Policy papers and consultations

Seeking feedback on draft updated policies for Marine Protected Area (MPA) assessments to inform updates to guidance.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 21 March 2024

Information about the Highly Protected Marine Area designation at Allonby Bay in the Irish Sea.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 5 July 2023

• Highly Protected Marine Areas: Allonby Bay

  This page outlines why Allonby Bay has been designated as a Highly…

Information about the Highly Protected Marine Area designation at North East of Farnes Deep in the North Sea.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 5 July 2023

• Highly Protected Marine Areas: North East of Farnes Deep

  This page outlines why North East of Farnes Deep has been designated as a…

Information about the Highly Protected Marine Area designation at Dolphin Head in the English Channel.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 5 July 2023

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
• Updated: 25 May 2023

The UK government is consulting on pilot Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) in English waters for biodiversity recovery.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 28 February 2023

This is a joint interim position statement about the clearance of unexploded ordnances in the marine environment.

• From: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and 9 others
• Updated: 13 January 2022

Defra is seeking views on best practice guidance for developing compensatory measures in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). We are keen to hear from marine industries affected by the consenting process.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 22 December 2021

Report setting out the progress with marine plans in England, covering the period 2015 to 2021.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 29 October 2021

The government response to the review of Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs).

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 8 June 2021

Seeking views on our updated UK marine strategy and the targets to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) in UK seas.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 23 October 2019

Seeking views on whether and how to introduce Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) in English inshore and offshore waters and Northern Irish offshore waters.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 3 October 2019

We want your views on the extent and level of information to be included as part of the assessment process.

• From: Environment Agency
• Updated: 7 August 2019

Natural England is seeking views on the proposal to extend the Special Protection Area and Ramsar site, and notify and de-notify sites of special scientific interest in the area.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 18 April 2019

Natural England is seeking views on the proposal to extend the Isles of Scilly Special Protection Area (SPA) to protect important birds.

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 26 February 2019

Report setting out the progress made in using the provisions of the Marine and Coastal Access Act to establish a Marine Protected Area network between 2012 and 2018.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 17 December 2018

We are consulting on proposals to extend the Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs SPA and revise the landward boundary of the Flamborough Head SAC

• From: Natural England
• Updated: 23 November 2018

Natural England, Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Natural Resources Wales are seeking views on proposed changes to Liverpool Bay / Bae Lerpwl Special Protection Area (SPA).

• From: Natural England and 1 others
• Updated: 31 August 2018