The term Marine Protected Area (MPA) is used in a lot of different contexts. The MPAs that Finding Sanctuary is designing are called Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) and will be designated under the forthcoming Marine and Coastal Access Act. MCZs will have different levels of protection. Some MCZs will be highly protected, also known as no take zones, where removal of any resources is prohibited. Other MCZs will be multiple-use where only some types of activity are restricted or banned. Together with the locations, the protection levels will be decided as part of the planning process, through the Finding Sanctuary Steering Group.

It is important to realise that other types of MPAs already exist in England, most notably Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protected Areas (SPAs) which are European Marine Sites designated under European directives (also known as Natura 2000 sites). Detailed information on UK designations of MPAs is here. We recognise that the process for selecting Natura 2000 sites has shortcomings, in that it does not allow stakeholder engagement and participation in designating sites. That is why the approach we are taking for MCZs is so different.

We don’t know yet - the whole point of Finding Sanctuary is to decide the answer to this question through the Steering Group. Finding Sanctuary’s planning process is involving scientists and stakeholders in gathering relevant information and selecting the best locations for the Marine Conservation Zones.

In 2011, Defra will be presented with a detailed set of recommendations for the MCZ network. If the recommendations are supported by a wide range of stakeholders, and comply with national MCZ design guidelines (to be developed through the National Science Advisory Panel), then Defra is likely to adopt them and give them legal status.

As highlighted in the previous question, MPAs already exist in England (see the Finding Sanctuary WebGIS), and there is no intention to move or remove them. When combined with the new Marine Conservation Zones developed through Finding Sanctuary, they will form a national, ecologically coherent MPA network by 2012. It is important for stakeholders to realise that, during 2008 and 2009, more European Marine Sites (SACs and SPAs) are being planned. This is not part of Finding Sanctuary, and we cannot influence where they will be, because the process for their designation is already in place, and legally binding.

There are two processes happening in parallel, which are designating new MPAs in England.

Firstly, there is the new process for designating MPAs through regional projects, which is what Finding Sanctuary is doing in the South West. These projects have been set up in order to achieve the objectives for marine nature conservation set out in the Government's forthcoming Marine and Coastal Access Act. In line with the Act, the MPAs designed by these regional projects will be termed 'Marine Conservation Zones' (MCZs). MCZs will be designed by the Steering Groups, i.e. stakeholders.

Secondly, there is the existing process to designate European Marine Sites, also known as Natura 2000 sites. The location of these sites will be decided by statutory conservation agencies and Defra, based on scientific information and the criteria set out in the EU directives.

By involving stakeholders in the design of the Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) network, Finding Sanctuary hopes that there will be a high level of compliance with the restrictions for the new MCZs. However, all types of Marine Protected Area will also be protected by law, and arrangements will be put in place to enforce the restrictions. New enforcement and monitoring powers will be introduced through the forthcoming Marine and Coastal Access Act, and a variety of bodies will be responsible.
 

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) designed through Finding Sanctuary are primarily to protect marine habitats and wildlife. This is in keeping with the aims of the forthcoming Marine and Coastal Access Act. While some MPAs may also contribute directly to increases in specific fish stocks (fish are wildlife, after all), this will not always be the case. More importantly, however, the entire network of MPAs will help conserve and recover the health of the South West’s marine environment, which will help ensure the long term sustainability of fish stocks and other marine resources.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will bring about a range of effects – a mix of positive and negative – that will be felt to varying degrees by stakeholders. Potentially, the biggest impact will be felt by commercial fishermen and their local communities, which is why it is essential that they area involved in the planning process. In time, MPAs will build a healthier marine environment that will support more wildlife and be better able to provide the full range of economic and social benefits. By definition MPAs may restrict some activities in some locations. Therefore, in the shorter term, some stakeholders could be adversely affected. For example, a particular MPA might exclude all activities that damage or disturb the seabed (e.g. bottom trawling, aggregate dredging), while permitting other activities such as commercial and recreational angling and scallop diving. Another MPA might exclude all removal of living and non-living resources. The recommended level of protection for each MPA will be decided through Finding Sanctuary’s planning process, incorporating stakeholder information and views so as to minimise the impact to stakeholders.

Yes, in highly protected MPAs (or no take zones) where removal of any resources is prohibited. That is why it is important that all stakeholders have a chance to properly engage with the decisions on where these areas will be, which is what Finding Sanctuary is trying to achieve.

The new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will be set up with the intention of being permanent, to ensure that they can bring about long term benefits. In exceptional circumstances it may be possible to change the boundaries, move or remove MPAs, but this will not be used routinely.

The current collection of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the South West – and the UK as a whole – is not enough to safeguard marine biodiversity and allow the marine environment to recover and thrive. Only 2% of the UK’s sea area is protected for its biodiversity, and this is not enough to reverse the decline in marine wildlife in our seas. The UK is committed under an international convention to establish a well-managed, representative network of MPAs by 2012, and this is one of the factors that has prompted the development of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill and the MPA network projects. The European Marine Strategy Directive also requires the UK to create more MPAs.

Yes. MPAs will be located throughout the project region, at the coast and potentially up to the limits of the UK’s continental shelf area at about 200nm.
 

The legal powers for the new Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ) will come about through the forthcoming Marine and Coastal Access Act. The Act does not enable UK authorities to exclude foreign fishing vessels. However, it would be unfair and pointless to exclude UK vessels while allowing others to fish within the Marine Protected Area. Where restrictions on fishing activity are required in a MCZ beyond 6 miles, the UK Government will approach the EU Fisheries Commission to negotiate appropriate management measures

The Marine Conservation Zone network designed by Finding Sanctuary will come into force in 2012, when the sites are formally designated by the Secretary of State for the Environment. Together with new and existing European Marine Sites, they will fulfil the Government's national and international commitments to create an ecologically coherent Marine Protected Area network.