The Welsh Marine Protected Area network:

Any site at sea that has been set up to protect marine wildlife and habitats is known as a Marine Protected Area (MPA). This is an umbrella term which is used to describe several different types of protection, that have been implemented to safeguard biodiversity, or natural and cultural resources in some way. In terms of scale, Wales is ahead of the rest of the UK in the proportion of Welsh waters that have been designated as an MPA, a figure which currently stands at over 36%.

Marine Protected Areas in Wales May 2011.jpg

There are several different types of MPA, which include:

o European Marine Sites - important at a European level, and include SACs (Special Areas of Conservation) which are designated for habitats or species and SPAs (Special Protection Areas) which are protected for bird species.

o SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Importance) - set up to protect the best examples of the UK’s plants, wildlife and geological features. Although these sites are predominantly on land, there are some sites that are situated in coastal and marine environments.

o Ramsar sites - designed to protect wetland habitats. They may incorporate coastal areas adjacent to wetlands.

However, despite the coverage of protected areas present around Wales, failure to ensure appropriate management of MPAs in Welsh waters has resulted in over 50% of European Marine Site featuresfailing to reach their objectives of favourable conservation status.

Under the Marine and Coastal Access Act, the Welsh Government now has the power to introduce a new type of MPA at a national level, called Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). In Wales these sites will be highly protected, which means they will be exempt from extraction, deposition and all other damaging or disturbing activities. There is currently no other designated site that offers this high level of protection in Wales. The introduction of these zones will contribute towards the network of MPAs in Wales, and around the UK. It is hoped that in the long term, highly protected MCZs will support marine habitats and species, allowing ecosystem recovery, and areas free from disturbance.

In Wales, the creation of highly protected MCZs is being led by the Welsh Government, with intended input from a range of marine interest groups. WEL has been engaging in the process from the outset, by providing responses to specific consultations and attending Stakeholder meetings.

The process of designating highly protected MCZs has been set out in the Site Selection Guidance. At present, the Welsh Government has stated that they will be designating 3 - 4 hpMCZs in Welsh waters, which will be inshore (between 0-6 nautical miles). There will be two formal public consultations on the proposed location of hpMCZs, with the first taking place in October 2011.

A comprehensive policy briefing document on Marine Protected Areas is available on the Resources page. WEL is calling for an ecologically coherent network of MPAs to be designated by 2012, combined with the implementation of effective management of existing MPAs in Wales.

Other administrations:

At a UK level, projects are also taking place in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland that aim to introduce new MPAs to contribute to the UK network; however, these projects differ considerably in design, timescale and process.

Welsh waters border with two of the English regional projects; the Irish Sea Conservation Zone project to the north and west, and Finding Sanctuary in the south.

Case Study: Protection for great and small

Cardigan Bay is one of the largest in the British Isles, stretching over 100 km between the Llŷn Peninsula and St. David’s Head. It has long been known as an important site for bottlenose dolphins, a fact that was influential to part of the Bay becoming a Special Area of Conservation. Continued research has broadened our knowledge of the marine habitats in the Bay, and as our understanding increases we appreciate why this diverse marine area is one of the few UK shores to support a significant population of dolphins.

Studies of the seabed have shown there are many habitats that are important for a healthy marine ecosystem. Underwater reefs built by thousands of individual animals create important refuges for larger creatures. Submerged sandbanks offer homes for small species such as sand eels, which in turn provide food for the larger fish species that support both the grey seal population and the Bay’s famous dolphins. Without healthy seabed habitats these charismatic animals would not be found around our shores.

For the first time in Wales the Marine Act offers government an opportunity to ensure that these fragile underwater habitats are strictly protected from any exploitation. The creation of highly protected Marine Conservation Zones in sites around Wales will help ensure that our rich marine natural heritage is protected. Although unseen, these sanctuaries for species should ensure that Wales stays on the map as a special place for marine wildlife.