Marine Conservation Zones

Marine Protected Areas work by creating places of refuge where damaging activities are controlled and populations of plants and animals can recover from past declines. There are several types of Marine Protected Areas such as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and new Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) which are being established under the Marine Act and Coastal Access Act 2009. Cornwall Wildlife Trust is working with other stakeholders and decision makers to ensure that Marine Conservation Zones really work for wildlife. We are actively campaigning for a network of Marine Conservation Zones, click here to read our latest press release.

A network of Marine Conservation Zones is being established around our coast to protect delicate seabed habitats like sponge gardens and to represent each of the varied habitats beneath our seas like gravel communities, seagrass meadows and mudflats. We want these MCZs to be havens for wildlife where human activities are well managed to ensure there is minimal impact on the habitats they seek to protect. We are concerned that the network is under threat and we need your help to raise these concerns with Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon. Please write to the Minister to express your support for MCZs.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust has been working with stakeholders and is campaigning to make sure that marine wildlife has a voice and receives the best possible protection for the future. The Wildlife Trusts Petition Fish is part of our campaign for a strong, ecologically coherent network of Marine Conservation Zones. Please add your voice to this campaign by signing a Petition Fish scale.