Allonby Bay Candidate HPMA Acoustic Survey: Feature Extent and Seabed Character

HPMAs are areas of the sea that allow for the protection and full recovery of marine ecosystems. By designating areas of sea with high levels of protection, HPMAs will allow nature to fully recover to a more natural state, allowing the ecosystem to thrive. They prohibit extractive, destructive and depositional uses, allowing only non-damaging levels of other activities to the extent permitted by international law. HPMAs will protect all species and habitats and associated ecosystem processes within the site boundary, including the seabed and water column. This means gathering comprehensive evidence of the effectiveness of the HPMA in delivering biodiversity recovery will be critical.

The ecological monitoring of this Defra-funded programme will be led by Natural England and JNCC. Natural England's marine remit includes biodiversity extending from the intertidal zone out to 12 nautical miles. Natural England will therefore gather baseline data and continue to monitor the inshore HPMA site Allonby Bay throughout the pilot project.