Three new HPMAs, the first ever - will help our diminishing seas, but we need far more. Currently, we have a network of Marine Protected Areas, covering 40% of English seas, but these designations do not automatically prevent damaging activity.  Many of these precious places act as multi-use areas, where commercial fishing, offshore development and cabling are all allowed.  

Highly Protected Areas are a new type of marine designation designed to allow marine life to recover.  In short, if it’s in the HPMA it’s protected. This includes the seabed, water column and the sea surface. By giving special areas the best possible protection, they’ll benefit nature, people and the climate too. All damaging activities, such as fishing, construction, digging and similar activities are banned in HPMAs. But don’t worry, they are not ‘no-go zones’ - we can still enjoy these special places through all non-damaging activities, such as swimming, kayaking, scuba diving and surfing.

So which sites are to be designated as HPMAs? 

• Allonby Bay – an important inshore area, located off Cumbria’s coast. This biodiverse area includes important reefs of blue mussels and some of the best examples of honeycomb worm reefs in the UK. It is a spawning area for thornback rays and thought to be an important pupping ground for harbour porpoise. Seabirds such as guillemots frequently feed here too. The area contains significant amounts of carbon and provides flood and coastal protection.  

• Dolphin Head – a diverse area offshore in the English Channel, approximately 55km from the Sussex coast. This tide-dominated seascape, influenced by swell from the Atlantic Ocean, contains a wonderful range species including lobsters, eels and reef-building worms. This attracts dolphins and seabirds to feed. However, years of damaging fishing activities have harmed  the seabed here. HPMA designation will enable this degraded ecosystem to recover, with benefits for surrounding waters.  

• North-East of Farnes Deep – an area offshore in the North Sea with sediments teeming with life. This area encompasses subtidal sediments important for carbon storage, ocean quahogs, starfish, sea pens, anemones and fish. Dolphins, whales and harbour porpoises use this area – a fantastic hotspot that deserves protection. 

Today we are celebrating these special sites, as they are an important first step. They are the bar against which the rest of the network can be measured.  However, we cannot wait 3, 5 or more years for the monitoring to produce results. 

 The science is clear, we know what we need to do. We have the basic template and it’s time to consider the second tranche of HPMAs as a matter of urgency – let’s get on with it so that we can recover  our seas and the amazing diversity of life that calls our water’s home – humpback whales, dolphins, kelp forests, bluefin tuna, cold water corals and so much more! 

There is still a significant job to do before we can say the UK is a world leader in marine conservation, and today is  the first step.  

Links: 

Become a Friend of Marine Protected Areas! You’ll get regular news about our amazing seas and the ways that you can help protect them further: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/marine-mailing  

Find out more about Highly Protected Marine Areas: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/marine-protected-areas/highly-protected-marine-areas