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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Department has to expand marine rewilding.

We recognise rewilding and restoration of habitats and species plays a role in supporting thriving and productive seas. In the Environment Improvement Plan, through the Restoring Meadow, Marsh and Reef (ReMeMaRe) programme we aim to restore at least 15% of priority habitat, such as saltmarsh, seagrass and oyster reefs along the English coast by 2043.

Our Marine Protected Area network review is exploring ways to better address biodiversity loss, recover our seas and improve climate change resilience. We are exploring how Highly Protected Marine Areas can be used to support goals.