Two local sites shortlisted as proposed Highly Protected Marine Areas

Northumberland Wildlife Trust is delighted to hear suggested sites are progressing to the next stage of the HPMA designation process to secure new gold standard of marine protection.

The first step has been taken towards the designation of England’s first Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) - as Defra announces a consultation on five proposed HPMAs which will be the strongest ever protection measures for UK seas.

The designation of HPMAs will act as a mechanism for marine recovery and should contribute to the Government’s commitment to protect 30% of our seas by 2030. HPMAs will also act as a natural solution to help store carbon and tackle climate change, as well as generating benefits through tourism, recreation and marine education.

The 12-week consultation on the proposed locations will be open until 28 September 2022. Additional evidence will be gathered before Ministers decide which sites, and their respective boundaries to designate. For details of the consultation visit consult.defra.gov.uk/hpma/consultation-on-highly-protected-marine-areas/

The five proposed locations around England just published are:

Allonby Bay
Lindisfarne
North-East of Farnes Deep
Inner Silver Pit South
Dolphin Head

Atlantic Grey Seal. Image by George Ledger.

Lindisfarne has salt marsh, beaches, cliffs, dunes and islands which support important breeding colonies of seabirds such as terns, auks and guillemots, as well as seals. And the area North-East of Farnes Deep which has a sand and gravel seabed that, whilst sounding uninteresting, is home to animals such as sea pen and anemones, worms, molluscs and fish. Dolphins, whales and harbour porpoise use the wider region. Both areas are already Marine Protected Areas but HPMA status will give them a much higher level of protection.

The Wildlife Trusts have been calling for HPMAs for three years with the support of over 10,000 people who have called for greater protection of marine life. This new designation will ban all damaging activities within their boundaries. By safeguarding all wildlife and habitats, HPMAs will give nature the best chance to recover, benefitting not only each place but large parts of the sea around them.

Male Eider Duck in the North Sea. Image by Gillian Day.

Mike Pratt, Chief Executive at Northumberland Wildlife Trust says: “If all goes to plan, it will be great news for the wildlife living in the North Sea and elsewhere in the UK.

“Marine protection is an issue which matters to anyone who has ever spent happy afternoons exploring rock pools or been enchanted by chance encounters with dolphins, whales or one of the many other captivating species we enjoy in our waters. However, continued destruction has reduced them to a shadow of their former selves, so it is vital that our marine ecosystem is protected and sooner rather than later.”

Dr Lissa Batey, Head of Marine Conservation at The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“The Wildlife Trusts put forward a list of special places at sea that we believe have the most to gain from becoming HPMAs - we want these to act as star examples of the benefits that banning damaging activities can bring. We’re thrilled that places like Allonby Bay and Inner Silver Pit have been selected for socio-economic review, as part of five shortlisted sites.

“It’s vital that large ocean wildlife hotspots should have a chance to thrive once more. The knock-on benefits for reviving the surrounding seabed and the species that depend on it are immense. These areas will offer a lifeline to fish, seabirds, dolphins and sharks - the future health of our seas will come to depend on these amazing places.”