UK Wildlife

UK Marine Protected Areas and Fishing Welfare

UK Marine Protected Areas designate marine habitats for protection, but many are 'paper parks' where damaging fishing continues inside their boundaries, undermining conservation and welfare goals.

Key Facts

UK has over 350 Marine Protected Areas covering around 38% of UK seas
Many MPAs still permit bottom trawling despite designation, causing habitat damage
Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) with no extractive activity were introduced from 2023
Marine wildlife including cetaceans, seabirds and fish benefit from genuine MPA protection
Bottom trawling disturbs seabed habitats that support diverse marine wildlife communities

Welfare Considerations

Marine protected area effectiveness is undermined by continued fishing inside many designated sites. This is both a conservation failure and an animal welfare issue - fish, invertebrates, and marine mammals in unprotected MPAs face the same threats as unprotected areas. Advocating for HPMAs and genuine MPA management is essential.

What You Can Do

Support campaign organisations advocating for genuine MPA protection including no-trawl zones
Choose sustainable seafood certified by MSC or equivalent certification schemes
Advocate for Highly Protected Marine Area expansion around UK coasts