Marine nature reserve (MNR) is a

conservation designation A conservation designation is a name and/or acronym which explains the status of an area of land in terms of conservation or protection. Examples United Kingdom *Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) * Environmentally sensitive area * Local ...

officially awarded by a government to a

marine reserve A marine reserve is a type of marine protected area (MPA). An MPA is a section of the ocean where a government has placed limits on human activity. A marine reserve is a marine protected area in which removing or destroying natural or cultural ...

of national significance.

Republic of Ireland

Lough Hyne, a marine lake off of

County Cork County Cork ( ga, Contae Chorcaí) is the largest and the southernmost county of Ireland, named after the city of Cork, the state's second-largest city. It is in the province of Munster and the Southern Region. Its largest market towns are ...

, is Ireland's only marine nature reserve.

United Kingdom

Marine nature reserves were introduced in the UK by the

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom implemented to comply with European Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds. In short, the act gives protection to native species (especia ...

, and were designed to conserve marine life and geological or physiographical features of special interest. They have similar status and protection to national nature reserves, but were specifically concerned with a marine environment, including both the sea and seabed. In the UK, there are only three statutory MNRs: Lundy Marine Nature Reserve at

Lundy Island Lundy is an English island in the Bristol Channel. It was a micronation from 1925–1969. It forms part of the district of Torridge in the county of Devon. About long and wide, Lundy has had a long and turbulent history, frequently chang ...

(Bristol Channel), Skomer Marine Nature Reserve (Pembrokeshire) and

Strangford Lough Strangford Lough (from Old Norse ''Strangr Fjörðr'', meaning "strong sea-inlet"PlaceNames N ...

(County Down). There is a non-statutory voluntary MNR at St Abbs Head, Berwickshire.

Marine conservation zones

Schedule 12 of the

Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c 23) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It creates "a new system of marine management". The Marine Management Organisation Section 1(1) creates the Marine Management Organisation. Secti ...

allows the conversion the existing MNRs into the newer designation

Marine Conservation Zone A Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) is a type of marine nature reserve in UK waters. They were established under the Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009) and are areas designated with the aim to protect nationally important, rare or threatened habit ...

Isle of Man

The

Isle of Man ) , anthem = "O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europe ...

government has designated ten marine nature reserves under the Wildlife Act 1990, including

Ramsey Bay Ramsey Bay ( gv, Baie Rhumsaa) is a large bay and Marine Nature Reserve covering some 94 square kilometres off the northeastern coast of the Isle of Man. It runs for 18 kilometres from the Point of Ayre at the island's northern tip to Maughold ...

Laxey Bay Laxey Bay ( gv, Baie Laksaa) is a coastal feature and Marine Nature Reserve on the east coast of the Isle of Man in the north Irish Sea. Geographically it is bounded by Laxey Head ( gv, Kione Laksaa) to the north and Clay Head ( gv, Kione ny Cle ...

, the

West Coast Marine Nature Reserve West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth. Etymology The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some R ...

, Douglas Bay, Little Ness,

Niarbyl Bay 250px, View to the south across Niarbyl Bay of the southwest coastline of the Isle of Man and Calf of Man. Niarbyl ( glv, Yn Arbyl), meaning "the tail" in Manx for the way it extends into the Irish Sea, is a rocky promontory on the southwest c ...

Port Erin Bay A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ha ...

Calf and Wart Bank Marine Nature Reserve Calf most often refers to: * Calf (animal), the young of domestic cattle. * Calf (leg), in humans (and other primates), the back portion of the lower leg Calf or calves may also refer to: Biology and animal byproducts *Veal, meat from calves *C ...

, and

Langness Langness ( gv, Langlish) is a peninsula which protrudes two kilometres at the southern extremity of the Isle of Man. Signifying a cape or extended promontory, ''Langness'' literally means "long promontory" in Old Norse. Formerly an island, Lang ...

References

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External links

Naturenet: Marine Nature Reserves
National nature reserves in the United Kingdom Lundy Marine reserves of the United Kingdom