GovWire

The main aim of MPAs is to protect valuable marine habitats and species areas. We manage fishing in MPAs offshore of 6 nautical miles and manage non-licensable activities in MPAs inshore of 12 nautical miles. Our dedicated pages provide further information:

• Collection - Managing fishing in marine protected areas
• Guidance - Managing marine non-licensable activities in marine protected areas

Current MPA consultations

Stage 2 proposed byelaw

On 17 January 2023 we launched a formal consultation, seeking your views on a proposed byelaw to manage bottom towed fishing gear in 13 MPAs. This consultation is open until 28 March 2023.

This formal consultation is part of Stage 2 of our current work on the management of offshore MPAs. You can find more information on the stages on our page: Managing fishing in marine protected areas - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The consultation follows a call for evidence on our assessment of the impact of bottom towed gears on rock and reef MPA features from 14 May to 10 July 2022. The MPAs are:

• Cape Bank
• East of Haig Fras
• Farnes East
• Foreland
• Goodwin Sands
• Haig Fras
• Haisborough, Hammond and Winterton
• Hartland Point to Tintagel
• Lands End and Cape Bank
• North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef
• Offshore Brighton
• South of Celtic Deep
• Wight-Barfleur Reef

Take part in our formal consultation and access further information.

Call for evidence - Stage 3 impacts evidence

MMO has also launched a call for evidence, which is open from 17 January 2023 to 28 March 2023. We are asking you to submit additional evidence and views on evidence and analysis of the impacts of fishing on seabed features in English MPAs.

This formal consultation is part of Stage 3 of our current work on the management of offshore MPAs.

Respond to this call for evidence and access further information.

What happens next?

MMO will review all the information received during the Stage 3 call for evidence and Stage 2 formal consultation. Updates will be made to management documents where appropriate. Where necessary, we will progress the implementation of management measures to ensure these MPAs are protected, whilst ensuring we deliver the appropriate levels of consultation with stakeholders.

Managing marine non-licensable activities in MPAs

There are currently no open MMO consultations for managing marine non-licensable activities in MPAs.

You can find out more about the management of marine non-licensable activities in MPAs, including in Studland Bay on our dedicated pages.