I understand that there are five overarching management principles to the MPA management policy, which is set out in detail in the draft handbook. Those who know them better than I do will have to bear with me because, before I ask my questions, I want to outline them briefly to set the scene for this part of the discussion.
The five principles are:
“Management of MPAs should be integrated with wider marine management”,
which we have already touched on;
“Additional powers such as Marine Conservation Orders will be available where necessary ... The best available scientific information will be used to select and manage ... MPAs”;
and
“As our understanding improves, and ... the environment changes, there may be a need to select additional new ... MPAs, alter boundaries ... or remove designations”—
in other words, there must be futureproofing. I want to emphasise that principle, of course—I am the shadow minister for environment and climate change. The final principle is:
“MPAs will be subject to a range of protection levels, depending on the conservation objectives ... There will be an assumption of multiple-use of a site. However activities which are not compatible with the conservation objectives of a Nature Conservation MPA will be restricted.”
We have heard from Mike, Lloyd and others—