Policy paper

Highly Protected Marine Areas: policy information

The paper outlines the rationale for Highly Protected Marine Areas, gives an overview of the sites intended for designation and provides details of the selection process.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 6 July 2022
• Last updated: 25 May 2023
  Show all updates

  1. 25 May 2023

     Added the De-Minimis Assessment for HPMAs.

  2. 28 February 2023

     Updated to reflect that the government intends to designate a modified version of Allonby Bay, North East of Farnes Deep and a modified version of Dolphin Head as Highly Protected Marine Areas.

  3. 5 October 2022

     We've updated the page to say that the consultation on Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) has now closed.

  4. 6 July 2022

     First published.

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Applies to England

Documents

Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs)

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Pilot Highly Protected Marine Areas: de minimis assessment

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Details

The paper details why Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) are needed to protect and conserve our marine environment and why we want to introduce them.

It sets out which sites are intended for designation and why. It also gives an overview of the HPMA process, including how we have worked with stakeholders, site selection and details of the consultation.

The paper explains why management measures need to be introduced to manage the pilot HPMAs once designated, and also sets out what the next steps are.