25 Sep 2018

UK government makes ambitious call to treble internationally-agreed targets for ocean protection. UK calls for third of world’s oceans to be safeguarded by 2030 Current global targets for protected areas to treble under ambitious plans Marine protection top of agenda at UN General Assembly in New York Defra ‘Environment Secretary Michael Gove has today called […]

25 Jun 2018

Who is blocking Highly Protected Marine Areas? Dr Jean-Luc Solandt Principal Specialist, Marine Protected Areas, Marine Conservation Society 01989 561594 / 07793 118387   www.mcsuk.org Dr Sue Gubbay, Independent Marine Consultant Dr Bob Earll, Communications and Management for Sustainability, Dear Mr Gove, This blog is prompted by the eventual release of a research assessment of HPMAs […]

18 Jun 2018

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are an important tool for the maintenance of marine ecosystem functionality and health and ensuring the onward flow of beneficial ecosystem services that support human well-being. Social and economic factors influence whether and how stakeholders exploit resources or cooperate to conserve them. Environmental managers are now turning from designating MPAs to […]

01 May 2018

Jean Luc Solandt, MCS:  “A couple of weeks ago Michael Gove invited marine ‘stakeholders’ around his table in Defra to discuss the efficacy (or lack of it) of current MPAs in UK domestic seas. He’s interested in the role and (perhaps) lack of designation of Highly Protected Marine Areas in our seas. 3.5 years after […]

16 Apr 2018

Our seas have a brilliant variety of marine life and habitats, many of which are rare and nationally important. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has developed a new approach to its UK offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) conservation advice. The revised approach provides more detailed advice and information to operators and regulators, supporting management […]

03 Apr 2018

Two articles:   Looking at the broader context of MPAs and the debate on science and MPAs from Australia. 1. Social–ecological coherence in MPA network design – Sian E. Rees & Colleagues Abstract Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and networks of MPAs are being implemented globally as a spatial management tool for achieving conservation objectives. There has […]

23 Mar 2018

Two articles:  Proposal to designate Loch Carron as a nature conservation Marine Protected Area (MPA), with an associated Marine Conservation Order (MCO) – Scottish Government – Citizen Space. Participate the in the consultation here: https://consult.gov.scot/marine-scotland/loch-carron-mpa/  There is an upcoming webinar describing how to use a new web tool to investigate fisheries management in English MPAs: […]