Total extent and proportion of protected areas at sea

Proxy
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This indicator contains some alternative data to those specified by the United Nations (UN). This indicator is the most suitable match currently available.

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Headline data

Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas
Year Value Units Series Observation status Unit multiplier
1950 0.0 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1951 0.01 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1952 0.02 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1953 0.03 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1954 0.04 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1955 0.05 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1956 0.08 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1957 0.09 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1958 0.09 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1959 0.09 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1960 0.09 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1961 0.09 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1962 0.09 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1963 0.09 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1964 0.1 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1965 0.1 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1966 0.12 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1967 0.12 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1968 0.13 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1969 0.13 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1970 0.13 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1971 0.13 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1972 0.21 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1973 0.22 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1974 0.23 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1975 0.23 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1976 0.25 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1977 0.25 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1978 0.25 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1979 0.26 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1980 0.26 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1981 0.26 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1982 0.26 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1983 0.26 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1984 0.26 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1985 0.28 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1986 0.3 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1987 0.3 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1988 0.31 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1989 0.31 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1990 0.34 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1991 0.34 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1992 0.34 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1993 0.35 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1994 0.39 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1995 0.4 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1996 1.08 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1997 1.24 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1998 1.27 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1999 1.31 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2000 1.32 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2001 1.37 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2002 1.38 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2003 1.47 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2004 1.47 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2005 1.47 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2006 1.54 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2007 1.6 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2008 1.9 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2009 2.11 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2010 4.28 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2011 5.68 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2012 8.47 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2013 9.49 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2014 16.33 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2015 16.34 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2016 18.83 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2017 23.45 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2018 23.63 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2019 24.63 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2020 38.17 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2021 38.17 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
2022 38.17 Percentage (%) Proportion of marine protected area Normal value Unit
1950 0.0 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1951 0.01 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1952 0.02 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1953 0.02 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1954 0.04 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1955 0.04 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1956 0.07 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1957 0.08 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1958 0.08 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1959 0.08 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1960 0.08 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1961 0.08 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1962 0.08 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1963 0.08 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1964 0.09 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1965 0.09 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1966 0.11 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1967 0.11 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1968 0.11 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1969 0.11 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1970 0.11 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1971 0.12 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1972 0.19 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1973 0.19 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1974 0.2 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1975 0.2 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1976 0.23 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1977 0.23 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1978 0.23 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1979 0.23 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1980 0.23 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1981 0.23 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1982 0.23 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1983 0.23 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1984 0.23 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1985 0.25 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1986 0.27 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1987 0.27 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1988 0.27 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1989 0.27 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1990 0.3 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1991 0.3 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1992 0.3 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1993 0.31 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1994 0.35 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1995 0.35 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1996 0.96 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1997 1.1 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1998 1.13 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
1999 1.16 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2000 1.17 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2001 1.21 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2002 1.22 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2003 1.3 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2004 1.3 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2005 1.3 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2006 1.36 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2007 1.41 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2008 1.68 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2009 1.87 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2010 3.79 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2011 5.04 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2012 7.5 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2013 8.41 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2014 14.47 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2015 14.48 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2016 16.69 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2017 20.78 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2018 20.94 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2019 21.83 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2020 33.82 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2021 33.82 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit
2022 33.82 Million hectares Marine protected area extent Normal value Unit

Source: Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)

Geographical Area: United Kingdom

Unit of Measurement: Percentage (%) / Million hectares

This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from UK statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from UK statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other UK-specific metadata information.

Indicator available

Total extent and proportion of protected areas at sea
Indicator description

The extent measures are a calculation of the net (non-overlapping) extent of protected areas using mean high water as the boundary between the at-sea and on-land measures. The proportion measures are a percentage of UK marine extent contained within marine protected areas.
Geographical coverage

United Kingdom
Unit of measurement

Percentage (%) / Million hectares
Definitions

Data is based on calendar year of site designation. Extent data for 2022 is up to 31 March 2022; extent data for all other years are extents at end of calendar year. The calculation method and projection of spatial areas changed in 2019; these data are therefore not directly comparable to those presented in previous publications up to and including 2018.

The boundary between protected areas on-land and at-sea is mean high water (mean high water spring in Scotland). Coastal sites in the indicator are split between ‘on-land’ and ‘at-sea’ if they cross the mean high water mark. At-sea extent includes offshore marine protected areas out to the limit of the UK continental shelf.

Extent is based on the following site designations - Areas of Special Scientific Interest, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, National Nature Reserves, Marine Conservation Zones, Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas, Ramsar Sites, Special Areas of Conservation (including candidate Special Areas of Conservation and Sites of Community Importance), Special Protection Areas, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, National Scenic Areas, National Parks.

Many protected areas in the UK cover the same physical parcels of land, but for different reasons; as a result the designation types can overlap. For example, it is possible for an individual site to be designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Area (SPA), Ramsar site and National Nature Reserve (NNR), and could also be part of a National Park, an AONB (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) or National Scenic Area (NSA).
Available disaggregations

Not available for this indicator
Calculations

Calculations were made to generate the “Proportion of marine protected area” series. Proportion of marine protected area is calculated using the following formula. 100 * (Extent at sea - million hectares / UK sea area). See C1. Protected Areas for more information on methodology.
Other information

This indicator is a component of UK Biodiversity Indicator C1. Protected areas which comprises two additional measures, 'Total extent of protected areas - on-land', and 'Condition of Areas / Sites of Special Scientific Interest'.

This indicator is being used as an approximation of the UN SDG Indicator. Where possible, we will work to identify or develop UK data to meet the global indicator specification. This indicator has been identified in collaboration with topic experts.
Data last updated 19 January 2023
Metadata last updated 06 April 2023

This table provides information on metadata for SDG indicators as defined by the UN Statistical Commission. Complete global metadata is provided by the UN Statistics Division.

Indicator name

Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas
Target name

By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
UN designated tier

Tier II
UN custodian agency

United Nations Environment Agency (UNEP)
Link to UN metadata United Nations Sustainable Development Goals metadata for target 14.2 opens in a new window

Source 1

Organisation

Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)
Periodicity

Annual
Earliest available data

1950
Geographical coverage

United Kingdom
Link to data source C1. Protected areas opens in a new window
Release date 14 December 2022
Next release

TBC: We plan to update indicator data within 4 months of data being released
Statistical classification

Official Statistic
Contact details

enviro.statistics@defra.gov.uk
Other information

Total extent of protected areas - at sea
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