Marine Nature Reserve (MNR) is a British conservation designation officially awarded by the government to a marine reserve of national significance.
MNRs are created by statute (under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981) and are designed to conserve marine life and geological or physiographical features of special interest. They have similar status and protection to National Nature Reserves, but are specifically concerned with a marine environment, including both the sea and seabed.
In the UK, there are only three statutory MNRs: Lundy Marine Nature Reserve at Lundy Island, Skomer Marine Nature Reserve and Strangford Lough.
There are several proposed MNRs: Menai Strait, St Abb's Head, Isles of Scilly and Loch Sween
The Schedule 12 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 converts MNRs into Marine Conservation Zones[1]