UK : 23 new marine conservation zones

“These MCZ will be worse than useless, giving the illusion of protection where none is present”

The 23 new marine conservation zones (MCZ) stretch from the coast of Northumberland down to Land’s End and include Europe’s longest chalk reef off Cromer in Norfolk. But, with the 27 MCZs designated in 2013, the total of 50 is far below the 127 sites proposed by an earlier £8m government consultation. The 50 MCZs, along with other types of protected areas, now cover 20% of all English waters, almost 8,000 sq miles.

“As an island nation, the UK is surrounded by some of the richest and most diverse sea life in the world – from the bright pink sea-fan coral colonies off the south-west coast, to the great chalk reef stretches in the east,” said marine environment minister George Eustice. “It’s vital we protect our marine environment to ensure our seas remain healthy, our fishing industry remains prosperous and future generations can enjoy our beautiful beaches, coastline and waters.”

Professor Callum Roberts, at the University of York and one of the UK’s leading marine conservation experts, welcomed the new MCZs but said: “We need more because the network we have is far from complete. Despite the 50 MCZs, the UK’s rich marine life has very little protection. That may sound paradoxical, but six years after the Marine Act was passed, MCZs are still paper parks. They have no management at all, so life within them remains unprotected. They will be worse than useless, giving the illusion of protection where none is present.”

Prof Roberts said the low level of protection the government was giving to UK waters was in sharp contrast to its leadership on the international stage: “The UK is giving full protection from fishing to huge areas of our overseas territories in the Atlantic (Ascension Island), Indian (Chagos) and Pacific Oceans (Pitcairn). We urgently need the same high levels of protection in our home waters.”