THE waters around Lundy Island today become England's first marine conservation zone.

Ministers hope the area will act as the model for a network of protected areas in the seas.

The creation of the marine conservation zone (MCZ) around the island under the Marine Act is effectively just a name change for the site, which has been a marine nature reserve for more than 20 years.

But over the next two years, plans for a network of protected areas will be drawn up around English, Welsh and Northern Irish waters.

The seas around Lundy, a three mile-long island off the North Devon coast, are home to wildlife ranging from grey seals and lobsters to pink sea fan corals and habitats including reefs, sea caves and sand banks.

Part of the area, which was England's only marine nature reserve, has been a "no-take zone" – which meant it was protected from all kinds of fishing – since 2003.

Lobsters are among the wildlife shown to have benefited from the protection the restrictions provided.

While some of the new marine conservation zones could be no-take zones to protect wildlife, officials say that is unlikely to be the case in the majority of areas, with ranging levels of protection at different sites.

Under the Marine Act, it will be an offence to break the rules established in the zones, which could include seasonal or permanent bans on certain types of fishing, recreational activities or practises such as dropping anchor.

There will be four regional programmes to develop the MCZ network, with the project teams made up of representatives of interested parties ranging from fishing groups to conservation charities.

Each group will attempt to hammer out agreement among the different interests on where the protected areas should be in their region and make recommendations to the Government.

Ministers will put proposals out to public consultation before making a decision – expected in December 2012.

The existing protection around Lundy will remain unchanged, but the area will be considered as part of the wider programme to draw up marine conservation zones.

Dr Helen Phillips, chief executive of the Government's conservation agency Natural England, said: "Lundy is a showcase of what a well-protected marine environment can become.

"Today's designation ushers in a new era of marine protection and it is important that the momentum to develop more marine conservation zones is now sustained."

Marine environment minister Huw Irranca-Davies said: "With the new marine conservation zone around Lundy Island, we have taken the first step in creating a network of marine protected areas.

"We can't always see what is happening to the wildlife and habitats under our seas, but they need just the same protection as those on land and this world-first in legislation will provide that.

"The four MCZ projects around England's coastline are working with local interest groups to identify what other areas should be given this protection and I encourage all those that use the sea for work or recreation to get involved with their local project team."