Marine Protected Areas

The seas around the UK are home to a diverse range of species and habitats, and the coastal seas of Northumberland are of national importance for the marine wildlife found here. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are marine, coastal and estuarine areas designated to protect these marine habitats and species. There are 10 MPAs within the NIFCA district, all with their own conservation objectives. To work towards MPA protection, restrictions may apply to some activities in these areas. Information on the protected features and the marine management in place can be found by selecting the MPA or using the interactive map.

MPA Types

The main types of MPAs in English waters are European Marine Sites (comprises Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas) and Marine Conservation Zones.

Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are part of the Natura 2000 Network sites established to protect important habitats and species listed under the annexes of the EC Habitat Directive 1992. The EC Habitats Directive is transposed to UK law by the Conservation of Habitats & Species Regulations 2017 (Habitat Regs).

Special Protection Areas (SPAs) also part of the Natura 2000 Network sites aims to protect and manage areas that bird species of European importance use for breeding, feeding, wintering or migration as underpinned by the EC Birds Directive 1979 (amended 2009). The EC Birds Directive is also transposed into UK law through the Habitat Regs.

Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) are designated under the Marine & Coastal Access Act 2009 (MaCAA) to protect species and habitats that are nationally important, rare or threatened.

In addition to the above, Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and Ramsar sites play a part in creating a coherent marine protected network.

Sites of Areas of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) contribute to MPAs by protecting national areas with a special marine interest due to their flora, fauna, physiological or geological features (Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981).

Ramsar Site protects wetlands of international importance (Ramsar Convention 1971).

MPA Assessments

NIFCA have a responsibility under MaCAA (2009) and through DEFRA’s Revised Approach to MPA management (more information on this is available on Defra’s website) to ensure the conservation objectives of each MPA within the NIFCA district are met or furthered. NIFCA achieve this by monitoring and assessing each fishing activity in each MPA in the district.

This work assesses the impacts of each fishing activity on each individual feature in MPAs (features can include both habitats and species). While this work is ongoing, NIFCA have completed a number of these assessments to date with support from Natural England. After an MPA assessment is completed, to continue the monitoring in MPAs process, NIFCA complete annual Monitoring and Control Plans at the end of the research year.

This process has led to the creation of two Northumberland IFCA byelaws:

Prohibition of the use of Mobile Fishing Gear within the English section of the Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

Seagrass Protection Byelaw within the English section of the Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast Special Area of Conservation (SAC)

And to the modification of the Trawling permit byelaw to restrict mobile gear in Coquet to St Mary’s MCZ.

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