Recommendation 53

We welcome the adoption of three Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) in English waters, but more progress is needed. The 2022 Benyon Review into HPMAs called for five pilot sites to be established as a minimum and for these sites to cover different environments and activities with sufficient geographic spread to cover nearshore, inshore and offshore areas. We are disappointed that only three sites will be protected rather than five, which would have covered a broader range of environments and activities and therefore helped with learning for future sites. However, we recognise the need