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Why should you join?

It is undoubted from international evidence around the world, that well-managed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) increase both the biodiversity of marine life and the productivity of some fish stocks. When set up in combination with more 'traditional' quota/effort-based management tools for fisheries, they can be very successful at managing the ecosystem in a sustainable way.

The Facts:

• Scientists recommend that 20- 30% of our seas should be fully protected to ensure their survival.

• Over 60% of UK fisheries are unsustainable,and delicate long-lived species continue to be damaged by destructive fishing techniques.

• Case studies abroad have shown that Marine Reserves can benefit divers, anglers, fishermen and biodiversity alike. New Zealand has 28 Marine Reserves, and 33% of the Great Barrier Reef is highly protected – many reserves have resulted in increased fish and shellfish populations, whilst biodiversity is protected from destruction.

• A concise report published in 2007 details the benefits of marine reserves to marine ecosystems from 125 scientific studies.

Without well-managed MPAs, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) believes that our marine ecosystems won't recover to anything approaching their natural state prior to man's significant impact on marine ecosystems commenced with the advent of industrial trawling about a century ago.

Definitions of 'Marine Protected Area' and 'Highly Protected Marine Reserve'

1. Marine Protected Area

A Marine Protected Area (or MPA) is an umbrella term for any area of sea designated for the protection of a particular biological, physical or geomorphological feature or combination of features. Activities such as fishing, dredging and construction within an MPA are managed to reduce their impact on the protected features with the site, but are not necessarily prohibited.

2. Highly Protected Marine Reserve

A Highly Protected Marine Reserves (HPMR) is one type of MPA where extractive or damaging activities such as fishing, construction, dredging and oil and gas extraction are prohibited from the outset to avoid any damage to the site and its features.

Current UK MPAs

Currently (up until 2011), the UK has only 3 national marine nature reserves, approximately 72 European marine sites for flora and fauna, and a number of European coastal sites designated for bird conservation.

UK seas are home to a huge variety of widlife, yet less than a thousandth of one percent of our sea area is fully protected.

To support the work to push for marine reserves you can make a donation to MCS by clicking "Donate".

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