Water quality assessments will be a key part of new proposals to create 100 Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ) around the UK coastline.
The idea of MCZs was first raised in 2009 as part of the UK Marine Bill, which aimed to protect the waters around Britain to a distance of 12 miles.
A panel has been set up that will define the location and size of MCZs, as well as the amount of protection that these sites should be offered - such as the prohibition of fishing and the regulation of industry in the areas.
Environment Minister Richard Benyon said: "Today has seen our ambition to put in place special protection areas for marine life off the coast of England take a significant step forward."
He added that sealife should be given the same protection as those that inhabit the UK mainland.
Land's End, Chesil Beach and thousands of miles of seabed off the Cornish coast are all expected to fall under MCZ protection.
The Environment Agency recently found that non-chemical threats to the UK's waterborne habitats - including water primrose and non-native shrimp were a major problem for indigenous populations.
Posted by Lauren Steadman
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