Why do we need more Marine
Protected Areas?
Approximately 2% of UK waters are currently protected as
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) either under domestic
legislation or under legislation enacted to implement the
EC Habitats Directive and EC Birds Directive. However,
the former has proved to be limited in its effectiveness
and the latter only protects habitats and species
considered to be of European importance. The Marine and
Coastal Access Act 2009 seeks to address these gaps and
will enable us to establish an ecologically coherent
network of MPAs by 2012 to meet our obligations under
international conventions. A well- managed MPA network
can play a crucial role in the conservation of both
biodiversity and biological processes and can make a
contribution to sustaining wider ecosystem health.
How will Marine Conservation Zones be monitored
and policed? Who will enforce them and how will this
enforcement be paid for?
By involving stakeholders in the selection and
designation of the Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs), we
hope to achieve a high level of support and compliance
for any restrictions on activities that might be required
to achieve the conservation objectives. However, all
types of Marine Protected Area will be protected by law,
and the Marine and Coastal Access Bill includes a suite
of enforcement powers which can be used by officers
enforcing this legislation. We anticipate the new Inshore
Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs), the
Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Royal Navy
will undertake most enforcement work, although the Bill
allows for officers from other organisations to be
cross-warranted for this purpose.The MMO will have the
power to make site-specific bylaws to control activities
within MCZs, and IFCAs will have the power to make
fisheries bylaws in their district for MCZs. IFCAs will
be lead authority for enforcing MMO-made byelaws for
their district. Marine Enforcement Officers and IFC
Officers will enforce MCZ byelaws as designated by common
powers Part 8 in the Marine Act. More information can be
found here http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/biodiversity/marine/documents/guidance-note3.pdf
The Impact Assessment prepared by Defra for the Marine
and Coastal Access Bill estimated the additional costs of
enforcement of MCZs at up to £1million per year. The
relevant organisations will receive appropriate funding
for the new work they have been given under the Act.
Are other countries in Europe introducing
their own Marine Protected Areas?
In England, MCZs are being identified by four regional
MCZ projects (Finding Sanctuary is the south-west)
through a collaborative, stakeholder led process. The
Welsh Assembly Government intends to use the MCZ
mechanism to designate a small number of highly protected
MCZs in Welsh inshore waters. Scotland and possibly
Northern Ireland will also be introducing their own MPAs.
Other European countries are also obliged under
international conventions and agreements (such as the
OSPAR Convention, World Summit on Sustainable Development
and Convention on Biological Diveristy) to create
networks of MPAs. It is also a requirement on other
Member States of the European Union to achieve Good
Environmental Status in our seas by 2020 and the Marine
Strategy Framework Directive specifically mentions a
network of MPAs as being one tool to achieve this. We
have already been in discussions with our counterparts in
all countries neighbouring the MCZ Project region and
will ensure that dialogue is maintained throughout the
process. In addition, there are a couple of international
projects currently being established to aid co-ordination
with international stakeholders – one for the
western Channel and south-west England which is a
collaboration with Portugal, Spain and France and one for
the eastern Channel and southern North Sea with France,
Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.
Who should I get in touch with if I want to have
a voice in the MCZ planning process?
1 – Get in touch with Beth Henshall
to complete a face to face mapping interview to formally
record the areas of the sea that you use, any comments
that you might have, and ensure that your interests are
taken into consideration during the MCZ planning process.
Beth's contact details are beth@finding-sanctuary.org
or tel: 07709 495629
2 – Visit our Online Interactive
Map at www.mczmapping.org.
This tool allows you to see the various types of data we
are collecting and you can make you own additions to the
maps to record the areas that you use for different
activities.
3 – Get in touch with your
representative on the Devon Local MCZ Group. Contact Dave
Murphy at david@finding-sanctuary.org
or tel: 07814 781174
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