NATIONAL MARINE PARKS

National Marine Parks could revolutionise the way the public views the ocean, enhance people’s access and enjoyment, support local economies and protect our seascapes for a sustainable future. In 2021 Blue Marine released a National Marine Park Vision for British Seas demonstrating that there is an appetite for marine parks in British coastal waters. In 2023, a National Framework was endorsed by national and local advocates, with guidance produced by Blue Marine.   

National Parks on land were created in the post-war era and today provide a significant boost to rural economies. Ten National Parks in England contribute as much as £4 billion to the economy with 90 million visitors each year, supporting 140,000 jobs. National Parks cover almost a quarter of England and Wales — but despite having 30,000 kilometres of coastline and some of the richest waters on the planet, we have no national parks in the sea.  

Blue Marine has led a national conversation to evolve the concept of National Marine Parks since 2018, when we ran a national conference in Plymouth. It ended with agreement that Plymouth should declare a marine park, and on 14 September 2019, 70 years after our first national parks on land, the Devon city declared the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.  

The Vision for National Marine Parks (2021) was based on interviews with leaders in many coastal communities and drew on insights from Plymouth. Blue Marine explored ten further locations around Britain and established a National Marine Parks Strategic Working Group. 

The National Framework and Guiding Principles  aims to promote common understanding of the vision for National Marine Parks and outlines five principles: sustainability; connectivity; fundability; lifelong learning; and equity and inclusion. At a parliamentary event in September 2023 with Blue Marine, Campaign for National Parks and the Local Government Association, all political parties were asked to make a commitment to National Marine Parks part of their General Election manifesto. See our asks here.  

Scotland in particular holds great promise for new National Marine Parks. In August 2021 the Scottish Government committed to introducing at least one new National park before the next Scottish election in 2026.  

Our journey so far has proven that there is widespread support for National Marine Parks, and that the foundations for extending existing or creating new National Parks to include the sea exists, through existing legislation or through voluntary declaration by coastal communities. 

Reports

• A National Framework and Guiding principles
• Guidance for National Marine Park Evolution
• A Coastal and Marine National Park in Your Area? A briefing for Scottish Communities
• A legal review of the National PArks and Access to the Countryside Act (1949)
• National Marine Parks – Our Asks
• National Marine Parks Newsletter