The Environmental Targets (Marine Protected Areas) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023 No. 94).

Reg. 3 sets a legally binding long-term environmental target under section 1 of the Environment Act 2021 for condition of protected features in "relevant marine protected area (or relevant MPA ). Under the Regulations relevant MPA means: 1)a marine conservation zone ( MCZ ) designated by an order made under section 116(1) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 ( MCZ designation order ) specified in the first column of the Schedule; 2)a special area of conservation ( SAC ) within the meaning of regulation 3(1) of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017(4) specified in the first column of the Schedule; 3)a special protection area ( SPA ) classified pursuant to Article 4(1) or (2) of Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds(5) or Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conservation of wild birds(6); under regulation 15 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017; or under regulation 12 of the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017(7). The Regulation 3(2) identify and define favourable condition and recovering condition for the purpose of the target in regulation 3(2). The Regulations also specify the standard to be achieved in respect of the target and the date by which it must be achieved.