To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the economic benefits of (a) individual marine conservation zones, (b) an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas and (c) marine biodiversity in UK seas.

The UK marine environment provides a range of benefits which can be assessed in terms of ecosystem services. These are described in the National Ecosystem Assessment (2011).

The Impact Assessment accompanying the consultation on the designation of marine conservation zones launched in December 2012 provides an overview of potential increases in ecosystem services which could be attributed to designation of MCZs. These potential increases could include:' fish populations and the condition of marine habitats and species generally will benefit from greater protection and reduced sea bed disturbance, nature-based recreation activities (diving, angling, bird watching) can benefit from enhanced user experiences, protection of marine resources will benefit research and education and improve understanding of the long-term impacts of human activities on marine ecosystems, many people will also gain satisfaction from knowing that rare, threatened and representative marine species, habitats and features of geological or geomorphological interest are being conserved for current and future generations.

These benefits cannot be readily quantified and the majority are not traded, so cannot be easily valued. Further work is taking place to advance the evidence base, including a DEFRA commissioned project on the benefits of benthic habitats as well as National Ecosystem Assessment follow-on work.