After a four year design process and a lengthy consultation, DEFRA announced today what the form of the Marine Conservation Area network would be. Only 27 have been proposed – significantly fewer than the 127 that were suggested by the regional stakeholder workshops (Balanced Seas, Finding Sanctuary, Net Gain and Irish Seas) in 2011.

From the 31 potential MCZs put forward for designation before the public consultation began, four will not be designated. These are Stour and Orwell and Hilbre Island, which will not be designated, North of Celtic Deep, which will be considered in the next tranche, and Hythe Bay (in one of our case study sites) for which a decision will be made next year.