Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Rejected
Expand Highly Protected Marine Areas network to 10% of UK waters by 2030, publishing designation plan.
Recommendation
We urge the Government to expand the network of Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMA) to 10% of UK waters by 2030 to meet 30by30 targets, based on the evidence of their effectiveness in enabling marine nature recovery. The Marine Recovery Fund should be used to assist the establishment of new HPMAs. To ensure consistent progress across the UK, the Government should also consider using the UK Marine Policy Statement to set indicative targets or expectations for HPMA coverage within each devolved administration. This would help ensure that the 30by30 target is met through coordinated contributions from all nations. The plan for designating more HPMAs should be published in a report by January 2026. (Recommendation, Paragraph 72)
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to expand HPMAs to 10% of UK waters by 2030 and publish a plan by January 2026, disagreeing with setting specific HPMA targets. They state that 40% of English waters are already MPAs, meeting the 30by30 target, and they are reviewing the overall MPA network, which will consider the role of further HPMAs.
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. The Government therefore disagrees with the recommendation at paragraph 72, and partially agrees with the recommendation at paragraph 77.