Cornwall's marine wildlife has gained greater protection after the government announced seven new Marine Conservation Zones for inshore and offshore waters around the county.

Marine Environment Minister and Camborne MP George Eustice announced the sites as part of a new tranche of 23 MCZs to be opened around the country, covering almost 20 per cent of the waters around England.

There will be four MCZs around the Cornish coast at Mounts Bay, Runnelstone, Newquay and the Gannel, and Hartland Point to Tintagel, and three offshore, at Western Channel, south west of the the Lizard, and North West of Jones Bank and Greater Haig Fras, west of Land's End.

Mr Eustice said: “As an island nation, the UK is surrounded by some of the richest and most diverse sea life in the world—from the bright pink sea-fan coral colonies off the south-west coast, to the great chalk reef stretches in the east. It’s vital that we protect our marine environment to ensure our seas remain healthy, our fishing industry remains prosperous and future generations can enjoy our beautiful beaches, coastline and waters.

“By designating these new Marine Conservation Zones and creating a blue belt of protected areas around the country, we can better protect our environment through careful marine management in years to come.”

The 23 additional sites, covering 4,155 square miles and bringing the total number of MCZs to 50, are the second of three planned phases; the first phase covered 3,731 square miles of water over 27 sites, while a third phase of proposed MCZs will be put out to wider public consultation in 2017, and designated in 2018.

Ruth Williams, marine conservation manager for Cornwall Wildlife Trust said: “We welcome today’s designation of 23 Marine Conservation Zones. UK seas have the potential to be full of incredible life and colour but it is vital that we protect our marine environment to ensure that our seas and sealife can recover and prosper. Healthy seas are crucial for all of us, from the oxygen we breathe to the fish we eat so this news is a fantastic step towards better protection and a healthier future for our seas.

"Without these incredible submerged landscapes there wouldn't be any fish, let alone fantastic jewel anemones, seahorses, dolphins, brittlestars amongst all the other wild and extraordinary creatures which are part of a healthy marine ecosystem.”

Molly Cato, a Green party MEP for the south west, said: "I am delighted to see the recognition of 23 more Marine Conservation Zones and I'm very proud to represent a region where so much of the coastline is recognised as having particular environmental value. We should celebrate such great wealth and this status offers an opportunity to protect and restore the precious wildlife of our coasts and sea.

"However, paper promises are worth little unless they have legal standing and staff to enforce them. With DEFRA facing 30 per cent cuts to their budget it appears that the government is engaging in performative politics rather than showing any real commitment to environmental protection."

Marine Conservation Zones protect a range of nationally important marine wildlife, habitats, geology and geomorphology, and can be designated anywhere in English waters.

They were introduced to halt the deterioration of the UK’s marine biodiversity and provide legal means to deliver the UK’s international marine conservation commitments.

Today’s announcement supports further work by Government to protect the marine environment, as new consultations on Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for harbour porpoise and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) to protect feeding and bathing areas used by iconic birds, such as spoonbills in Poole Harbour and puffins on the Northumberland coast, are expected to launch later this month. This adds to the 37 SACs and 43 SPAs already designated in English waters.