UK set to protect 4 million square kilometres of ocean

Foreign Office Minister announces significant increase in UK Overseas Territory Marine Protected Areas.

Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan will today announce plans to double the area of ocean under marine protection around the UK Overseas Territories to around four million square kilometres – greater than the landmass of India.

This will involve the permanent closure of an additional one million square kilometres of ocean to commercial fishing, to preserve important marine life.

The UK will pledge £20 million over the next four years to support the implementation, management, surveillance and crucially the enforcement of these new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

Speaking ahead of the conference, Sir Alan Duncan said:

“Protecting four million square kilometres of ocean is a fantastic achievement, converting our historic legacy into modern environmental success. This demonstrates our commitment to delivering the Blue Belt pledge.” 

Hosted by US Secretary of State John Kerry, the two-day Our Ocean conference will bring together governments, scientists, business leaders and NGOs from around the world to tackle threats to the ocean, including from marine pollution and the climate.

The UK and the Overseas Territories are custodians to the fifth-largest marine estate in the world. In 2015 the UK Government committed to creating a ‘Blue Belt’ around the 14 UK Overseas Territories.