Marine Conservation Zones protect our diverse species and habitats in the “blue belt” around the English Coast.
Marine Conservation Zones are areas that protect a range of nationally important, rare or threatened habitats and species.
There are 91 MCZs in waters around England. You can see where the zones are on JNCC’s interactive map.
These were designated in two phases after a process closely involving stakeholders. The first 27 zones were designated on 21 November 2013. 23 sites were designated in the second phase on 17 January 2016. Following consultation, 41 sites and 12 additional features were designated on 31 May 2019. Updated GIS data for all designated MCZs has been published.
The third phase essentially completed the UK Blue Belt and our contribution to the ecologically coherent network in the North East Atlantic in terms of the representation of species and habitats.
Similar schemes are operating in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to contribute to a UK wide network of marine protected areas.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/marine-conservation-zone-designations-in-england
MAP Reality Check Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are the most important tool that we have to ensure that marine wildlife is protected from human activities. Over the last few years, there has been a lot of progress around the UK in planning and designating new MPAs. In England we now have 39 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and 91 Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) covering approximately 40% of English waters. Over 25 byelaws have been enacted by Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Agencies and the Marine Management Organisation since 2014 to restrict fishing activities that are damaging to the protected features.
The MAP Reality Check site intends to show the public, journalists and politicians Marine Protected Area management and governance in places set up to protect our important wildlife hotspots. We have promoted it to international practitioners. Whilst there has been progress within the IFCAs to get regulations in place, there has been an inability & reluctance to get regulations in place in offshore sites (outside 12nm) up until the end of 2020.
Given the data from our understanding of MPAs in relation to effective ecosystem-based fisheries management in English waters (that at least require bottom trawl and scallop dredge closures), as of the end of September 2020, of the current 66,507km2 of MPAs, only 4,811km2(7.2%) is permanently protected from all types of bottom towed fishing gears. Of England’s entire sea area (241,576km2), 4,811km2 is only 2%.
https://map.mpa-reality-check.org/
Wikipedia A Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) is a type of marine nature reserve in UK waters. They were established under the Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009) and are areas designated with the aim to protect nationally important, rare or threatened habitats and species. Approximately 20% of UK waters now have some protection although some conservation, fisherman and wildlife groups are concerned that there are no management plans for each zone.
Following Brexit, legislation was introduced into Parliament in January 2020 which would give new powers to the Marine Management Organisation in English waters.
