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Marine species protection in England and Wales comes from a framework of legislation that is made up of international, European and national measures, which include:

1. •

   Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

2. •

   Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR Convention)

3. •

   Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

4. •

   Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC (Habitats Directive) and Birds Directive 2009/147/EC (Birds Directive) , see Habitats and Birds Directives below

5. •

   Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, SI 2017/1012 (the Habitat Regulations)

6. •

   Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, SI 2017/1013 (the Offshore Habitats Regulations);

7. •

   Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (WCA 1981)

8. •

   Species specific legislation

9. •

   Environment Act 2021 (EA 2021)

This is similar to the framework of legislation creating the marine protected areas network in England and Wales. For more information, see Practice Note: Marine protected areas.

The international element of the UK’s nature conservation regime is significant, and in September 2023 the UK Government reaffirmed its commitment to international nature conservation with