Site off Lincolnshire Coast earmarked for potential high protection status

They are miniscule areas compared to the rest of the North Sea, but you're right, fishermen will object, in the same way they want to cull seals, cormorants and gannets. Never any mention of how it was massively over fished in the sixties by Grimsby and Hull trawlers.

 AN area of the North Sea off the Lincolnshire Coast could be designated a Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMA).

Located 35km of the mouth of the Humber Estuary, Inner Silver Pit South is reckoned by scientists to have "relatively high levels of biodiversity" by comparison with the wider Southern North Sea. 

It was the target destination of LBC's pelagic trip in late summer last year.

Silver Pit provides precious habitat for creatures which include blue mussels, edible crab, cuttlefish, cod, mackerel, herring, plaice, sole, kittiwakes, fulmar petrels, razorbills, seals and passing whales and dolphins. 

It is regularly a destination by charter boat out of Grimsby for anglers.

The purpose of high protection is stated thus: "To achieve full natural recovery of the structure, functions, features, qualities and composition of characteristic biological communities  and prevent further degradation and damage to the marine ecosystem subject to natural change."

Experts at Defra are expected to announce shortly whether HPMA status should be accorded to Silver Pit and three other pilot areas around the English Coast - Dolphin Head, North East of Farnes Deep and Allonby Bay.

If they decide in favour, there could be a challenge from fishermen who land lobster at Grimsby and other East Coast ports.