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<p>Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a devolved competency and the information provided
therefore relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>We will manage fishing within existing,
sustainable use MPAs to ensure recovery of the features to a good, healthy condition,
and will designate Highly Protected Marine Areas to allow full recovery. We are developing
ambitious plans to protect our existing MPAs from any fishing activity that could
prevent them achieving their conservation objectives, such as trawling on the seabed.
98 MPAs in inshore waters have management measures in place to protect sensitive features
from bottom towed fishing gears. All existing MPAs in our offshore waters will be
protected from fishing as required through a three-year programme being undertaken
by the Marine Management Organisation.</p><p> </p><p>Supertrawlers generally target
pelagic species of fish within the water column and are unlikely to damage the seabed
habitats for which most MPAs are designated. We are currently reviewing our policy
on these vessels and working to develop more robust management of non-quota stocks
which these vessels are targeting, as well as quota stocks.</p>
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