Marine Conservation Zone plan stalls

Environmental groups are dismayed by the Government’s decision to postpone the eagerly awaited new Marine Conservation Zones.

Environment Minister, Richard Benyon MP announced a delay until 2013, citing ‘a lack of evidence’ from groups submitting proposals.

That means the new UK-wide MCZs will not become a reality in 2012, as planned.

And the Marine Conservation Society says that the whole three-year, eight million pound consultation now threatens to be wasted.

MCZs are designated stretches of sub-sea terrain protected by law from fishing, boating or other potentially harmful activities.

A Government consultation invited applications from all and sundry to make a case for their region.

But now a new, more robust evidence base is required for each site to ensure they become designated.

So it looks like Britain won’t be getting nationwide marine parks, such as the thriving seas around Lundy Island, any time soon.