Our Coast, Our Sea - Marine Protected Areas

16 March 2010

Northumberland Wildlife Trust welcomes the ministerial statement made by Huw Irranca-Davies on the creation of a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Within the North Sea region, a number of areas will be included in a larger Marine Protected Area network. These chosen sites will protect a whole range of habitats and species – not just the rare ones.

Steve Lowe, Head of Conservation at Northumberland Wildlife Trust said: “This statement is very good news for the UK’s marine wildlife and this Trust welcomes the minister’s statement which reaffirms the Government’s commitment to establishing an ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas around the UK.”

“We’re pleased that the Ministerial statement also acknowledges the need for some sites within the network to be highly protected, with all damaging activities excluded. Such sites will be free to recover from previous damage thereby enabling areas in which wildlife once thrived to be restored to their former glory.”