I thank the panel for their work and look
forward to working with Defra as they consider how best to take
forward the recommendations.”
Lewis Pugh endurance swimmer and UN
Patron of the Oceans, said:
“The coronavirus pandemic has shown us how
important our relationship with nature is. The beauty of
nature is that it can bounce back - but only if we give it proper
protection. There is little point in having protected areas that
are not pulling their weight.
“The UK has some of the richest and most
diverse sea life in the world. I'm excited that we may soon have
a pilot programme of Highly Protected Marine Protected Areas in
England, but this must amount to more than dipping a toe in the
water.
“I urge the UK government to show the same
leadership as with their call for 30% of the world’s oceans to be
protected. They must act urgently to strengthen protection, as in
a few years’ time it will be too late to fix the crisis in our
oceans.”
Richard Benwell, Chief Executive of
Wildlife and Countryside Link said:
“The panel’s work shows strong consensus from
conservation, industry and fisheries perspectives: highly
protected areas are essential in reviving the ocean. We urge
Ministers to now implement the recommendations quickly and create
fully protected HPMAs for our seas. These will help recover our
seas for people, nature and climate and be a vital addition to
the UK network of marine sites. This would set Government at the
cutting edge of ocean action and reinforce its leadership role in
the Global Ocean Alliance as it calls to protect 30% of the
world’s oceans”
On World Ocean Day, this review builds on the
UK Government’s commitment to further advance ocean protection
measures including last year’s designation of a further
41 Marine Protection Zones protecting species and habitats such as
the rare stalked jellyfish, short-snouted seahorse and blue
mussel beds. The Government is currently putting in place
management measures for Marine Protected Areas, including seeking
new powers through the Fisheries Bill, and through implementation
of the 25 Year Environment Plan.
This news comes as seven new countries joined
the UK led Global Ocean Alliance, an initiative aimed at securing
protection of 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. There are
now a total of 20 countries in the Alliance following today’s
announcement. Germany and Italy are amongst the major new players
to join, other joiners include Fiji, Cabo Verde, Monaco, Senegal,
and Luxemburg.
This complements a wide programme of overseas
engagements, including through the Commonwealth Clean Ocean
Alliance and the Commonwealth Litter Programme, aiming to prevent
plastic waste from reaching the ocean.
The Government has also committed to a £500
million Blue Planet fund to export UK expertise in marine science
around the world, supporting overseas countries to protect marine
habitats.
The Review is available for download at this
link: https://we.tl/t-hUYTjbNqom
ENDS
Background:
Chair of the Review:
Richard
Benyon is a former MP and Minister for the Natural
Environment and Fisheries. He is actively interested in
environmental issues, and is a former chair of the All Party
Parliamentary Environment Group and a former member of the
Environment Audit Committee. He is widely respected within the
fishing industry, and during his time at Defra worked closely
with marine conservation groups, fishermen, and coastal
communities during the development of the first tranche of Marine
Conservation Zones.
Panel Members:
Peter Barham, Chair of the Seabed User
and Developer Group, a representative group of UK marine
industries.
Peter has over 20 years’ experience as a
senior manager in public and private sectors delivering
environmental and sustainable development solutions.
Joan Edwards, Director of Marine
Conservation at The Wildlife Trusts.
Joan has substantial experience working on
marine issues in the Wildlife Trusts for over 30 years and led
the NGO campaign for the Marine and Coastal Access Act and its
implementation.
Michel Kaiser, Professor of Fisheries
Conservation, Heriot Watt University,
Edinburgh.
Michael is a board member of Fisheries
Innovation Scotland and a member of the International Union for
the Conservation of Nature’s Fisheries Expert Group.
Susan Owens OBE, FBA, Emeritus Professor
of Environment and Policy, University of Cambridge, and Fellow
Emerita of Newnham College.
Susan was a member of the Royal Commission on
Environmental Pollution that produced the ‘Turning the Tide’
report which addressed the impact of fisheries on the marine
environment.
Callum Roberts, Professor of Marine
Conservation, University of York.
Trustee of Nekton Oxford Deep Ocean Research
Institute; Trustee and Chief Scientific Advisor to the Blue
Marine Foundation; Member of WWF-UK’s Council of
Ambassador.
Nathan de Rozarieux, inshore fisherman
and fisheries consultant.
Nathan has been a Board Member of the Sea Fish
Industry Authority since 2018 and was a committee member of the
Cornwall Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority.
Benj Sykes, Vice-President of Ørsted’s
Offshore wind business.
Co-chair, Offshore Wind Industry Council. Benj
is also on the Board of RenewableUK and is a Fellow of the Energy
Institute with over 30 years’ experience in the energy
sector.
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