Petition · past parliament · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Turn Marine Conservation Areas into No Take Zones

Closed 249 signatures

What the petition asks

I ask the Government to improve the protection of UK marine life by implementing No Take Zones (NTZ). This can be achieved using existing Marine Conservation Area boundaries, authorities, technologies and criminal justice procedures. NTZs should support our fragile ecosystem and UK fish industry
NTZs, which include all fishing, mining and seabed disruption, would provide sanctuary for marine life. NTZs should nin turn supply the fishing permitted areas with a steady source of catch.
The Marine Management Organisation should be tasked with enforcement. They already require boats to have Vessel Monitoring Systems (GPS tracking). Breaching NTZs should be considered as assumed activity and thus as a Corporate Environment Crime. Such clear legislation will make management and prosecution easier.

Timeline

7 Jun 2021 Petition opened for signatures
7 Dec 2021 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 249
Status Closed
Department Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened 7 Jun 2021
Closed 7 Dec 2021

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.