Information on Marine Protected Areas MPA, Marine Conservation Zones MCZ and other protected areas in UK seas and waters. Protected areas in UK seas are an essential part of protecting marine wildlife and habitats.

A look at why we need Highly Protected Marine Areas, and how they differ from Marine Protected Areas.

The Marine Protected Areas around Alderney

Highly Protected Marine Areas could be the gold standard of marine protection: the first of their kind in the UK.

Marine Protected Areas in England, including Marine Conservation Zones MCZs, safeguard special areas of the sea and offer our wildlife a chance to recover and thrive.

Protecting places to save their wildlife and habitats has been at the heart of what we do since we were founded more than 100 years ago. Today The Wildlife Trusts care for more than 2,300 nature reserves - woods, meadows, marshes, city parks. At sea we campaign for Marine Protected Areas - parts of the seabed where wildlife is protected. Find out more about the different types of protected wildlife sites in the UK.

Thank you for supporting the consultation for Highly Protected Marine Areas!