Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking ahead of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference to ensure the effective management of Marine Protected Areas.

This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are already protected from the point of designation by the planning and marine licensing regimes that cover activities such as dredging for aggregates and construction of offshore wind farms. In addition, the Department is considering next steps to manage bottom trawling, along with other fishing methods, where this might damage MPA features or benthic habitats, in the context of our domestic and international nature conservation obligations. We are keen to continue to work closely with fisheries and marine stakeholders as we develop our plans for future fisheries and marine management. The 2025 UN Ocean Conference offers an opportunity to discuss our approach with a wide range of organisations and partners.