Lying where warm southern waters meet cold, nutrient-rich currents from the north, the seas around Wales are particularly diverse. At 15,000 km2, Welsh territorial waters nearly double the size of Wales, supporting marine industries that contribute £2.5 billion to the Welsh economy every year. While tourism accounts for the bulk of this income, we also rely on the seas for a range of services such as food, transport and energy.
In terms of scale, Wales is ahead of the rest of the UK in the proportion of territorial sea designated as an MPA; a figure that currently stands at over 36%. Wales has eleven Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and ten Special Protection Areas (SPAs) with marine components, including the first entirely marine SPA in the UK (Carmarthen Bay SPA), and the UK’s second Marine Nature Reserve (MNR) surrounding Skomer Island.
However, failure to ensure appropriate management of MPAs in Welsh waters has resulted in over 50% of European Marine Site (EMS) features failing to reach favourable conservation status. If we are unable to protect even our best marine areas, the creation of this network of MPAs will be undermined, significantly affecting the ability of our sea to adapt to the pressures of a changing environment. Wildlife Trusts Wales is calling for the effective management and enforcement of existing MPAs in Welsh waters.
Marine Conservation Zones in Wales
Under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, the Welsh Government now has the powers to introduce a new type of MPA, known as a Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ). These designations will aim to protect nationally important habitats and species, and along with existing MPAs, will contribute towards the creation of an ecologically coherent network of MPAs around the UK.
Under the Marine Act, the Welsh Government is responsible for introducing MCZs in the Welsh inshore area. In contrast, MCZs in the Welsh offshore area are being recommended by the Regional MCZ projects – the Irish Sea Conservation Zone project to the North and West, and the Finding Sanctuary project to the south.
Whilst England, Scotland and North Ireland are using various processes to designate their new MCZs, a different policy route is being taken in the Welsh inshore area through the introduction of highly protected MCZs. These sites will strictly limit human disturbance within these sites. The Welsh Government is leading the process of designing these new MCZs in a top down approach, which is different to the stakeholder led process adopted elsewhere.
In March 2011, the Welsh Government released the Site Selection Guidance which sets out the process that will be used to designate these sites in Welsh waters. Wildlife Trusts Wales are working to influence the development of these sites, to ensure that the best decisions are made in favour of safeguarding our marine environment for the future.
There has been considerably slippage in the MCZ project process in Wales. However, the first of three public consultations on MCZs is expected in spring 2012. Information on how to engage in the process will be available on the Wales Environment Link marine website in the New Year. The most recent Welsh Government newsletter which sets out the revised project timetable is available here. It is expected that MCZs in the Welsh inshore water will be designated in 2013.
For detailed information about Marine Protected Areas in Wales, click here to view the Wildlife Trusts Wales MPA booklet.
For more information on the implementation of the Marine Act in Wales, please visit www.waleslinkmarine.org.uk
