National Marine Week: Marine Protected Areas

In the UK, we have a host of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). In this blog, we are going to focus on Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) which are coastal or offshore areas “designated to protect important species, habitats, ecological processes and features of geological/ geomorphological importance” (JNCC). 

In Kent, we have 11 Marine Conservation Zones; Swanscombe, Medway Estuary (zone 1 and 2), Swale Estuary, Thanet Coast, Kentish Knock East, Goodwin Sands, Dover to Deal, Foreland, Dover to Folkestone, Folkestone Pomerania, and Inner Bank.

Why were MCZs created?

The purpose of these designations was to create well connected marine and coastal areas which could act as a refuge for our vulnerable habitats, species and geological processes.

Do MCZs actually protect the areas they are supposed to?

This is a controversial issue as harmful activities can still take place in many MCZs. These activities might include trawling or the use of bottom towed fishing gear, which can be detrimental to habitats and species alike; churning up the seabed, releasing carbon, and removing excess amounts of prey species from the food web.

Hope for marine biodiversity…

The government are piloting Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs), due to be put in place this year in order to allow nature to bounce back and rebuild. This designation should mean no detrimental activity can legally take place within the HPMA.

Currently, no sites in Kent have been put forward by the Government to become HPMAs. This is why it is ever more important we keep collecting species and habitat data through citizen science (see below), and making the UK Government hear our voices.

We have awe-inspiring, beautifully diverse life around our Kent coastline which deserves to be preserved for generations to come.

Useful links:

Marine Conservation Society MPA reality check: mpa-reality-check.org/

Get involved in citizen science:

Shoresearch with Kent Wildlife Trust: contact [email protected]

Seasearch with Sussex Wildlife Trust: sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/what-we-do/living-seas/sussex-seasearch

Big Seaweed Search with Marine Conservation Society: mcsuk.org/what-you-can-do/volunteering/big-seaweed-search/

Biological recording with Kent Field Club: kentfieldclub.org.uk/programme/upcoming-events