The Lyme Bay model demonstrates how well-managed marine protected areas can restore ecosystems and support local communities. Lyme Bay, a biodiversity hotspot known as England’s coral garden, hosts over 1,300 marine species, including rare pink sea fans and sunset coral. In 2008, 206 sq km was closed to bottom-towed fishing to protect reef habitats, later expanding to 312 sq km in 2017. However, this led to increased static gear use, raising concerns among fishers. In response, Blue Marine established a working group in 2012 to unite fishers, scientists, and regulators in managing a sustainable, community-focused, multiple-use marine protected areas.
Apocalypse Now: The True Cost of Overfishing
Political decisions over recent decades have brought many of the UK’s fish populations, and the fisheries dependent upon them, to the point of collapse. At the heart of this failure lies continues and extensive overfishing.
15 September 2026
