Villagers at Holy Island have rejoiced after HPMA plan was scrapped, the BBC have reported. The government had been exploring designating the area off the coast of Northumberland a Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMA), which would have seen fishing halted. Voicing their relief, campaigners said the news was “still sinking in”.

Berwick MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan thanked ministers for “choosing to make the right decision”.

We covered the story on 28^th February that Defra had announced that three HPMAs would be taken forward, with the Lindisfarne (Holy Island) and Inner Silver Pits South sites being rejected. Environment Secretary Therese Coffey said the government intended to designate the North East of Farne Deep, 35 miles off the coast of Northumberland, as a site for marine protection as well as Allonby Bay in Cumbria and Dolphin Head off West Sussex.

The Reverend Canon Dr Sarah Hills, vicar of Holy Island, had previously warned a fishing ban would “rip the heart” out of the community. She said the result had come from a “huge team effort”.

Photo: Chris Combe

Further reaction on the news of designations

Dr Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “Losing two out of five HPMA pilot sites is a major set-back and does not bode well for Government meeting its targets to effectively protect 30% of land and sea by 2030 and to ban bottom-trawling across marine protected areas by 2024.

Blue Marine Foundation said ‘It is good to see three Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) will be designated. [We are] disappointed that the HPMAs designated are less than the “bare minimum” the Benyon Review said are required. We look forward to more sites being proposed.’

Megan Randles from Greenpeace UK called the loss of two pilot sites a “disaster”, with Dr Jean-Luc Solandt of the Marine Conservation Society adding: “The UK Government cannot continue to underachieve and must show much greater ambition and initiative to build a network of HPMAs – or no take zones – covering at least 10% of English seas by 2030 to allow our seas to thrive.”

Barrie Deas, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, said there needs to be a balance between protecting nature and fishermen’s livelihoods. He added: “We do not challenge the need for marine protected areas if they are in the right place with clear objectives. Without a marine environment, we don’t have an industry.”

Defra confirmed that ‘additional sites will be explored and any future options will also be subject to consultation.’

Further information and resources:

• Stories covering the HPMA designations can be found in the BBC, Guardian, CMS News and Express & Star.
• The HPMA consultation outcome can be read here along with a summary of consultation responses.
• A policy paper on the rationale for HPMAs and an overview of the candidate site selection can be read here.
• The press release from Defra on the designation of three HPMAs can be found here.