A large red seastar on top of a seabed filled with small brittlestars. In the background appears to be a nursehound

Safeguarding marine habitats

We campaign to make more of our waters designated as marine reserves, to see more MPAs introduced across the UK, and for them to be truly protected from all damaging practices, such as bottom trawling and deep-sea mining.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), act as sanctuaries for the weird and wonderful animals, plants and landscapes hidden beneath the waves. They play a crucial role in safeguarding vulnerable species, helping marine life regenerate naturally, storing carbon and helping us combat climate change.

We must protect our ocean, so it can recover and thrive once more.

    Protecting Scotland’s Marine Protected Areas

    Following almost 20 years of campaigning for protections in Scotland’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), we welcomed the new management measures which came into place in November 2025, safeguarding almost 177,000 km2 of its waters from bottom-towed fishing gear. 

    The announcement followed the Scottish Government’s consultation on whole-site and zoned management options for the 20 offshore MPAs, for which we worked with Scottish Environment LINK colleagues to submit a detailed response. We also helped develop a tool so the public could easily respond to the measures, leading to over 1,700 responses in support of site-wide protection in the MPAs. 

    Calum Duncan, Head of Policy & Advocacy, giving evidence at the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee  |  Image credit: Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

    The entire Anton Dohrn seamount, which is home to many species, including cold-water coral reefs, sea cucumbers, brittlestars and sponges, is now protected, and five other sites also now have site-wide protections. 

    This was a long, but worthwhile process to protect our ocean and secure a better future for us all, and we look forward to seeing how nature thrives following the protections.

    A brittlestar reef photographed at Loch Leven, a Scottish MPA  |  Image credit: James Lynott

    Bottom trawling in England’s Marine Protected Areas

    Our Marine unProtected Areas report and subsequent campaign highlighted the incredible value of the UK’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) from both a climate and biodiversity perspective. 

    Our efforts helped secure the banning of damaging fishing from four English offshore MPAs in 2022, including the vast Dogger Bank Special Area of Conservation which is home to once-abundant species like halibut, cod, ling, common skate, and angelshark. Six months later, our research showed a 98% decrease in seabed fishing in Dogger Bank, highlighting how effective proper protections in these vulnerable and vital areas can be. 

    2 common ling, a pale, elongated, eel-like fish with a single prominent barbel under its chin, swimming in dim, bluish water above a sandy seabed.

    A shoal of common ling swimming inside Dogger Bank MPA  |  Image credit: Dutch Maritime Productions

    We kept up the pressure to see more MPAs properly protected and were glad to see the UK Government introduce byelaws protecting a further 13 MPAs from bottom trawling in 2024. This meant that over 4,000km2 of seabed – an area the size of Essex – is now relieved from the devastating drag of destructive bottom-towed fishing gear. 

    These measures are a win for marine ecosystems and for the planet: they protect our vast marine carbon stores, keeping carbon locked in and helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

    While it's rewarding to see the results of our diligent research and advocacy, dogged determination and collaboration with partner environmental organisations, we'll continue campaigning until there is proper management of all of the UK's MPAs.

    Just because we can’t experience the splendour and magic of the Dogger Bank and of our other invaluable, precious offshore areas as easily, doesn’t mean that they should continue to be treated as marine conservation’s forgotten children.

    Sandy Luk, Marine Conservation Society CEO

    Check out our other big wins

    Different types of plastic including bags, cups and straws are pictured under the ocean, highlighting the plastic pollution problem

    Tackling plastic pollution

    Plastic pollution is one of the greatest challenges our ocean faces right now. From single-use plastics to disposable vapes, we influence policies, secure bans and work to introduce ocean-friendly changes to turn the tide on the plastic problem.
    Clean, turquoise sea water near a beach. From the left dark, murky sewage or dirty runoff water is merging creating a dirty mixture between the contrasting blue ocean

    Cleaning up our seas

    Whether collecting and presenting evidence, taking the government to court, or collaborating with fellow eNGOs, we are putting pressure on the UK to clean up our seas and hold water companies to account.

    Project success

    By strengthening ocean literacy and creating spaces for coastal communities to share their experiences, we’ve helped residents recognise the powerful link between their own wellbeing and the health of the sea.