07 Oct 2024
The annual update from Wildlife and Countryside Link (WCL) into progress in England on the target to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 (the “30×30 target”) has been published. Campaigners are calling for a rapid rescue package for nature – including designating more English waters as Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs). The annual […]
18 Sep 2023
Scots support banning fishing in 40% of Scotland’s waters – four times the amount ministers had proposed for implementing highly protected marine areas (HPMAs), a survey has found. The Scottish Government had sought to introduce HPMAs in 10% of Scottish waters, but the proposals were scrapped in the face of opposition from fishing communities and […]
08 Aug 2023
On 5 July 2023, Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMA) designations came into effect in Allonby Bay, North East of Farnes Deep and Dolphin Head, granting them the highest level of protection in our seas. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is now proposing specific management measures that will support the recovery of the HPMAs to a […]
08 Jul 2023
The first three Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) in England are now under the highest level of protection, as their designations come into effect. In a press release from Defra, the government has said that: ‘the Highly Protected Marine Areas represent a huge leap forward in the UK government’s ambitious marine conservation targets and commitments to […]
04 Jul 2023
Proposals for a series of Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMA) have been scrapped, the Scottish Government has confirmed. Proposals had previously been put forward to create HPMAs in at least 10% of Scotland’s waters – which would have restricted fishing and other activities. Plans to deliver increased protection for Scotland’s marine environment will be revised, […]
09 May 2023
A motion from the Scottish Conservatives calling on the Scottish Government to “reconsider” its Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMA) proposals has failed to garner majority support. Three members of the governing SNP party rebelled in a debate over the Scottish Government’s controversial proposals for HPMAs, held on 3rd May. The commitment to introducing HPMAs, in which […]
25 Apr 2023
Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s First Minister, was answering questions during the First Minister’s Question Time in the Holyrood Parliament when a question was raised on Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) by Conservative & Unionist MSP for the Highlands and Islands, Donald Cameron. Mr Cameron asked the First Minister if he would recommit to not forcing HPMAs […]
21 Mar 2023
A network of new Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) will have a catastrophic impact on the industry, ministers are being warned. The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) said the strict conservation zones were far too big a price for fishermen to pay when they lacked ecological justification and were being introduced for purely political reasons. In […]
