Decision to scrap protected marine areas in UK a backward step

The UK Government’s decision to designate only three of five suggested highly protected marine areas (HPMAs) in the waters around England has been met with disappointment by conservation groups including WDC.

We took part in efforts to promote the concept and influence the proposed sites during the consultation process so that threats to whales and dolphins were considered. But despite the Government looking at five areas to protect, stating in 2021 that it was a bare minimum, two proposed sites have been scrapped.

Last year UK Government backed the international agreement at COP15 to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030. The long-term sustainability of the ocean and its ability to help reverse climate breakdown means that losing two out of five HPMA pilot sites is a major set-back and makes meeting the Government’s 30% targets by 2030 less likely.

Protecting whales and dolphins is vital if we want to keep the ocean healthy. The more whales there are the better. We need to be creating more marine protected areas not scrapping them.

Read more here about how whales play an amazing role in an ecosystem that keeps every creature on Earth alive.