A new marine protected area (MPA) network is set to increase protection from damaging fishing methods to 21.7 per cent of Jersey’s waters from 1 September this year. This is good news for divers, as the protected zones include some of Jersey’s richest habitats, including kelp forests, seagrass meadows and the slow growing, coral-like algae that form maerl beds. The MPAs will cover offshore reef systems such as Les Minquiers and Les Écréhous, known to local divers for their clear water and marine life. Blue Marine Foundation described the move as a ‘pivotal moment’.
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Image credit © David Palfrey
