MCZ

Andrew Ball & Tom Daguerre · Issue 98, Sep/Oct 2017 · pp. 66–68

Products mentioned: Canon G16, Fantasea housing, Light & Motion Sidekick Duo, INON UCL-165

In 2009 the UK Government passed The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. This enabled Marine Conservation Zones(MCZs) to be designated anywhere in English and Welsh territorial and UK offshore waters. Lundy Island, a former Marine Nature Reserve in the Bristol Channel, became the UK’s first MCZ in January 2010. In 2013 twenty-seven MCZs were designated around the English Coast, and in 2016 a further 23 were put in place. In total, these 50 MCZs protect an area equal to 7,886sq miles, around the same size of Wales. Next year we will see a third assessment phase, hopefully designating more MCZs across the UK. But what exactly do MCZs do? MCZs are designated to protect specific features, either habitats or species, that are unique to a given area. These features have an inherent value to biodiversity, making it vital they have an adequate level of protection. The conservation objective for …