The Wildlife Trusts welcome new UK Marine Protected Areas

But urges Government not to lose sight of deadline for a wider network

The Wildlife Trusts are celebrating the Government announcement of the designation of fifteen new Marine Protected Areas around the UK coast, but believe further protection is still necessary if the seas are to be given a chance to fully recover after decades of mis-use and bad management.

The latest protected sites, including Land’s End and Cape Bank, Lyme Bay and Torbay as well as Lizard Point and Margate and Long Sands, have been selected on the best scientific evidence available and will mean protection to habitats like reefs, sea caves and sandbanks where marine life thrives.

Joan Edwards, Head of Living Seas ““The Wildlife Trusts welcome these designations. They are a significant step towards the UK Government realising its commitment to establishing an ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas. The next eighteen months represent a further critical phase of the process, as Government looks to establish a network of Marine Conservation Zones by 2012.”

Further information:

Please contact Lissa Goodwin (Living Seas Officer) email: lgoodwin@wildlifetrusts.org Tel: 01752 484311