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<p>The Government is looking at whether Highly Protected Marine Areas, where all damaging
human activities are prohibited, could enhance the blue belt within the Secretary
of State Waters. It has commissioned an independent review, led by Richard Benyon
MP, to advise whether and how such sites could be introduced. The review will report
in early 2020.</p><p> </p><p>On 31 May 2019, we announced the designation of the third
tranche of 41 Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in English waters and Northern Ireland
offshore waters. Designating these MCZs expanded the UK’s Blue Belt by almost 12,000
km<sup>2</sup> and essentially completes our contribution to the international ecologically-coherent
network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in terms of habitat and species representation.
The UK now has 355 MPAs of different types protecting 25% of UK waters.</p>
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