The UK's department of environment, food and rural affairs (Defra) has recommended the creation of highly protected marine areas (HPMAs) around the country's coastline as part of a publication released to mark World Oceans Day.

Under the UK's current marine protected areas (MPAs), extractive activities are permitted to continue, albeit under strict conditions. Although important for marine conservation, MPAs "do not allow ecosystems to fully recover or deliver the full range of ecosystem services," Defra wrote [...]