Protecting nationally important marine biodiversity in Wales : report to Wales Environment Link

Wales has both national and international commitments to protect its marine environment and biodiversity including commitments to designing a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) (e.g. under the OSPAR Convention and the World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002). At EU level, the Habitats Directive requires that a "coherent European ecological network of special areas of conservation shall be set up under the title Natura 2000". This requirement encompasses both the terrestrial and marine environments.