article: The designation of 23 new Marine Conservation Zones mean that 8,000 square miles of UK waters now have environmental protection. The announcement has been welcomed by conservation and wildlife organisations. However they, along with fishermen's groups, are concerned that there is no management plan. They say it will be difficult to balance competing interests in the reserves. Originally 127 sites were proposed as MCZs. The government has so far committed to designating 50, covering an area the size of Wales. The designation of 23 new Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) means that 20% of English waters are now considered protected. The sites range from the Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds in the North Sea, down to Land's End in the South West. The aim is to conserve habitats like coral colonies, geological features such as chalk reefs, and species such as the stalked jellyfish and spiny lobsters. North Sea Fulmar Farnes East Coquet to St Mary's Runswick Bay Holderness Inshore Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds South East The Swale Estuary Dover to Deal Dover to Folkestone Offshore Brighton Offshore Overfalls (SE of the Isle of Wight) Utopia (SW of Selsey Bill) The Needles South West Western Channel Mounts Bay Land's End Newquay and The Gannel Hartland Point to Tintagel Bideford to Foreland Point North-West of Jones Bank Greater Haig Fras Irish Sea West of Walney co-location zone Allonby Bay The Marine Environment Minister, George Eustice, said: "It's vital that we protect our marine environment to ensure our seas remain healthy, our fishing industry remains prosperous, and future generations can enjoy our beautiful beaches." The Wildlife Trusts welcomed the designation of the reserves. Joan Edwards, head of Living Seas at the Trusts, said: "UK seas have the potential to be full of incredible life and colour but continued destruction has reduced them to a shadow of their former selves. "We are pleased by this government's commitment to addressing the decimation of our seabed over the past century, and to delivering an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas. This second step towards the completion of a 'blue belt' in UK seas is crucial in turning the tide on the state of our seas but there's still work to be done." However, designation and management are treated as separate processes. So until bylaws or legislation has been put in place, then activities in the reserves will remain largely unchanged. Paul Trebilcock, from the Cornish Fish Producers Association, commented: "It's madness. A line has been drawn on a map but there is no management plan in place. No-one knows what will and will not be able to continue. "The majority of fishermen rely on the marine environment being healthy to make a living - they have more interest in keeping it healthy than anybody. To hear the government drawing a line and saying it's all fine doesn't inspire much confidence." Sam Davies is chief officer for the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority. Her organisation will work with the Marine Management Organisation to find a way of managing the reserves. She said that the new boundaries didn't mean that
summary: The UK government has extended the coastal "blue belt" of protected marine areas.