More than 40 new conservation areas will be created in Britain's waters under plans to create a "blue belt" haven for marine life.
Theresa May will today announce plans to create 4,600 square miles of protected marine habitats on Britain's coastline, increasing the current area by more than 50 per cent.
The so-called "blue belt", the maritime equivalent of Green Belt", is designed to protect rare species such as the short-snouted seahorse, stalked jellyfish, peacock's tail seaweed and the tentacled lagoon-worm.
The new zones span much of England's coastline, from the South West to Berwick on the Scottish border. Any activities considered harmful to the environment, such as dredging or significant...