England’s largest seabird
colony will soon benefit from stronger protection as Environment
Minister Thérèse Coffey confirms the Flamborough Head and Filey
Coast Special Protection Area (SPA) will be extended by over
7,600 hectares.
This protected area of
Yorkshire coastline already provides a safe haven for breeding
seabirds including gannets, razorbills and the iconic puffin.
Now, a quarter of a million breeding seabirds – including almost
2,000 puffins – will be better protected and given a safe space
for feeding and foraging.
The announcement comes during
National Marine Week, which celebrates the UK’s rich marine life
and habitats, and ongoing efforts to protect these for future
generations.
Natural England has also
launched a consultation to extend the nearby Teesmouth and
Cleveland Coast SPA by nearly 10,000 hectares, which if
designated, will help protect populations of breeding little
terns and common terns.
Environment Minister
Thérèse Coffey said:
“We are a world-leader in
protecting our marine environment, with a third of our waters
already protected as part of our Blue Belt.
“National Marine Week is a
fantastic opportunity for us all to celebrate the diverse range
of habitats which make up the British coastline, and the role we
all have to play in protecting these.
“These new safeguards for
seabirds will help our most precious and iconic wildlife to
thrive, and protect our marine environment for future generations
to enjoy.”
Brad Tooze, Natural
England Area Manager for Northumbria:
“Extending marine protection
areas allows for much loved seabirds to feed and breed in a safe
haven, ensuring they can thrive for generations to come in a safe
and secure habitat.
“Our consultation on extending
the Special Protection Area at Teesmouth will help to protect
populations of breeding little terns and common terns. Natural
England has worked closely with our partners on the Tees to
develop these proposals and we welcome views from the local
community and stakeholders.”
Special Protection Areas are
sites designated to protect populations of rare and vulnerable
seabirds from human activity – including fishing or outdoor
recreation – while minimising disturbance to birds’ open water
feeding areas. There are already 45 such sites designated in
English waters.
They are just one type of the
many Marine Protected Areas in place around the UK to conserve
rare, threatened and nationally important habitats and species
for future generations. 35 per cent of English waters are part of
the Marine Protected Areas network, covering over 200,000 square
kilometres.
As part of the Government’s
commitment to becoming a world-leader in marine protection, a
consultation on designating 41 new Marine Conservation Zones
recently closed, receiving an overwhelming 44,000
responses.
The proposed sites will cover
an area almost eight times the size of Greater London and help
protect species like the short snouted seahorse, stalked
jellyfish and peacock’s tail seaweed. If designated, they will
mark the most significant expansion of the UK’s ‘Blue Belt’ of
protected areas to date.
The Government’s commitment to
marine protection forms a key part of our 25 Year Environment
Plan, an ambitious roadmap for a greener future. Alongside
expanding the Blue Belt, one of the world’s strongest bans on
microbeads was introduced last month to protect our oceans and
nine billion fewer bags have been distributed thanks to the
Government’s 5p plastic bag charge.
In a further drive to clean up
our seas, the Government has also set out ambitious plans to end
the sale of plastic straws, stirrers and cotton
buds and introduce a deposit return scheme, subject to
consultation later this year.
