IEEP has launched a project aiming to promote the use of marine protected areas (MPAs) in UK and European fisheries and marine environment policies. The two-year project, running from 2006 to 2008, is being co-funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. The goal of the project is to support the application of MPAs as a fisheries management tool and encourage the integration of the concept into UK and European fisheries and marine environment policy to conserve marine ecosystems.