Jean Luc Solandt, MCS:  “A couple of weeks ago Michael Gove invited marine ‘stakeholders’ around his table in Defra to discuss the efficacy (or lack of it) of current MPAs in UK domestic seas. He’s interested in the role and (perhaps) lack of designation of Highly Protected Marine Areas in our seas. 3.5 years after CEFAS was commissioned by Defra to do a ‘report’ on the benefits of Highly Protected Marine Areas in September 2014, the report is finally out.

So many questions arise from this area of marine conservation. Why we are seeing such negligence in government(s) commitment towards such a measure in UK waters. Indeed, the questions are there for society: Why so many large-scale no take marine reserves in UK Overseas Territories, and none at home? Why make a scientific ‘arm’ of government (Cefas) write a non-scientific report on HPMAs?”  My blog on this report will be circulated by CMS News next week

Click here to download the report

Dr Jean-Luc Solandt
Principal Specialist, Marine Protected Areas
Marine Conservation Society
01989 561594 / 07793 118387
www.mcsuk.org