DWI: Marine Conservation Zones meeting

A small group of about a dozen people gathered together to listen to a fascinating presentation by 'Balanced Seas' project manager Sue Wells.
She explained that 'Balanced Seas' is a collaborative project, based at the University of Kent, Canterbury, working to recommend Marine Conservation Zones around South East England.

There are three other projects covering the rest of the English coast.

The Marine Conservation Zone Project has been set up to ensure the long term survival of the wildlife and rich diversity of these seas and to safe-guard sensitive species and habitats. A Regional Stakeholder Group, made up of people representing all different kinds of activities related to inshore and offshore waters, have been working to designate areas needing protection while giving consideration to livlehoods and activities also taking place.

At the end of her presentation, Sue answered lots of interesting questions and discussions continued while refreshments were served. It was a most enjoyable evening.

Thank Vicki for the report and Rose D for the pix

Marine Conservation Sites in East Kent

From 'Your Deal'

Marine sites around the Kent coast could become protected areas under new conservation laws.

As part of an ongoing project called Balanced Seas – one of four regional programmes taking place in England – stretches of the sea around Dover, Deal, Shepway and Thanet and estuaries in Swale and Medway could be named Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ).

The scheme looks to balance socio-economic activities, such as development and water sports, with the preservation of nationally important biodiversity and threatened species. Margate and Long Sands, on the north Kent coast, became a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) last year with the MCZ project looking to form part of the wider network of Marine Protected Areas.

A third progress report by Balanced Seas has been submitted to the Science Advisory panel (SAP) – an independent body of marine scientists appointed by Defra – outlining recommendations for new protected sites.

Dover Harbour, Deal’s Goodwin Sands, Folkestone Holes, Thanet coast and Medway and Swale estuaries were all put forward as draft MCZs.

Phil Darrell-Smith, communications co-ordinator for Balanced Seas, stressed that some of the sites may not end up as MCZs, but that they had been highlighted for consideration by the expert panel.

"Something that makes this project unique is for the first time stakeholders are leading the way and choosing the sites," he said.

"With other protected sites in Europe, Government decided where they would be.

"We have got stakeholders from all different groups; sea-users, developers, wildlife groups – everyone that has an interest in or uses the sea. We have to remain neutral."

Mr Darrell-Smith said stakeholders looked at areas which had ecological importance as well as high socio-economic activity.

"Less than one per cent of seas around England are protected. We’re looking to create a balance to allow for sustainable use and a sustainable future," he said.

"There are a variety of sea-users; yachters, kite surfers, energy companies looking for sites for wind farms – they are all involved in the stakeholder process."

Final recommendations for the MCZ will be submitted at the end of August 2011.

Following a formal public consultation in spring 2012 the Government will designate new protected zones by December 2012, based on stakeholder input.

Balanced Seas project manager Sue Wells said she was grateful to the hard work of the groups involved in the report process.

"For the first time in the UK, marine protected areas are being recommended by people with a real interest in the sustainable management of the sea and its resources," she said.

Andrew Finlay from Crown estate – one of the organisations involved – congratulated Balanced Seas from the progress made.

"We welcome the important role MCZs will play in supporting a coherent network of UK Marine Protected Areas," he said.

Balanced Seas, which works in partnership with Natural England, University of Kent and Kent County Council, covers inshore and offshore UK water of the eastern Channel and adjacent areas.

The protected zones will fall under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. For more information go to www.balancedseas.org.

Government announces 15 new Marine Protection Areas

Marine Conservation Society welcomes new UK Marine Protected Areas but  urges  Government not to lose site of deadline for a wider network  

 
Following the Government announcement on 20th August 2010 of the designation of fifteen new Marine Protected Areas around the UK coast, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS)  says it’s delighted at the move but believes further protection is still necessary if the seas are to be given a chance to fully recover after decades of mis-use and bad management.
 
The latest protected sites, including Land’s End and Cape Bank, Lyme Bay and Torbay as well as Lizard Point and Margate and Long Sands, have been selected  on the best scientific evidence available and will mean protection to habitats like reefs, sea caves and sandbanks where marine life thrives.
 
MCS Senior Policy Officer, Melissa Moore says she welcomes the new designation: “These are an important step by the Government towards their commitment to produce a full network of Marine Protected Areas by 2012, a deadline that the UK must not let slip to 2016, as is being discussed by Ministers at the North-East Atlantic Environment Summit in Bergen next month.”
 
“ 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity and an opportunity to firm up commitments to conserving our seas, not detract from them. Government must also ensure such sites have strong conservation objectives of recovery where damaging fishing and extractive industries are halted, otherwise they will just be ‘paper parks’. It has taken sixteen years since the EU Habitats & Species Directive came into force in 1994 to designate these sites, so let’s now make the wait worthwhile for marine wildlife.”
 
The Marine Conservation Society  is running an online voting website to allow the public to have their say on where Marine Protected Areas should be. MCS has selected 73 sites around the UK coasts chosen to protect rare and threatened species and habitats from over 20 years of dive surveys by volunteer divers.
 
“We’re the only voice for the public in this process.” said Melissa Moore “We would urge them to visit our website www.yourseasyourvoice.comand vote either for or against our proposed sites or suggest areas they think should be protected. There is so much to lose if we don’t protect our seas.”