A stocktake of England’s MPA network – taking a global perspective approach

Abstract

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have developed in number and area at an unprecedented rate over the past 20 years in the UK. As with all other states, UK MPA designation and management requires evidence on the location, state, extent and vulnerability of marine organisms. Whilst the evidence base has been used to designate 297 sites in two decades covering over 20% of our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) area, the level of evidence required to manage activities and the necessary secondary legislative mechanisms and controls are unwieldy and overly complex. This makes the practical implementation of management measures difficult and blocks the ambition that such a large MPA network merits. Furthermore, a fundamental difference of opinion exists between government, regulators and civil society of levels of protection required to afford the marine environment ‘good’ status, given disagreement of baseline condition of our marine estate. Regardless of these difficulties, some regions of the UK have seen positive progressive management. It is hoped that the best examples of management can be transferred to other districts to encourage more efficient progress.