Progress made on Marine Conservation Zones

Maritime Journal -

The ‘Marine Conservation Zone Project’ has published its third set of progress reports showing the latest iterations in the project to identify Marine Conservations Zones (MCZs).

MCZs aim to conserve areas of the sea protecting rare, threatened and representative marine habitats and species, whilst minimising socio-economic costs to sea users. The MCZ Project area covers English inshore waters and the offshore waters around England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK has a legal obligation to designate Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) that will contribute to a network of marine protected areas within a wider European network.

 The progress reports published on-line show work-in-progress for recommendations to identify new MCZs in an area covering over 240,000 sq/km in English territorial waters (0-12 nautical miles) and English, Northern Irish and Welsh offshore waters (12-200 nautical miles).

The ‘MCZ Project’ is being delivered through four regional MCZ projects covering the south-east (Balanced Seas), south-west (Finding Sanctuary), Irish Sea (Irish Sea Conservation Zones) and North Sea (Net Gain). These Regional Stakeholder Groups are responsible for making recommendations to Government for where MCZs could be located, based on best available evidence including their own first-hand knowledge and experience of the sea.

The progress reports present the most up to date view of the work of the four regional projects which, since 2009, have been working with representatives from a wide cross section of people including fishermen, scientists, marine and offshore industries, divers, conservationists and recreational users of the sea. Representatives from Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, the Netherlands and Norway have also been involved, due to cross border interests.

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