National and Local Consultations
National Consultations
Marine Climate Smart Working: 20th August 2010
Tope (Prohibition of Fishing Order 2008) Review: 30th September 2010
Marine Act Implementation: Public Consultation: 13th October 2010
Marine Licensing Consultation: 13th October 2010
An invitation to shape the Nature of England: 30th October 2010
- Finding Sanctuary MCZ Project: Ongoing
Local Consultations
Managing the Estuary’s Flood Defences into the Future
Since the spring, the Environment Agency has been working in partnership with the local authorities of Teignbridge, East Devon, Exeter City and Devon County on the Exe Estuary Strategy. It follows on from the recent broad scale South Devon and Dorset Shoreline Management Plan. When complete, it will provide more detail on flood defence options in the estuary including Dawlish Warren, Exmouth, the Lower Clyst and Powderham banks.
As part of this, we have developed predictions of flood and coastal erosion risk over the next century. We are holding a public exhibition to explain how the strategy will develop and to describe the flood risk around the estuary now and in the future. We would like to receive your feedback and improve our understanding of your concerns. The planned exhibition will be held on Thursday 23rd September from 2:30 to 8:00pm in the Conference Room at The Coaver Club, Devon County Council, Topsham Road, Exeter EX2 4QD
You may drop in for as long or as little as you would like to view the exhibition and talk to knowledgeable staff from the Environment Agency and consultants from Halcrow and Atkins. If between the hours of 2.30pm and 4pm please use the pay and display visitor car park at County Hall and report to the main reception for directions to the Coaver Club. If after 4pm you may enter the main car parking area where parking will be free, car park F is the closest to the Coaver Club on the County Hall campus. For further details about visiting County Hall, including public transport options, please visit: http://www.devon.gov.uk/county_hall.htm
Until then, if you have any questions please see
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31736.aspx
or contact:
Steve Rendell
Environment Agency
Tel: 01392 442021
Email: Steve.Rendell@environment-agency.gov.uk
For more information about the Stategy and other Coastal Defence studies please visit our Planning for the Coast page.
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Marine Climate Smart Working
Understanding, communicating and celebrating marine adaptation work in the British Isles. This consultation paper aims to share our early thoughts on Marine Climate Smart Working and invites you to help us shape this new area of our partnership work
http://www.mccip.org.uk/adaptation-consultation.aspx
Deadline 20th August
The Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) has also launched its latest annual report card, providing the very latest updates on how climate change is affecting our seas. The report includes a new regional seas climate change impacts map, which highlight important differences in climate change impacts across UK regional seas. The report also takes a first look at how the UKCP09 climate projections can aid our understanding of future marine climate change impacts, and for the first time covers air-sea carbon exchanges, deep sea habitats, waterbirds and human health.
The report card, along with all the detailed topic reports, is available to access online at http://www.mccip.org.uk/annual-report-card/2010-2011.aspx
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Tope (Prohibition of Fishing Order 2008) Review
In 2008 measures were introduced to protect tope, a vulnerable European continental-shelf and coastal shark species. Tope do not mature until they are around 12 years old and then produce a relatively low number of pups compared with other marine species (20 every 2-3 years), making them very vulnerable to fishing pressure.
Following reports of plans for a commercial tope fishing operation Defra consulted on precautionary conservation measures. The majority of responses supported the prevention of directed fisheries or pointed out that tope were a low value but inevitable by-catch in commercial fisheries for other species.
Despite the absence of a targeted commercial fishery in English waters there remained a significant risk that fisheries for tope could be set up quickly, at low cost and have a rapid adverse impact on populations both locally and throughout the North East Atlantic. Defra therefore took the decision to lay a Statutory Instrument (SI) that prohibited fishing for tope other than by rod and line. This SI is known as the Tope Order (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 2008 SI Number 2008/691 and can be viewed at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080691_en_1. This SI sets a 45kg per day tope by-catch limit in commercial fisheries for other species. Tope landed by commercial vessels must have their head and fins still attached. Rod and line anglers fishing from boats are not allowed to land their catches ashore alive or dead. In this way both commercial and recreational fishermen share responsibility for the conservation of tope.
Defra is committed to review the policy laid down in this SI in 2010. At present we have no evidence to be concerned about how the SI is working and therefore do not consider that it needs amending. However, we are inviting informal views now before coming to a decision on this and as such, as a first step I am sending you this communication to you as a consultee of the consultation on this SI. We would like to know if you have any views on the following:
1. What effects you feel the catch and release and by-catch provisions set out in this SI have had over the last two years.
2. Whether you feel that additional measures are required to achieve further conservation benefits for this species.
Please send your responses, and any requests for further information to jackie.tennyson@defra.gsi.gov.uk by 30 September 2010. If you no longer wish to receive communications on this subject and/or wish to suggest an alternative contact, please let me know.
You may also find these pages useful:
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/topeshark/tope_shark2.JPG - nice picture
http://www.glaucus.org.uk/tope.htm - further information
Deadline 30th September 2010
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Marine Act Implementation: Public Consultation
21st July 2010 - 13th October 2010
Please be advised the public consultations and supporting documents on the Marine Policy Statement, the Marine Planning System and Marine Licensing consultation are now live and can be accessed on the following links:
The Marine Policy Statement (UK) will be the first part of new systems of marine planning being introduced around the UK. It will provide the high level policy context within which Marine Plans will be developed, and set the direction for marine licensing and other relevant authorisation systems.
The Marine Policy Statement will be the overarching policy framework for the UK marine area.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/marine-policy/index.htm
The Marine Planning System consultation (England) will provide a context for the Marine Policy Statement by outlining the planning system in England as a whole, and has been designed to function both as guidance for the planning function of the Marine Management Organisation and as a wide-ranging description of the marine planning system for the benefit of other interested bodies and persons.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/marine-planning/index.htm
A new Marine Licensing System introduced by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 will be launched in Spring 2011. The consultation (England only) sets out policy proposals for the implementation of the new system, covering key aspects including the application process, appeals against licensing decisions, and exemptions.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/marine-licensing-system/index.htm
The summary of responses to Marine Plan area consultation can be accessed on the following link:
The consultation sought views on the proposed marine plan area boundaries
for English inshore and offshore regions and the criteria for selecting the order in which the Marine Management Organisation should begin planning within those regions. A summary of responses to the Marine Plan area consultation can be found on the following link:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/marine-plan/index.htm
You can see Charting Progress 2 – an integrated assessment of the state of UK seas and its Overview and the Government Commentary on Charting Progress 2 at: http://chartingprogress.defra.gov.uk/ From the website there’s a link to Google Earth layers on Charting Progress 2.
Deadline: 13th October 2010
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An invitation to shape the Nature of England
This document aims to encourage debate about how best we can protect and enhance our natural environment, and the valuable services we derive from it. DEFRA are looking for a wide range of views on all of the issues set out in this document, or any others that you think they have missed.
(Following text taken from the Discussion Document Summary)
Deficit reduction and ensuring economic recovery are the Government’s top priorities. But we also know that we can no longer afford the costs to our economy and quality of life which arise from a degraded natural environment.
Our natural environment underpins our economic prosperity, our health and our wellbeing.Whether we live in towns and cities, small villages or open countryside, we rely on natural systems for our food, our water, the very air we breathe. Our land, seas, rivers, woods and fields, parks and open spaces provide us with benefits so fundamental that they are often overlooked. These natural assets have an enormous collective value and as a nation we are, rightly, passionate about the places where we live and the landscapes that surround us. However, in recent years we have seen an ongoing decline in many aspects of environmental quality, over which many people feel they have little control.
We now know more than ever before about the value provided by natural systems and the costs associated with their degradation. The time has come to make sure we act on that knowledge. We have the opportunity to be the generation that finally puts a stop to the piecemeal degradation of our natural environment and instead seeks active opportunities to enhance its value.
In Spring 2011 we will publish a bold and ambitious statement outlining the Government’s priorities for the natural environment, setting out a framework for practical action by Government, communities, businesses and civil society organisations to deliver on that ambition.
Download Discussion Document Summary
DEFRA Website: http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/our-responsibilities/nat-environment/
Deadline: 30th October 2010
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Finding Sanctuary MCZ Project
The Marine Conservation Zone Project is a partnership project working with people who use the sea for their livelihood or leisure to identify Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs).
Marine Conservation Zones are a new type of Marine Protected Area (MPA) introduced through the Marine and Coastal Access Act. They aim to protect nationally important marine species, habitats, geology and geomorphology. MCZs together with other types of MPA, will contribute to the Government’s target of an ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas by 2012.
Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) will restrict some activities, in particular those that are more harmful to the marine environment. If MCZs could affect you, or you have an interest in the future of the marine environment in the south-west, then Finding Sanctuary would like to hear from you.
Finding Sanctuary are asking you to tell them which parts of the sea you use so that they can try to minimise impacts of MCZs to your activity. The information you share with them will be used by your representative on the Steering Group to stand up for your interests during negotiations.
You can share your information by:
·Visiting the ·Interactive Map
·Contacting Finding Sanctuary:
David Murphy T. 07814 781 174
Website: http://www.finding-sanctuary.org/page/get-involved.html
Closing Soon!
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MARINE SPECIAL AREAS OF CONSERVATION AND SPECIAL PROTECTION AREAS IN ENGLISH, WELSH AND OFFSHORE WATERS
This letter is to inform you about progress in the designation of new marine Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). A formal consultation was undertaken by Natural England, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), from November 2009 to February 2010, on 10 possible marine Special Areas of Conservation (pSACs) and 2 potential Special Protection Areas (pSPAs) in English, Welsh and offshore waters around the UK.
Following this consultation, Natural England and JNCC submitted final recommendations for 10 SACs and 2 SPAs, to Defra for approval in June 2010. In addition JNCC submitted 2 further offshore SACs that were consulted on in 2007-2008; and CCW submitted Liverpool Bay/Bae Lerpwl SPA, which lies partly in Welsh waters, to the Welsh Assembly Government for their approval. Further consultation on two inshore sites and one offshore site was also recommended.
All these recommendations have received cross Government clearance and where appropriate have been submitted to Europe. The final sites are listed as follows and shown on the location map attached:
Final sites
These sites have been submitted to the European Commission:
Candidate SACs:
Haisborough Hammond and Winterton
Inshore and offshore waters of Outer Wash; minor boundary changes as a result of the consultation2
2. Inner Dowsing, Race Bank and North Ridge
Inshore and offshore waters of Outer Wash; minor boundary changes as a result of the consultation
3. Margate and Long Sands
Thames Estuary; minor boundary changes as a result of the consultation
4. Lyme Bay and Torbay
Dorset and Devon coast; this site was formerly part of Poole Bay to Lyme Bay pSAC, which has now been split into two sites. Lyme Bay and Torbay has been submitted to the European Commission but the second site, Studland to Portland, is still under consideration and will be consulted on again in due course.
5. Prawle Point to Plymouth Sound and Eddystone
Devon coast and inshore Cornish waters; minor boundary changes as a result of the consultation
6. Lizard Point
Cornwall; no boundary changes as a result of the consultation
7. Lands End and Cape Bank
Cornwall; no boundary changes as a result of the consultation
8. Shell Flat
Morecambe Bay; minor boundary changes as a result of the consultation
9. Bassurelle Sandbank
Offshore waters of Dover Strait; no boundary changes as a result of the consultation
10. North West Rockall Bank
Off north-western Scotland; boundary changed as put forward in the addendum which was part of the consultation.
11. North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef (consulted on 2007-2008)
Offshore waters off Norfolk; minor boundary changes as a result of the consultation.
12. Wyville Thomson Ridge (consulted on 2007-2008)
Off northern Scotland; no boundary changes as a result of the consultation.
SPAs
Outer Thames Estuary
Inshore and offshore waters – minor boundary changes as a result of the consultation – classified by the Minister for the Environment and Rural Affairs and notified to the European Commission
2. Liverpool Bay/Bae Lerpwl
Inshore and Welsh waters – no boundary changes as a result of the consultation. Liverpool Bay/Bae Lerpwl has been classified by both the Minister for the Environment and Rural Affairs for Defra, and by the Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing (one of the Welsh Ministers) and notified to the European Commission.
Sites subject to additional consultation
Lune Deep pSAC
Evidence has come to light which led Natural England to recommend a new boundary for Lune Deep, which formerly formed part of the Shell Flat and Lune Deep pSAC. Because the boundary changes are significant, Natural England is re-consulting on this site. Lune Deep is recommended for its Annex 1 reef habitat.
2. Prawle Point to Start Point pSAC
Evidence came to light during the consultation which led Natural England to conclude that there is Annex 1 reef habitat east of Prawle Point, which could in the future be included in the Prawle Point to Plymouth Sound and Eddystone candidate SAC. As the area of this potential extension is significant it is subject to a further consultation.
3. Dogger Bank pSAC
The Dogger Bank offshore SAC is recommended for its Annex 1 sandbank habitat. Informal discussions on this proposed site were held by JNCC in 2008, and subsequently changes have been made to JNCC’s proposal. This site has not been subject to formal consultation previously.
The consultation period for all three sites is from 20th August 2010 to 12th November 2010. If you have a national, offshore or local interest in these sites you will receive a separate letter from Natural England or JNCC with information on the consultation, the documents to read and how to respond.
Maps, SAC selection assessment documents, SPA departmental briefs, impact assessments, draft conservation objectives, consultation documents and a report of the consultation are all available on http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/marine/sacconsultation/default.aspx for inshore sites and http://www.jncc.gov.uk/marineconsult for offshore sites.
If you would like feedback on how any response you have made to the consultations so far has been considered, please contact us at swmarine@naturalengland.org.uk for inshore sites or offshoreconsult@jncc.gov.uk for the offshore sites