Marine conservation - Article Example

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has defined the Marine Protected Areas as; “Any area of inter tidal or sub tidal terrain, together with its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment”. IUCN has identified six categories of protected area, applicable to the marine environment. Devon Sea Fisheries Committee and English Nature, which is a government body that advocates the safety of wild life and geology of England, proposed the marine conservation of Lundy Island.

Lundy has also been selected as a European Special Area of Conservation because of some of its habitats and species like Reefs, Sub-tidal sandbanks, Sea Caves and Grey seals. Lundy reefs are the habitats of rare varieties of solitary cup corals, sea fans and sponges. English Nature (earlier known by the name of Nature Conservancy Council), Devon Sea Fisheries Committee, the National Trust, and the Landmark Trust collectively manage LMNR. There are groups other than English Nature and Devon Sea Fisheries Committee safeguarding the No Take Zone.

They are local fishermen and Lundy Management and Advisory groups (EN/03/03 27 January 2003). Earlier, the Lundy Field Society (LFS), a branch of Devon Bird Watching and Preservation Society (DBW&PS), was established in 1946 at the insistence of its owner, Martin Coles Harman, due to increased interest in ornithology initiated by Leslie Harvey – a lecturer in zoology. LFS took keen interest in the marine biology as well as archaeology and geology of the island. Lundy was sold to the National Trust in 1969 and the National Trust leased the Lundy Island to the Landmark Trust (Chris Webster).

In 1973, the Lundy waters became the UK’S first voluntary marine nature reserve. (Robert Irving, The Lundy Marine Nature Reserve) In 1981, the Wildlife & Countryside Act was passed to propose