When people hear the term "Marine Protected Area" (MPA), it's easy to assume that these places are fully protected from damaging activities but, unfortunately, that's often not the case. 

MPAs are meant to provide safe havens where marine life can recover and thrive, supporting biodiversity, healthy fisheries, and the wider ecosystems that our coastal communities depend on. However, designation alone does not guarantee protection. 

More than a year ago, Minister Emma Hardy announced plans to consult on managing fishing activities in 43 English offshore MPAs. The proposals included banning bottom-towed fishing gear in 36 of these sites, including five off the Devon coast. Yet, despite the announcement, none of these measures have been implemented as of July 2026. 

In the meantime, damaging activities such as bottom trawling continue to take place within many MPAs, including those in Devon. Bottom trawling involves dragging heavy gear across the seabed, which can damage the fragile habitats and wildlife these areas were designated to protect. 

This raises an important question: if damaging activities are still allowed, how protected are our Marine Protected Areas really? 

The new Wildlife Trusts' Marine Protected Area Recovery Check tool paints a concerning picture. Of the 22 MPAs that fall wholly or partly within Devon waters, 13 are classified as degraded or degrading. Only five are considered recovered or recovering, while four lack sufficient data to assess their condition. 

These figures highlight that many of our MPAs exist mostly on paper. Without effective management, monitoring, and enforcement, they cannot deliver the marine recovery they were created for. 

If we want healthy seas, we need Marine Protected Areas that are protected not just in name, but in practice, and we need action now. 

Many of us are lucky enough to spot dolphins from the Devon coast or watch seabirds diving offshore, but few people realise that thousands of these animals are accidentally caught and killed in fishing gear every year. 

This issue, known as bycatch, is one of the biggest, and most hidden, threats facing our seas. It is a major driver of marine wildlife decline, particularly for highly mobile species such as dolphins, porpoises, seals, seabirds, sharks and rays. 

Because bycatch is severely under monitored, it has been difficult to understand the true scale of the problem. However, a new report by Wildlife and Countryside Link, Hidden in the Haul, has revealed some really shocking figures. Every year, commercial fishing vessels operating in UK waters are estimated to accidentally catch: 

➡️ More than 10,000 seabirds
➡️ Over 1,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises, including harbour porpoises and common dolphins
➡️ Around 500 seals
➡️ More than 120 tonnes of protected sharks, skates and rays
➡️ Over 1,000 endangered Atlantic salmon 

And these numbers are likely to be just the tip of the iceberg. 

At the heart of the issue is the continued use of fishing methods that cannot distinguish between target species and other marine wildlife. While many fishers are committed to fishing sustainably, there is still a pressing need for greater investment and support to reduce the risk of bycatch across the fleet. 

We are calling for: 

1️⃣ Accurate reporting and better monitoring systems for bycatch across all fishing vessels.
2️⃣ Government investing in innovative technologies and fishing practices that reduce bycatch.
3️⃣ Greater support for fishers who want to transition to lower-impact and more sustainable methods. 

Bycatch is not an unavoidable consequence of fishing. With the right investment, better monitoring and stronger action from Government, we can avoid it and protect the incredible wildlife that makes Devon's seas so special.

In our seas, dolphins travel hundreds of miles, seabirds forage across large stretches of ocean, and habitats such as kelp forests and oyster reefs support entire ecosystems beyond a single bay or beach. 

Marine life doesn't recognise county boundaries, but still needs our support. That's why it's great news that the new South Coast Marine Recovery Programme (SCMRP) is bringing together Wildlife Trusts across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire & the Isle of Wight, and Sussex, with support from the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), to develop a shared vision for a healthier South Coast. 

The project recognises that everything in our seas is connected. Protecting one area in isolation isn't enough, we need to work at a seascape scale if we want to see real, lasting recovery. 

Therefore, up until March 2027, the partnership will work with regulators, fishers, local authorities, businesses and coastal communities to co-create a shared vision for a healthy and thriving South Coast. This development phase will help identify where action is most needed and how we can best support both people and nature. 

The project aims to:

1️⃣ Reduce the pressures harming our seas.
2️⃣ Help more people understand, value and play an active role in marine recovery.
3️⃣ Work with communities and stakeholders to co-design practical solutions for marine restoration. 

We want to make sure this vision reflects the people who know and care about our coast, so we're asking for your help. Please take a few minutes to complete this questionnaire and help shape the future of our south coast and sea questionnaire. 

Every response counts, and together we can help ensure Devon's marine life is protected, not just in one place, but across the whole South Coast.