Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 17
17
Rejected
Whole-site marine protection via HPMAs proven effective and critical for habitat recovery.
Recommendation
Marine habitats are interconnected, and the health of one area impacts the entire ecosystem. Scientific research has provided evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of a whole-site approach to marine protection, which is enabled in Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMA). Therefore, it is critical for the Government to deliver whole-site marine protection in more marine areas by designating more HPMAs to facilitate effective marine conservation and enable faster recovery for habitats at risk. (Conclusion, Paragraph 71)
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to designate more Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) or set a specific target, stating its priority is effective management of existing MPAs and that compensatory MPAs funded by the MRF have a different objective.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
Marine protection is a devolved responsibility, and this response covers the Secretary of State waters only. This Government is taking action to protect our MPAs and enable marine nature recovery. Defra recognises that marine ecosystems are facing growing challenges, including biodiversity loss, climate change, and pressure from human activity. In response, the Government has committed to both national and international conservation goals, alongside broader ambitions such as the Clean Power Mission. Defra recognises the role that maintaining effective MPAs plays in these. In England, around 40% of our waters are already designated as MPAs, including 3 HPMAs, which meets the coverage aspect of the 30by30 target. Defra’s priority is to ensure these areas are effectively managed. HPMAs have an important role to play in the MPA network but the Government disagrees with setting a specific target for the amount of HPMAs in Secretary of State waters. In England we also have a statutory target under the Environment Act 2021, for at least 70% of protected species and habitats in MPAs to be in favourable condition by 2042, with the remainder in recovering condition. The Government is currently reviewing the MPA network in England to ensure sites are in the right place with the right protection. The review will explore ways to better address the biodiversity crisis and improve climate change resilience, while supporting wider Government objectives including Good Environmental Status and Net Zero. The review will consider the role further HPMAs could play. Defra continues to focus on ensuring our three designated HPMAs are effectively monitored and managed. The Marine Recovery Fund (MRF) is being established to enable offshore wind developers to discharge the requirement to provide environmental compensation for unavoidable adverse impacts of their projects to an MPA. Through the MRF, Defra has committed to designating new MPAs and/or extending existing MPAs in Secretary of State waters to deliver sufficient strategic compensation to compensate for likely environmental effects of offshore wind development. Compensatory MPAs will be fully funded by offshore wind developers through the MRF. These MPAs are specifically to compensate for the impacts on the seabed from offshore wind and do not have the same objective as HPMAs. Implementing these compensatory MPAs will help unlock multiple offshore wind projects while ensuring the network continues to protect vulnerable habitats and biodiversity. The Government therefore disagrees with the recommendation at paragraph 72, and partially agrees with the recommendation at paragraph 77.