Partners of the Exe Estuary Partnership

The Exe Estuary Management Partnership (EEMP) brings together a wide range of organisations with an interest in the Exe Estuary. Although the name can be misleading, the Partnership does not manage the estuary, nor does it hold any statutory authority over activities on the Exe.

Instead, the Partnership acts as a collaborative forum, enabling organisations with different roles, responsibilities and interests to work together, share information and coordinate activity for the benefit of the estuary, its communities and its wildlife.

Who Are Our Partners?

Our partners include:

Statutory authorities with legal duties relating to planning, conservation, navigation, habitat protection and environmental regulation on the Exe.
Local authorities whose boundaries include parts of the estuary or surrounding communities.
Recreational and user groups, representing those who enjoy the estuary for sport, leisure and wellbeing.
Wildlife, conservation and environmental organisations.
Local community groups and interest groups with a stake in the estuary’s future.

While some partners have formal legal responsibilities for managing specific aspects of the estuary, many others do not. All, however, play an important role in supporting a shared understanding of the estuary, its pressures and opportunities.

How We Work

The EEMP provides a platform for:

Coordinating conversations between organisations with overlapping roles
Sharing evidence, data and local knowledge
Encouraging consistent approaches across different authorities and user groups
Supporting delivery of shared priorities identified in the Exe Estuary Management Plan
Engaging wider stakeholders and the public

Governance Structure

To support this collaborative approach, the Partnership operates through:

Executive Group

A small group of key statutory partners and funding bodies that provides strategic oversight and helps guide Partnership priorities.

Partnership Committee

A wider group of all funding partners and statutory authorities, offering collective direction and oversight of the Partnership’s work.

Stakeholder Engagement (formerly the Forum)

Engagement with user groups, communities, recreational interests and other non‑statutory partners to gather views, share information and support collaborative working.

The Role of the Estuary Officer

The Partnership employs an Estuary Officer who coordinates activity on behalf of partners, facilitates communication, leads projects, and delivers the objectives of the Exe Estuary Management Plan. The officer does not manage the estuary, but works closely with organisations that do, enabling a joined‑up approach.

Funding Partners:

Additional Representatives:

Partnership Diagram

Exe Estuary Management Partnership 2024/25