Marine Reserves - Sussex Wildlife Trust · through Defra’s Countdown 2010 Biodiversity Action...

Protecting Wildlife for the Future

Marine Reserves TLC for our seas and sea life

Marine Reserves – TLC for our seas and sea lifepage �

Contents pageMarine Reserves - TLC for our seas and sea life 3

The state of our seas 4

Marine Protected Areas 5

What are Marine Reserves? 6

Marine Reserves in action 7

Do Marine Reserves work? 8

Marine Reserves and fishing 9

Marine Reserves and climate change 10

Public opinion 11

Marine Reserves and the Marine Bill 12

Devolved countries and the Marine Bill 13

What sort of places might be chosen as Marine Reserves? 14-22

What next? 23

Make waves! 23

Saithe shoal. Photo by Paul Naylor. www.marinephoto.org.uk

Marine Reserves – TLC for our seas and sea life

Cover image: Grey seal. Photo by Martha Tressler.

Production of this report was supported by Natural England, through Defra’s Countdown 2010 Biodiversity Action Fund.

�009 UpdateSince we first published this report in October 2007, our campaign has been rewarded with some exciting developments:

In December 2008, the UK Government published the UK Marine and Coastal Access Bill. At the time of writing (January 2009), the Bill is making its way through Parliament. Although it includes a commitment to Marine Conservation Zones (see page 5), the Bill makes no mention of Marine Reserves. A Scottish Marine Bill is expected in 2009, and a Northern Ireland Marine Bill in 2010-2011.

In July 2008, The Wildlife Trusts’ Save Lyme Bay Reefs campaign (see page 16) culminated in the UK Government banning dredging for scallops and bottom trawling from a 60 square mile area of the Lyme Bay Reefs, making it the UK’s largest Marine Protected Area. More sustainable fishing activities continue on the reefs.

In September 2008, the Scottish Government created Scotland’s first Marine Reserve, in Lamlash Bay off the Isle of Arran (see page 21). There will be further consultation on a Fisheries Management Area adjoining the reserve, and together they will form Scotland’s first Community Marine Conservation Area.

Each of these events was a landmark in marine conservation, but there is still a long way to go.

Lamlash and Lundy (see page 7) – the UK’s two fully protected Marine Reserves – together amount to less than 0.001% of the UK sea area.

It is vital that the Marine and Coastal Access Bill makes it through Parliament without being weakened, and that it is amended to include explicit reference to Marine Reserves.

We still need your help achieving this. See page 23 for details.

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Marine Reserves – TLC for our seas and sea life page �

Marine Reserves - TLC for our seas and sea lifeOur seas are in desperate need of some Tender Loving Care. For centuries we have taken the UK’s marine riches for granted, exploiting them for everything from food to building materials and oil. But in recent decades we have taken too much, with too little care. Fragile habitats have been destroyed and wildlife has suffered. Corals, seahorses, dolphins, seals and sharks – all have been affected. There is almost nowhere and nothing in this underwater world that has been completely spared. Fish stocks have collapsed and valuable resources are depleted. The marine environment – our life support system – is on its knees. Now it is time to give something back.

Marine Reserves are areas where the habitats and wildlife are permanently protected from all damaging use. In Marine Reserves, habitats can recover and wildlife can flourish. It’s common sense. Take away the pressures and nature can usually bounce back. Stop fishing and there will be more fish. Stop dumping waste and there will be cleaner water. And the end result? A healthy and wildlife-rich marine environment that all of us can appreciate and enjoy. An environment that is as near to its natural state as we can possibly achieve, and which helps us understand how our seas work. An environment that is well-equipped to cope with a changing climate. A life support system that is intact and fully functioning.

Marine Reserves are not the whole solution to fixing our seas, but they are a vital part. Without Marine Reserves, we will continue on our downward spiral. With them, we can start to rebuild our living seas. Marine Reserves – TLC for our seas and sea life.

“As an island nation, I find it astonishing that we have protected less than a thousandth of one per cent of our seas from fishing and all damaging activities.”

Sir David Attenborough Vice President, The Wildlife Trusts

Jewel anemones. Photo by Sally Sharrock.

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The state of our seasIn the UK, we are responsible for looking after an area of sea that is three times the size of our land area. This vast realm stretches from the coast up to 200 miles offshore, and from the shallows to depths of more than 2000 metres – equivalent to twice the height of Ben Nevis. Lying at the meeting point of different ocean zones, our seas have the potential to be among the most productive and diverse on Earth. They are home to more than 44,000 different kinds of plant and animal, from tiny corals to the massive basking shark, the world’s second largest fish. Our islands’ complex geology has created a unique patchwork of habitats beneath the waves: rugged reefs and gullies, submerged cliffs and caves, towering sandbanks and vast plains. Everywhere you look, there is life. Meadows of seagrass, forests of kelp, gardens of colourful sponges and corals, and moonscapes of sand and mud riddled with the burrows of millions of shellfish and worms.

But it’s not just marine life that needs our seas. They are a life support system for humans too. The seas around the UK absorb vast quantities of harmful ‘greenhouse’ gases. They also release oxygen for us to breathe, and they regulate our climate. There is even evidence that bacteria in the sea help govern clouds and rainfall.

Of course, the marine environment is also an unrivalled playground, enjoyed for sport and relaxation, and our coast and seas play a central role in our nation’s history and identity. Where would we be without the sea?

Sadly, the environment we see now is a shadow of its former self. Exploitation of our marine resources, for everything from seafood, oil and gas, to sand, gravel and renewable energy, has become increasingly intensive. Fragile habitats have been degraded or even destroyed – whether smashed by a scallop dredge or contaminated by oil production – and many species are in decline. Across vast areas, marine life has been decimated.

“50 years ago, there were many natural refuges – areas that were too remote or too difficult to exploit. Today, almost nowhere is out of reach.”

Joana Doyle, Cornwall Wildlife Trust

Lyme Bay Reefs, before and after being dredged for scallops. Photos by Mike Markey and Kate Edey.

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Marine Protected AreasMarine Protected Areas (MPAs) are sites in which human activities are restricted to varying degrees. They are a tried and tested means of safeguarding important habitats and wildlife. In the UK we have two different kinds of MPA for wildlife conservation, but neither of them is adequate. Even combined, less than 1% of the UK’s sea area is protected.

MPAs in the UK:Marine Nature Reserves – The laws that set out to create Marine Nature Reserves back in the 1980s were fundamentally flawed. Only three small reserves were designated (Lundy, Skomer and Strangford Lough). The Government admitted that the system was a failure, and has proposed replacing it with a new system.

European Marine Sites – These are sites designated under European Directives. There are more than 100 around the UK, but they only protect a very limited range of habitats and species chosen by Europe. Many nationally important sites are not eligible for protection. Moreover, European marine sites are ‘multi-use’ sites, where fishing, dredging and other activities continue with few restrictions. It has been very difficult to create higher protection (e.g. to ban certain damaging types of fishing) where it is needed.

The Government has admitted that the current approach is inadequate, and has suggested a new type of MPA: the Marine Conservation Zone. Marine Conservation Zones offer a flexible approach, through which the level of protection can be tailored for each site, from low levels of restriction through to highly protected areas (Marine Reserves). We support this proposal and are urging Government to introduce the new laws as soon as possible.

“We have more than 100 Marine Protected Areas around the UK, but they’re patently not up to the job. We urgently need a new system for protecting our seas, and we must learn from past mistakes.”

Caroline Steel, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust

Moon jellyfish. Photo by Paul Naylor. www.marinephoto.org.uk

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What are Marine Reserves? Marine Reserves are a special type of Marine Protected Area in which all damaging activities are prohibited. This includes all fishing, dredging and construction. Within a Marine Reserve, the habitats and wildlife benefit from a high level of protection. They can recover from past impacts and are protected from future harm. Marine Reserves are natural havens, places where marine wildlife comes first. Note: In contrast with Marine Reserves, some types of MPA only offer partial protection for their habitats and wildlife (see previous page).

Marine Reserves act as a safety net, protecting marine life and guarding against extinction. Marine Reserves are a precautionary measure. They work in tandem with less strict MPAs, as well as other conservation and management approaches, to protect the marine environment.

Marine Reserves help build a healthy, resilient marine ecosystem. They’re a vital part of ensuring that we use our seas responsibly and sustainably. This is especially important given the added pressure of climate change.

Marine Reserves offer the opportunity for any habitats and wildlife within the reserve that have not been irreparably damaged to return to a near-natural condition (a rocky reef smashed to pieces will clearly be irreparable).

Marine Reserves provide a set of benchmarks, helping us to understand how our seas work and how marine life responds to the effects of different human activities. Currently we have very few examples of natural or pristine conditions in UK seas that we can use as benchmarks.

Marine Reserves can be a valuable educational asset for all ages. They can also create business opportunities, particularly in the fields of managed leisure and tourism (eg dolphin-watching and scuba diving.)

“It simply makes sense to put wildlife first in some places. Why should we need to exploit every corner of our seas? ”

Melanie Gomes, Ulster Wildlife Trust

Gooseberry seasquirts. Photo by Paul Naylor. www.marinephoto.org.uk

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Marine Reserves in actionThe concept of Marine Reserves has been around for a long time. New Zealand was an early pioneer, establishing its first sites 30 years ago. Australia followed suit, along with the USA, South Africa, the Philippines, Belize, France, Italy and Spain, to name but a few.

Meanwhile in the UK, we have fallen far behind. Our only Marine Reserve (in function, though not in name) is a tiny site called the Lundy Island No-Take-Zone. At just 3.3km2, this represents less than a thousandth of one per cent of our total sea area. Since Lundy received full protection in 2003, there have been two attempts to fully protect other sites, but both failed.

Why are we dragging our feet? Ultimately, it comes down to legal power and political will, and both have been thin on the ground. The legal powers for our existing MPAs are limited and it has proven very difficult to restrict fishing activities. Successive Governments have been unwilling to give the environment the benefit of the doubt. In one case, the government’s own conservation agency was even obliged to pay for an area of fragile habitat within a proposed Marine Nature Reserve to be ploughed up by a scallop dredger, just to demonstrate the devastating impact. This just wouldn’t happen on dry land.

“We seem to be in a ‘Catch 22’ situation. The decision-makers say that they need evidence that Marine Reserves would work in the UK, but until we create some we can’t provide the evidence.”

Dave Dunlop, The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside

Mussel bed. Photo by Paul Naylor. www.marinephoto.org.uk

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Do Marine Reserves work?You could fill a large bookcase with all the papers and reports documenting the history, ecology and management of Marine Reserves around the world. In 2001, 160 of the world’s most eminent marine experts assessed this work and concluded that Marine Reserves result in “long-lasting and often rapid increases in the abundance, diversity and productivity of marine organisms”, and that “full protection is critical to achieve the full range of benefits.” This last point is an important one. While multi-use MPAs (like the UK’s European Marine Sites and our three existing Marine Nature Reserves) undeniably have a role in protecting marine life, they rarely perform as well as highly protected areas. Only if you take away all of the pressures can the wildlife bounce back to its former glory. Lundy (see previous page) is a case in point: the seas had already been protected from most fishing activity for some years before its designation, but the complete fishing ban in 2003 still resulted in dramatic changes, most notably a rapid increase in the size and abundance of lobsters.

It is sometimes difficult for decision-makers to accept that we cannot always predict what will happen when we create a Marine Reserve. The marine environment is so complex, and has suffered from human impacts in so many ways, that science cannot provide an accurate picture of what will happen. In addition, as marine science is a relatively young discipline, we frequently do not know what the environment looked like before the damage occurred. What is certain is that the environment in a Marine Reserve will be better for wildlife than the area around it. We can trust in nature to get it right.

“As the marine environment gradually deteriorates, so our expectations for it also diminish. Marine Reserves will help raise the bar, showing us our seas’ true potential for wildlife. ”

Dr Becky Boyd, Scottish Wildlife Trust

Angler fish, Photo by Paul Naylor. www.marinephoto.org.uk

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Marine Reserves – TLC for our seas and sea life page 9 page 7

Marine Reserves and fishingIt is often stated that Marine Reserves will help protect fish stocks and boost fisheries. Marine Reserves on coral reefs have certainly done this, as fish within the reserve have bred prolifically and spilled out into the surrounding areas. In the UK, there may also be benefits, especially for fish and shellfish that stay in one area throughout their lives, but there might also be benefits for migratory fish such as cod and herring. In some cases, however, the species that gain most from protection might not be those that are commercially valuable.

However, the purpose of Marine Reserves is to build a healthy and robust marine ecosystem that is better able to support human activity. As such, the entire suite of Marine Reserves – together with less strict MPAs – is likely to have a major and positive influence on UK fisheries.

“Marine Reserves are about putting wildlife first, and that means no fishing in these sites. But a healthier and more productive environment is good news for wildlife, for fishermen and for other users of the sea. It’s a win-win-win outcome.”

Bryony Chapman, Kent Wildlife Trust

Sprat shoal. Photo by Paul Naylor. www.marinephoto.org.uk

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Marine Reserves and climate changeOur seas play a critical role in climate regulation, acting as a giant ‘carbon sponge’ that soaks vast amounts of harmful carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. (Globally, this amounts to around 20 million tonnes per day.) But an unhealthy sea soaks up less carbon.

Climate change is already altering the marine environment, and further changes are inevitable as the sea warms and becomes more acidic. This will put added pressure on an already stressed environment. Allowing our seas and sea life to adapt to climate change is a major challenge. The World Conservation Union has recently highlighted the vital role of MPAs, and particularly Marine Reserves, in this respect. By allowing these areas to recover from human impacts, we give them the best chance of adapting to change without losing wildlife.

“Marine Reserves will help give our sea life a fighting chance as it adjusts to climate change.”

Nia Jones, North Wales Wildlife Trust

Sunlit shallows. Photo by Paul Naylor. www.marinephoto.org.uk

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The wider sea

Trawling and dredging may occur, plus oil production, windfarms and other uses (with appropriate licences).

Marine Conservation Zone

Low-impact lobster-potting and angling are allowed, but not more damaging activities.

What might Marine Reserves look like? Marine Reserves can be any size or shape. Larger reserves are more likely to succeed in protecting wildlife, but even small reserves can be effective. Often, a Marine Reserve will take the form of a highly protected area within a larger, multi-use MPA (a European Marine Site or Marine Conservation Zone). This is how many Marine Reserves operate, for example in France, Spain, Italy and Australia. Arguably all European Marine Sites and Marine Conservation Zones would be more effective if they included at least one Marine Reserve. In some cases though, a Marine Reserve may stand alone. This is most likely to happen when the feature to be protected is small or very isolated, or when the surrounding area is not threatened by human activity.

One example of the possible lay-out of a Marine Reserve, within a Marine Conservation Zone. Activities permitted in the Marine Conservation Zone and wider sea are for illustration only, and would vary from site to site.

Marine Reserve

No extraction (eg of fish) or construction. Scuba diving and boating allowed, with wildlife-friendly codes of conduct; possibly other low-impact activities too.

Public opinion In spring 2007, we asked a leading polling company to conduct a telephone survey on public attitudes to our seas and their protection. More than 1200 people took part, from across the entire UK. Here are some of the key findings.

• Given a choice of six leisure options from a day at the races to a night on the town, the most popular choice, with 34% of the vote, was a day at the seaside.

• 67% of participants had been walking at the coast during the preceding 12 months.

• 78% of participants said that the UK’s seas are important to their personal quality of life.

• 94% of people rated the health of the marine environment as important. By health, we explained that we meant the quality of the water, the condition of the natural habitats and the well-being of the wildlife.

• 76% of people believed that there are fewer fish in the sea than there were 20 years ago.

• 90% agreed that in circumstances where sea life is threatened by commercial activity, such as industrial fishing or dredging, priority should be given to protecting nature, even if this means putting restrictions on where commercial activities can take place.

• 50% had heard of the idea of Marine Reserves.

• On average, participants thought that 27% of our sea is already protected in Marine Reserves – and they thought that 62% should be protected in this way.

So the public vote is a resounding thumbs-up for Marine Reserves. Indeed people imagine that we already have them! Contrast the suggested figure of 27% of our seas protected as Marine Reserves with the actual figure of less than 0.001%. And we have a very long way to go before we reach the public’s desired figure of 62%.

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Marine Reserves and the Marine Bill The UK Government is committed under an international convention to create a well-managed network of Marine Protected Areas by 2010. New legislation will be needed to meet this goal – and we need to get a move on.

The Government’s Marine Bill White Paper, published in spring 2007, set out a new direction for marine conservation and the regulation of human activities at sea. The paper proposed a network of Marine Conservation Zones, ranging from areas with minimal restriction through to highly protected sites. This is an enormous step forward for marine conservation in the UK. However, there is still no guarantee that the Marine Bill will be passed, or that it will include Marine Conservation Zones as currently proposed. Even if we get new laws in place, we will still be reliant on the commitment and willpower of decision-makers to make sure that the laws are implemented. We know that the designation of each and every Marine Reserve will be a challenge. That’s why we need your support (see page 23 for more).

“The UK Government has committed to creating highly protected sites, and we will do everything in our power to make sure that they honour that commitment.”

Joan Edwards, The Wildlife Trusts

Spiny squat lobster, Photo by Paul Naylor. www.marinephoto.org.uk

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Devolved countries and the Marine BillMarine conservation in the territorial waters (ie from the coast to 12 miles offshore) around Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the devolved administrations. Each of the administrations has signed up to the developing UK Marine Bill, but they may need to introduce their own national legislation if Marine Reserves are to be created in Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish waters.

“There’s a real opportunity for the devolved countries to lead the way by establishing an ambitious Marine Reserves programme.”

Dr Madeleine Havard, The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales

Rocky reef with kelp. Photo by Paul Naylor. www.marinephoto.org.uk

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What sort of places might be chosen as Marine Reserves?The following pages look at some of the reasons why particular sites might be suggested as Marine Reserves. We expect the Marine Bill and devolved legislation to bring in a dedicated legal mechanism and clear process for creating Marine Conservation Zones (including Marine Reserves) in the sea regions around the UK. This should include a robust set of scientific and technical criteria for selecting suitable locations. The chosen sites must be those that present the very best opportunities to conserve wildlife and restore the health of the ecosystem – not just the ‘leftovers’ that are of no interest to other sea users.

This section does not attempt to pre-empt the future selection process. This is simply a non-technical introduction to some of the factors that might be taken into consideration, drawing on the concepts already used in other formal site designation processes (eg for Sites of Special Scientific Interest on land).

Factor 1: Naturalness

Factor 2: Rare, threatened, vulnerable or important habitats or wildlife

Factor 3: Critical lifecycle area

Factor 4: Biodiversity hotspot

Factor 5: Typical habitats and wildlife

Factor 6: Ecosystem engine

Factor 7: Community initiative

Factor 8: Research and education

Health warning!The areas that we suggest illustrate the sorts of sites, habitats and wildlife that could benefit from Marine Reserve status. In many cases, the benefits could be achieved from protecting part of an area (eg part, or parts, of The Wash) as a Marine Reserve, rather than the whole area. These are not formal site proposals and have not been identified through a thorough scoping exercise that would be required as part of a Marine Reserves programme. Any site would have to go through a rigorous selection process from nomination to final designation.

Symbols Key

Naturalness

Rare, threatened or important habitats or wildlife

Critical lifecycle area

Biodiversity hotspot

Typical habitats and wildlife

Ecosystem engine

Community initiative

Research and education

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The Manacles

Irish Sea

Western English Channel and Celtic Sea

Eastern English Channel

Southern North Sea

Minches and West Scotland

Northern North Sea

Rathlin Island

Strangford Lough

Menai Strait

Skomer

Isles of Scilly

The Wash

Easington- Dimlington Reef

Lamlash Bay

Studland Bay

Lyme Bay Reefs

Shell Flat

Overfalls

Solway Firth

Dogger Bank

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Factor 1: Naturalness One reason for proposing a specific site as a Marine Reserve could be that it is in particularly good condition. In other words, it is a site that has so far avoided damage from human impacts and appears to be in a relatively natural, healthy state. Turning such a site into a Marine Reserve would give it the strongest chance of remaining in excellent condition into the future. In a way, these sites are ‘easy wins’, as they are already contributing to the health of the seas around them. Marine Reserve status ensures that they continue to do so. The fact that the site is already in good condition could mean that it is particularly resilient, or that it has not yet been subject to intensive human activity. Either way, declaring the site as a Marine Reserve recognises the important role that pristine sites play, and presents opportunities for research and education.

Examples of sites that could benefit from being partially or wholly designated a Marine Reserve:

Solway FirthThe Solway Firth is a large, complex estuary of great importance for nature conservation. The Firth has extensive areas of saltmarsh, sand and mudflats, as well as seagrass meadows, mussel beds, reefs built by ross worms, and unusual ‘scar’ habitats (rocky reefs that are periodically covered by sand, before being exposed again). Rare migratory fish, seabirds, waders and waterfowl take advantage of the abundance of food that the estuary provides. In comparison with most of the UK’s major estuaries, the Solway Firth is relatively undeveloped, and has escaped major and widespread human impacts. However, coastal development, dredging and dumping of sediments, trawling and shellfish harvesting are significant activities in the area. The Firth is a European Marine Site and a candidate site for Scotland’s first Coastal and Marine National Park. However, no part of the Firth is fully protected from all harmful use.

Other factors relevant to this site:

Isles of Scilly The Isles of Scilly have a climate that is unique in the UK, and this brings an unusual mix of wildlife, including many rarities. Between the 200 granite islands is a wide range of habitats, from submerged cliffs and boulder reefs to seagrass meadows and sandbanks. These are considered to be in excellent condition and amongst the best examples of these habitats in the whole of the UK. The area is designated as a European Marine Site but might benefit from the creation of one or more Marine Reserves within the larger protected area.


Anemones and brittlestars. Photo by Paul Naylor. www.marinephoto.org.uk

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Factor 2: Rare, threatened or important habitats or wildlife A second reason for proposing a site as a Marine Reserve could be that it supports rare, threatened, vulnerable or important habitats and wildlife. Some habitats and species may be so rare, so threatened, or so sensitive to damage or disturbance, that they need to be given the highest level of protection wherever they occur. Others might benefit from varying levels of protection across their natural range, but with the most important sites secured as Marine Reserves. This would save them from extinction as well as providing opportunities to study and learn about them. The UK’s conservation agencies are already compiling a list of those species and habitats that are considered rare, threatened and nationally important.


Lyme Bay ReefsThe Lyme Bay Reefs are a series of low-lying, soft rocky reefs off the Dorset and Devon coast. The reefs support rich communities of rare and fragile marine life, and this diversity plays an important part in the ecology and productivity of the entire Bay. For more than 15 years, Devon Wildlife Trust has been campaigning to protect the reefs from scallop dredging, which smashes the wildlife and erodes the reefs. The Government has to decide whether to offer legal protection to the reefs whilst also protecting the economic interests in the area (not just scallop dredging, but also potting for lobsters and crabs, diving for scallops, recreational sea angling and scuba diving). Not only could one or more Marine Reserves make an important contribution to the protection of the Lyme Bay Reefs (in combination with a multi-use Marine Conservation Zone or European Marine Site), but it is also a great opportunity to capitalise on the existing data and establish reference sites for the area.


Easington-Dimlington ReefThe Easington-Dimlington Reef, off Spurn Head in Yorkshire, is the only known area of reef in a vast expanse of sand and gravel. It is known to attract a range of wildlife that would otherwise be absent from the region. For this reason, it is considered to be important to the region and potentially worthy of protection. The reef is thought to consist of boulders and pebbles, possibly made of chalk (a rare underwater habitat). However, there is no detailed information about the reef complex, how big it is and what lives there. Current uses include commercial fishing, and there may be a risk of damage from oil and gas production, submarine cables and pipelines.


Seagrass bed. Photo by Paul Naylor. www.marinephoto.org.uk

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Factor 3: Critical lifecycle areaSome sites might be proposed because they are critical in the lifecycle or migration route of a rare, threatened or important mobile species. For example, some areas are hotspots for basking sharks, where they congregate at a particular time of year on their annual migration. Other eligible sites might include a breeding ground for rare angel sharks, a pupping site for seals or a vital feeding area for migrating seabirds. Marine Reserve status would ensure these sites continue to support the wildlife that depends on them.


The WashThe Wash is the largest estuarine area in England, with around 300 km2 of mudflats and sandbanks exposed at low tide, and an even greater area beneath the tides. Grey seals and common seals breed on the banks, and more than 400,000 waterfowl and wading birds visit the estuary to over-winter or as a pit-stop on their migration. In summer, the bay is a breeding ground for large numbers of seabirds. This makes The Wash one of Europe’s most important sites for birds. As well as commercial fishing (including dredging and trawling) and shellfish culture, there is also a potential threat from offshore windfarms, power cables and disturbance of seals by over-intensive recreation. The Wash is already a European Marine Site (as well as having a range of other conservation designations), but there is nowhere in that bay that is fully protected.


Shell FlatShell Flat is a large, shallow sandbank at the northern end of Liverpool Bay. It is a very important feeding area for the common scoter, a rare sea duck. As many as 54,000 scoters rely on the flat each winter, diving down to probe the sand for their shellfish prey. Scoters are easily disturbed by boat traffic, and Shell Flat is currently one of the quietest areas in Liverpool Bay. However, the Flat has been under threat from a proposed offshore windfarm, which could have an adverse impact on the scoters. The Flats would also be threatened if fishing effort were to increase in the area. Shell Flat lies within a proposed European Marine Site, but there is currently no proposal to create a Marine Reserve in the area.


Basking shark. Photo by J P Trenque. www.jptrenque.com

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Factor 4: Biodiversity hotspotSome locations in the UK’s seas stand out as biodiversity hotspots – areas that support an unusually wide range of habitats and species, perhaps as a result of particular physical conditions or geology. Biodiversity hotspots include areas that are home to high numbers of rare, threatened, important or typical species. By protecting these sites as Marine Reserves, you get ‘more bang for your buck’, as you are protecting a high number of important features in a single site.


Strangford Lough and Rathlin IslandStrangford Lough is the UK’s most biologically diverse sea lough. There are tidal rapids, seagrass meadows, beds of horse mussels, muddy areas favoured by scampi, and mixed reefs of bedrock and boulders. Wildlife includes rare and threatened species such as seapens and native oysters, as well as the common seal. The lough has been badly damaged by trawling and dredging – in spite of supposed protection as a Marine Nature Reserve and European Marine Site – and a restoration plan is in development. Designating one or more Marine Reserves in Strangford could help speed the recovery of this internationally important site. Rathlin Island, also in Northern Ireland, is another important hotspot. More than 25 new species of sponge – found nowhere else in the world – were recently discovered there. The site is also home to a population of rare fan shells. Rathlin Island is a European Marine Site, giving protection to its reef and cave habitats, but the site has been damaged by trawling.


Menai StraitThe Menai Strait, lying between the mainland of North Wales and the island of Anglesey, is renowned as a biodiversity hotspot. More than 500 species of plants and animals have been recorded in a single square measuring five metres by five metres. Large, mobile beds of brittlestars (a relative of starfish) occur, along with numerous rare sponges and fish. The Strait is a European Marine Site but there are no areas that benefit from a high level of protection. Key threats include urban growth on the coast, shellfish culture and harvesting and bait-digging.


Urchin and brittlestars. Photo by Paul Naylor. www.marinephoto.org.uk

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Factor 5: Typical habitats and wildlifeIn addition to protecting habitats and species that are rare and threatened, we must not forget those that represent typical UK features. After all, what is common today could well be rare tomorrow (think of the common skate, now a threatened species). Besides, we know that all habitats and species play a role in the marine ecosystem. Protecting these typical features – ideally the best examples that exist – as Marine Reserves will ensure that they do not slide into scarcity, and that they continue to play their role in keeping our seas healthy and thriving.


The ManaclesThe Manacles is a series of granite reefs lying approximately 2 km off the Cornish coast. The reefs reach from the seabed (at a depth of around 50 metres) to the surface, where many steep-sided pinnacles pierce the water at low tide. There are several distinct habitats, including the various depth zones up the sides of the pinnacles, and the sandy seabed around the reefs. The site is an excellent example of an exposed rocky reef feature, and is thought to be in good condition. In addition to the typical reef community, the site supports several nationally rare and important species, including the pink sea fan and white cluster anemone. Basking sharks congregate around the pinnacles in summer. The Manacles are not protected by law.


The OverfallsThe Overfalls is a good example of tide-swept sand and gravel ridges in deeper water. The site is a series of prominent ridges lying east of the Isle of Wight. The ridges are around 1.5 km long, snaking in a north-south direction. Each ridge is up to 100 metres wide and 10 metres high, rising from the seabed at a depth of around 30 metres. In certain tide and wind conditions, the water heaps up and spills over the banks, creating powerful and erratic overfalls. The Overfalls are renowned for high numbers of sand eels, which attract large bass, flatfish and blonde rays. The site is highly valued by sea anglers, and has recently been the focus of discussions with the marine aggregate industry, which had applied for a licence to dredge the banks for sand and gravel. The site has gained a temporary reprieve. A Marine Reserve covering part of the banks might help secure its conservation interest.


Pink sea fan, Photo by Paul Naylor. www.marinephoto.org.uk

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Factor 6: Ecosystem engineSome parts of our sea have such far-reaching importance that it is hard to envisage how the marine ecosystem would function without them. These sites might be extraordinarily productive or be in a critical location for large numbers or groups of important marine life. Alternatively they could be important in lessening the impact of climate change, or they could be fundamental in other ways to the sea’s physical, chemical and biological cycles. Marine Reserves, along with other measures, can help ensure that these features keep running, and in doing so maintain a healthy marine environment.

Example of a site that could benefit from being partially or wholly designated a Marine Reserve:

Dogger BankDogger Bank is an enormous (10,000 km2) shallow sandbank in the Southern North Sea. It straddles the boundaries of UK, German and Dutch waters, but the largest portion belongs to the UK. The bank is one of the northeast Atlantic’s most productive feeding and spawning areas for commercial fish. Due to the shallow, clear water, there are unusually high levels of plant plankton (the basis of the marine food chain) all year round. For this reason, Dogger Bank supports an extraordinarily productive foodweb, from microscopic animal plankton to fish, seabirds and mammals. Many species, including commercially important fish such as sand eel, whiting and Norway lobster, have important spawning grounds on or near the bank. Dogger Bank is the engine that powers the whole of the southern North Sea ecosystem. Without it, the region would be greatly impoverished, both in wildlife and commercial value. The region supports a range of human uses including commercial fishing, oil and gas production, aggregate extraction, cables and pipelines, shipping and offshore renewable energy developments. Dogger Bank currently has no legal protection, but has been proposed as a European Marine Site. Including one or more Marine Reserves on the bank could greatly enhance the conservation efforts and help protect this vitally important area.


Sand eels. Photo by Paul Naylor. www.marinephoto.org.uk

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Factor 7: Community initiativeThe selection of Marine Reserves must be strongly guided by science, so that the sites offer the very best opportunities for protecting wildlife and the ecosystem. However, this does not mean that scientists are the only ones that can propose sites. Indeed, in some places around our coast it is local communities and sea users who are leading the movement for a site to be protected. These sites might be important for rare and threatened species, or they might simply be valued and appreciated for their natural beauty and tranquillity. In some cases, it is a direct and immediate threat that elicits the calls for a Marine Reserve. Where there is a high level of support from the community and users, a Marine Reserve is more likely to be successful as a conservation site than where there is significant conflict.


Lamlash BayLamlash Bay on the Isle of Arran has been the subject of a well-organised and concerted campaign by the local community. More than 20% of the local population has supported the calls for one-third of the bay to be made a No-Take-Zone (effectively a Marine Reserve) with the remainder of the bay closed to trawling and scallop dredging but open to other fisheries. The bay has prolific beds of seagrass, mussels and brittlestars, as well as large beds of maerl (a slow-growing, calcified seaweed that forms lattice-like beds in which hundreds of other species can thrive). The site currently has no protection and there is evidence that the wildlife, including fish and scallops, has declined dramatically in the last 20 years. The campaign aims to protect and regenerate maerl and other seabed habitats, as well as the fish and scallop populations. The would both improve wildlife quality and help to sustain local fishing and tourism-based livelihoods. Importantly, the Clyde Fishermen’s Association and Scottish Natural Heritage support these proposals.


Enjoying the seashore. Photo by Trevor Rees. www.trevorreesphotography.co.uk

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Factor 8: Research and educationOne of the key roles of Marine Reserves is that we can use them as reference sites, comparing them with unprotected or less highly protected sites to improve our understanding of the marine environment and human impacts. Currently, as we have no established reference sites, it is almost impossible to disentangle the complex web of interactions and impacts in our seas. When there is a problem, no one is prepared to accept responsibility: the oil industry blames dredging, the dredging company blames fishing, and the fishermen blame climate change! Once we have well-established Marine Reserves, we can start to work out cause-and-effect relationships. For example, if a change that is observed outside a Marine Reserve is also happening within the site, then it is more likely to be the result of climate change than other factors. A well-studied Marine Reserve also has great potential for education, both through real, hands-on experiences and remote approaches such as websites, cameras and DVDs.


Studland BayStudland Bay in Dorset is a shallow, sheltered, sandy bay just outside the mouth of Poole Harbour, which is one of England’s busiest ports for shipping, ferry transport and recreation. The bay contains a large seagrass meadow, a rare and threatened habitat that is important as a natural nursery for fish and crustaceans. The spiny seahorse, a threatened species, is known to breed in the seagrass, and the rare black-necked grebe feeds in the bay. In the outer part of the bay, in deeper water, is a habitat dominated by a rare and slow-growing seaweed called maerl. Studland Bay is not currently protected, and concerns have been raised about the impacts of waste from boats and the nearby dumping ground, disturbance of wildlife and damage from anchoring. Dorset Wildlife Trust and local universities have already conducted survey work in the bay, which would be a useful starting point if reference sites were created.


SkomerThe sea around Skomer Island is one of Wales’ most important marine conservation sites. As well as being one of only three statutory Marine Nature Reserves in the UK, it is also part of a European Marine Site on account of its outstanding rocky reefs and caves. Skomer also boasts tidal rapids, seagrass beds, and a variety of interesting sand and gravel habitats. It supports numerous rare plants and small animals, as well as grey seals and important populations of seabirds. Another bonus is that the island itself is a National Nature Reserve (managed by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales). Furthermore, the site has a well-resourced research and education facility, a real centre of expertise, making it well placed to support one or more Marine Reserves acting as key reference sites. Efforts to create a No-Take-Zone in 2005 were unsuccessful, but possible new Welsh legislation could present a second opportunity to achieve stronger protection for the site.


Weever fish. Photo by Paul Naylor. www.marinephoto.org.uk

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What next? The Government has promised a Marine Bill that will introduce new laws to protect the marine environment and create Marine Conservation Zones, including highly protected sites (ie Marine Reserves). But the Bill has already suffered lengthy delays.

The Government should show its commitment to the marine environment NOW by putting its Marine Bill at the top of its priorities for new legislation and by announcing a clear timetable for its introduction.

The devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should also confirm their commitment and intentions for marine legislation.

To support our campaign for Marine Reserves and find out how you can help, please visit www.wildlifetrusts.org

Make waves! If you would be interested in taking an active role in our campaign, consider joining our Save our Seas team. As a member of this online campaign group, you’ll receive a regular email newsletter with the latest marine conservation news and tips to help you get actively involved in our marine campaigns and projects. To join, click on the SoS team link at www.wildlifetrusts.org.

Tompot blenny. Photo by Paul Naylor. www.marinephoto.org.uk

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Written by Lisa Chilton. Copyright The Wildlife Trusts 2009. Printed on environmentally-friendly paper.

The Wildlife Trusts

The Kiln, Waterside, Mather Road, Newark, NG24 1WT

Tel: 01636 677711 Fax: 01636 670001 www.wildlifetrusts.org

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