Sea Slug by Jason Armstrong
Three more Marine Conservation Zones around Kent were designated in January 2016 following the Government's public consultation in early 2015.
The Swale, Dover to Deal, and Dover to Folkestone were among the Government's list of 23 sites which went through to designation in the second batch of designations, joining The Medway Estuary, Thanet Coast, and Folkestone Pomerania as Kent's official Marine Conservation Zones.
Kent Wildlife Trust was greatly heartened by the many members, volunteers and supporters who took the time to write a personally-worded letter to Defra in response to the second MCZ consultation, supporting the protection of the sites, and the completion of the entire marine protected area network as soon as possible. Defra's report on the consultation made a special mention of the support for Marine Conservation Zones by Kent residents.
The consultation documents listed many of Kent Wildlife Trust's Seasearch and Shoresearch surveys as having supplied data to support designation of these sites. Grateful thanks to all our marine survey volunteers whose efforts really make a difference.
Dive in from an aerial view of the region and explore the seabed in MCZs around Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, with real video footage, 3D virtual dives and a submarine fly-through.
Marine Conservation Zones - a potted history
A national network of 127 Marine Conservation Zones was recommended to Government in 2011 for designation as Marine Conservation Zones under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. These sites were carefully selected during a 2-year consultation process by four regional stakeholder groups containing representatives of all sea users.
A first batch of 27 Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) was designated in November 2013, and this included three around Kent: The Medway Estuary, Thanet Coast, and Folkestone Pomerania.
A second batch of 23 MCZs was designated in January 2016, and this included another three around Kent: Dover to Deal, Dover to Folkestone and The Swale.
The Government has committed to designating one further batch of MCZs, in 2018, following another consultation in the summer of 2017.
We owe huge thanks to everyone who responded to the public consultations on the first and second batches of MCZs in 2013 and 2015, helping to secure the designation of 50 MCZs in total so far. These 50 sites fall well short of a full national network of sites, and we will need your help once again when the Government consults on the final batch in 2017.
Marine Conservation Zones around Kent:
Designated in 2013
Designated in 2016
Dover to Deal
Dover to Folkestone
Recommended in 2011, but not yet progressed towards designation
Kentish Knock East
Decision deferred until 2018
The decision on Hythe Bay MCZ has been deferred until 2018, when we hope that the site will be designated and a suitable management solution reached, so that we can take proper care of the rare and very special wildlife in the Bay and ensure it can continue to underpin a healthy local fishery into the long-term future.
Kent Wildlife Trust will, of course, be working hard to secure designation and protection of all the MCZs around Kent that were recommended by the Balanced Seas’ Regional Stakeholder Group.
Marine Conservation Zones for southeast seas - a regional context
31 MCZs were recommended to Government in 2011 by representatives of all sea users in the South East. Of these, 9 were put forward by Government for designation in 2013 but only 7 were designated (in November 2013). The Stour and Orwell, Wight Barfleur Extension and East Meridian (West) recommended MCZs have all been deleted from the network, and a decision on Hythe Bay has been deferred.
Ten further MCZs around the SE were shortlisted as candidates for the second batch of designations, but only 7 were included in the 2015 consultation and went through to designation. This leaves 14 MCZs in the SE which were recommended by the Balanced Seas project with their future left hanging in the balance - they will not even be considered for possible designation until 2017.
Protected areas, including Marine Conservation Zones, form one of the most crucial tools for conserving marine wildlife.
Eleven key marine wildlife sites in our local Kent seas were identified as recommended Marine Conservation Zones, but their significance is not simply local: they form an important part of the national network of 127 recommended MCZs around England.
The Government made a commitment to establish a full network of protected areas by the end of 2012, but only 50 of the 127 recommended MCZs have so far been designated. These few scattered sites will not function as an ecological network.
Please lend your support to help us ensure a full network is designated by 2018. Support our national campaign for marine protected areas.
Watch the video clips to get a glimpse of what lives in our local recommended MCZs: