Sea protection areas delayed by gaps in scientific evidence

Environment Minister Richard Benyon said his colleagues were still fully committed to creating “marine conservation zones” in UK waters, but there were also a “number of gaps and limitations” in the scientific evidence for the 127 proposed areas.

However conservationists criticised the delay as “unacceptable” and warned the Government was failing to protect important habitats and wildlife including seahorses, whales and dolphins.

In a written Ministerial statement, Mr Benyon said that Government bodies Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee would be providing their advice to Government on the proposed zones six months later than planned.

A public consultation on all the sites would be conducted towards the end of next year, with the first conservation zones designated in 2013, he said.

Some 127 proposed marine conservation zones have been drawn up by four regional groups as part of efforts to develop a network of areas designed to improve the protection of the marine environment.

They range from a 2,200 square mile site offshore in the south-west of UK waters which could be designated to protect seabed habitats, to around 100 acres of coastal saltmarsh, saline reedbeds and mudflats in an estuary in the North Sea.

These include Holderness Inshore and Lincs Belt on either side of the Humber mouth, Holderness Offshore further off the Humber, and Castle Ground, between Scarborough and Filey Brigg and also in the North Sea.

Mr Benyon praised the work done so far, but said: “It is important that we get this right.”