The term Marine Protected Area (MPA) has been used to describe a wide range of marine areas which have some level of restriction to protect living, non-living, cultural and/or historic resources.

The MPAs that Finding Sanctuary will be selecting are called Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs); these sites are a requirement under the Marine and Coastal Access Act which received Royal Assent on 12th November 2009.

It is important to realise that several types of MPA already exist in England; these include Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for habitats of European importance, Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birds, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) for nationally important habitats and species, and Ramsar sites for wetlands of international importance. Together with MCZs, these existing protected sites will help to form a UK wide network of Marine Protected Areas.

Our aim for the MPA network is to conserve ecosystems and biodiversity, and create an ecologically coherent network whilst minimising the economic and social impacts. This can only be achieved through the active participation of stakeholders throughout the south-west. Stakeholders will have the opportunity to be involved in identifying potential MCZs and their boundaries and developing the conservation objectives for sites (which will dictate the level of protection afforded to their constituent features).

Finding Sanctuary recognises that the process for selecting Natura 2000 sites (also known as European Marine Sites) does not allow stakeholder engagement and participation in designating sites. That is why the approach we are taking for MCZs is so different.

Lundy is the only MCZ currently in the south-west. It became an MCZ through a special provision in the Marine and Coastal Access Act.

The Finding Sanctuary Steering Group, made up of a range of stakeholder interests will identify further MCZs for the south-west area and put their recommendations forward to Natural England and the JNCC in June 2011. A list of Steering Group representatives is available on the Steering Group page.

In planning MCZs, the Steering Group must meet the Ecological Network Guidance (ENG) set out by Natural England and the JNCC. The Steering Group will take socio-economic interests into account so as to minimise negative impacts to people.

Natural England and the JNCC will combine the recommendations of the four regional projects and submit them to Defra. Following a public consultation run by Defra, ministers will take the final decision on which MCZs to designate. If the recommendations are supported by a wide range of stakeholders, and comply with the Ecological Network Guidance then the Government is likely to adopt them and give them legal status. 

The Steering Group's progress in planning MCZs is documented through progress reports. The Steering Group will submit three progress reports to the Science Advisory Panel for feedback before their final recommendations are submitted. Progress reports are available on the Resources page.

No, Finding Sanctuary will only be recommending the location and conservation objectives of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs).  Whilst recommendations for MCZs are being considered by Finding Sanctuary, additional marine Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) will be identified, consulted on and designated through a separate process run by Natural England and the JNCC. European legislation requires these sites to be identified on a purely scientific basis so the public consultation surrounding these sites will be purely about the science that the site selection is based upon.  Finding Sanctuary’s Steering Group will, however, take into account the location of existing and proposed SACs and SPAs and the benefits they already provide to the marine environment.

Not all MCZs will be 'no take' zones. Some MCZs will be multi-use areas where many activities including less damaging fishing activities will be allowed to continue. Other restrictions could include no anchor areas or new speed limits. There is no presumption that any particular human activity will be restricted.

Any restrictions placed on an MCZ will be decided on a site by site basis, and will depend on the species and habitats for which a site is designated.

In some MCZs, known as reference areas, all damaging activities and human disturbance will be prohibited. These are likely to be in the minority as opposed to the majority. The Ecological Network Guidance states that at least one reference area will need to be identified for each habitat and species listed in the Guidance. Such sites might play an important role in conserving biodiversity or improving our understanding of the marine environment by providing control areas unaffected by direct human activities.
 

Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) are intended to complement the existing Marine Protected Area (MPA) designations, therefore, the protection measures of European sites, the European designations and Ramsar sites will not change. There may however be circumstances where MCZ and European designations fully or partially overlap to protect different features. When combined with the new MCZs developed by the Finding Sanctuary’s planning process, they will form a national, ecologically coherent MPA network by 2012.

It is important for stakeholders to realise that more Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are currently being planned, which will complement the existing Natura 2000 sites (also known as European Marine Sites).  The identification work for further Natura 2000 sites is undertaken by the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (i.e. Natural England and Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)) and does not form part of the work of Finding Sanctuary. European law prohibits taking socio-economic considerations into account when deciding the location or boundaries of these sites.Finding Sanctuary has no influence over the location of proposed European Marine Sites.