UK creates 15 new protected areas for marine life

Fifteen new marine protected areas were created today, designed to protect important habitats and species. The UK government has submitted the sites to the European commission to be included within the European ‘Natura 2000’ network of protected areas Photograph: DEFRA

Jewel anemones (Corynactis viridis) are common in all British coasts. Reefs support a colourful array of sponges, sea squirts and corals that provide shelter for crabs, lobsters and fish such as the multicoloured cuckoo wrasse. This one is located at the Lizard, Cornwall – one of the new Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) Photograph: Paul Kay/Natural England

Sunset on the south Devon coast at Prawle Point near East Prawle. There are three types of habitats which will be protected in the Natura 2000 network – reefs, sandbanks and sea caves Photograph: Sebastian Wasek /Alamy

A red knot Calidris canutus flock in flight over shore in winter plumage Liverpool bay Photograph: Alan Williams/Alamy

Norfolk seals on Winterton beach in early spring Photograph: Kevin Osborne/Alamy

Red-throated loon (Gavia stellata) nesting with a day-old chick Photograph: Michael Quinton/Getty Images

A common scoter, (Melanitta nigra) Photograph: David Hosking/Corbis

Lightbulb sea squirts are commonly found on reefs in the south-west of England Photograph: Paul Naylor/Natural England

A squat lobster ‘upside down’ in a crevice. The UK has the most varied and extensive sea caves on the Atlantic coast. They include tunnels, caverns and arches and can range from a few metres in size to hundreds of metres deep. Most cave communities are dominated by filter-feeding animals. Subtidal caves support more diverse animal communities including sponges, anemones, soft corals, sea squids and bryzoans. They may also provide refuge for crabs, lobsters, crawfish and fish such as gobies Photograph: Paul Kay/Natural England/Natural England

Sandbanks act as nursery grounds for many commercial fish species such as plaice . They also support sand eel communities that are a food source for seabirds, porpoises and seals Photograph: Jim Greenfield/Natural England

A male cuckoo wrasse (Labrus mixtus) Photograph: Paul Kay/Rex Features

Lizard Point in Cornwall has been nominated as one of the special areas of conservation Photograph: Corbis