Marine Conservation System

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is in charge of establishing MCZs in English inshore waters (up to 12 nautical miles offshore) and offshore waters in England and Northern Ireland, with projects led by the Joint Nature Conservation Commission (JNCC) and Natural England.

It is illegal to intentionally or recklessly kill or injure the protected characteristics of a site once it has been designated as a Marine Conservation Zone if doing so would considerably impede the attainment of the conservation objectives.

Protected features could include certain types of fish or plants. Other kinds of damage are also forbidden. There is an exemption in the Act for commercial fishing and it is anticipated that MCZs will be protected from fishing activities under fisheries legislation. Public bodies will be under duties to help deliver the site's conservation objectives. Byelaws can be introduced to some regulate activities like navigation.

Source: https://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/atlas/

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