The Lundy No Take Zone was established in 2003 and intended to protect the marine habitat and wildlife. No living natural resouce may be taken from the designated area, which supports many rare species. Fishing is also prohibited in the area.

The Lundy No Take Zone is the first and only area in the UK created for the protection of marine wildlife and was established by a Devon Sea Fisheries Committee bylaw. Areas where extraction is restricted can help to improve the marine environment and English Nature assert that these areas provide an essential contribution to the recovery and protection of coastal and marine environments.

Initial results from monitoring programmes are encouraging. The monitoring programme's lead scientist, Dr Miles Hoskin, said: "It is very encouraging to see positive signs so quickly. After 18 months lobsters were both bigger and more abundant inside the NTZ compared to control areas outside. On average the NTZ contained three times as many lobsters above the minimum landing size compared to control areas. Although it is very early days in the monitoring programme we hope to find that the population will increase further and spill-over into areas outside the NTZ where fishermen can benefit."

Ben Bradshaw, the Minister for Nature Conservation and Fisheries said: "Striking a balance between conserving our natural environment and maintaining a viable fishing industry is a challenge that Government, the fishing industry and conservation interests are continuing to strive to achieve in a variety of ways. If these first results are anything to go by No Take Zones could offer a valuable contribution to meeting that challenge."

Chris Davis, English Nature Maritime Conservation Officer, said: "These results add to the growing amount of evidence that No Take Zones can offer benefits for the protection of marine wildlife and commercial fisheries. However, it is early days in the monitoring programme and the full effects of the NTZ will not be known for another four years."