By 2012 the UK governments have signed up to have in place an 'Ecologically coherent Marine Protected Areas network' Delivering Marine Conservation and Zones and European Marine Sites. A draft strategy for Marine Protected Areas. DEFRA Report April 2009
Scottish Marine Bill provides the ability to create Demonstration / Research MPAs within Scottish territorial waters The provisions for Demonstration/Research MPAs introduce a new concept. These MPAs would be used by Scottish Ministers to demonstrate or to further research into particular management approaches. These MPAs may be proposed by a range of organisations, including Marine Scotland, and communities. It is not the intention of Demonstration/Research MPAs to introduce restrictions on legitimate and sustainable activities except in situations where this is necessary to trial a particular management approach. Demonstration/Research MPAs will be established to deliver priorities within inshore waters only. The final decision on whether to proceed with this type of MPA would rest with Scottish Ministers.
Potential for Large Scale Ecological Marine Experiments with MPAs as a focal point for MAST JRTs interaction and interconnection The ability to set aside areas of the sea for research provides a unique opportunity to the marine science community for large scale environmental research directed to understand whether MPAs objectives are being met, or not, and why not, such that adaptive management practices can be implemented.
Background information and government contacts:
DEFRA Marine Environment Site (with links to draft strategy documents) and their Science Advisory Panel on MPA Network
Natural England Site (and links to 4 Marine Conservation Zones) and their Report on the Representivity and Replication in Existing MPAs
JNCC Marine Protected Areas
The Scottish Natural Heritage Marine Protected Areas web site is in preparation. At present their contact e-mail is MPA@snh.gov.uk and have information on Coastal Marine National Parks
The UK MPA Centre has been established to provide a resource especially for practitioners.
Reports commissioned within the Marine Biological Association and relevant to network design are also available.
Marxan software can be a powerful tool when planning MPAs.