In his role as Minister for the Marine Environment, George Eustice recently announced the designation of 23 new Marine Conservation Zones. The Blue Belt-a maritime equivalent of the Green Belt-is to more than double in size following the designation of 23 safeguarded areas covering 4,155 square miles of marine habitat. These new MCZs will add to the 27 zones created in 2013, and protected status will now apply to an area covering 7,886 square miles - and include one fifth of all English waters.
George Eustice said "The UK has some of the most diverse sea life in the world and the extension of our coastal “Blue Belt” means an area that size of Wales now has environmental protection, safeguarding our treasure trove of marine wildlife which ranges from spiny lobsters, stalk jellyfish and luminous corals"