As part of a three-phase process, in 2013 and 2016, 50 areas were classified by the Government as Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs), with the last phase awarding 41 MCZs in 2019, making it the largest single expansion to the UK’s ‘blue belt’. One of these Marine Conservation Zones is the Orford Inshore.  

Located 14km offshore from the Alde - Ore Estuary, Orford Inshore covers an area of approximately 72 km2 in the southern North Sea where it joins the neighbouring Blackwater, Crouch, Roach and Colne Estuary MCZs in Essex and The Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds MCZ in Norfolk.  

Orford Inshore is a subtidal habitat of mixed sediments providing an extremely important nursery and spawning ground for many fish species such as dover sole, lemon sole, sand eels and sprat. A variety of burrowing anemones, sea cucumbers, urchins, crustaceans and starfish can also be found and the area is also an important foraging ground for seabird species such as kittiwake, fulmar, gannet and sandwich tern. In addition, there are nationally important shark species within the site like small spotted catshark as well as ray and skate species too. Harbour porpoises also pass through the Orford Inshore using the area as foraging grounds. 

Despite this, there is still a lot about the ecology of the MCZ that we don’t know. For example, just how significantly does the MCZ contribute to fish populations in the region? To increase our understanding and to help improve protection in the future, we are working closely with Natural England to gather data from the MCZ on fish and invertebrates.

The Government’s own Marine Strategy assessment revealed we still need areas with better protection in key areas. This assessment resulted in the Secretary of State to carry out an independent review to examine how HPMAs could be introduced, where all damaging activities to include fishing, dredging, construction and sea angling would be prohibited. These areas would offer the highest protection possible and give our habitats and wildlife a true chance to recover. 

The Benyon review was released on World Ocean Day in June this year. It outlines a plan for HPMAs to be in place within a year and calls for the Government to introduce HPMAs within the existing network of 91 Marine Conservation Zones. Highly Protected Marine Areas would offer “the gold standard of protection” for our seas and the species within them. 

The Benyon review is a comprehensive report with a wide range of recommendations, but the key messages are;  

• HPMAs should be defined as areas of the sea that allow the protection and recovery of marine ecosystems. They prohibit extractive, destructive and depositional uses and allow only non-damaging levels of other activities. 
• That HPMAs are an essential part of the UK Marine Protection Area (MPA) network for protection and recovery of the marine environment and the government should introduce HPMAs, alongside the MCZs, within existing MPAs. 
• HPMAs should take a whole site approach, protecting all species and habitats within their boundaries. 
• Pilot sites should have sufficient geographic spread to cover nearshore, inshore and offshore areas and different regional seas. 

Read the full Benyon review here 

The Wildlife Trusts back all the report recommendations and believe HPMAs are an essential part of the UK network for protection and recovery of the marine environment. Please join us in asking Government to implement these recommendations and to turn these recommendations into action as soon as possible and commit to an ambitious HPMA delivery plan within a year. 

Over 40,000 signatures were gathered in support of creating Marine Conservation Zones around the UK and now we need your support again. Please show your support and sign your name here to support HPMAs. 

Show your support and sign here