The Marine
and Coastal Access Act 2009 allows for the creation of a
new type of Marine Protected Area (MPA), called a Marine
Conservation Zone (MCZ). MCZs will protect a range of nationally
important marine wildlife, habitats, geology and geomorphology and
can be designated anywhere in English and Welsh inshore and UK
offshore waters. Lundy
Island in the Bristol Channel, a former Marine Nature Reserve,
became the UK's first MCZ in January 2010. More information on
Marine Conservation Zones is available on Defra's
website.
MCZs in English inshore and English, Welsh and
Northern Irish offshore waters will be identified through the
Marine Conservation Zone Project. In Welsh
inshore waters there will be a small number of Highly Protected
Marine Conservation Zones identified through the Marine Conservation
Zone Project Wales. Sites will be selected to protect not just
the rare and threatened, but the range of marine wildlife.