Marine conservation zones designated

Back in June, Natural Environment & Fisheries Minister, Richard Benyon, said that up to 31 of the 127 proposed areas would be considered first because there was not enough adequate scientific evidence to support the others.

This prompted an angry response from environmentalists who felt that all 127 zones should have been designated at the same time to prevent further damage to the areas, but a sigh of relief from the RYA, which had an unresolved issue with the proposals.

The RYA only had an objection to one proposed site – the Aln Estuary in Northumberland.

This MCZ includes a small charted anchorage in the only location which a vessel can stay afloat in the estuary and it wanted to retain access to the site.

The organisation says it has fought throughout the process to protect the public right of navigation and to ensure, as far as possible, that recreational boating interests are not adversely affected by the designation of the MCZs.

Paul Rayner, RYA member and member of the RYA’s Planning and Environment Committee, said: “They have simply designated the areas for Marine Conservation Zones at this stage. Nothing was announced as to what management measures would be put in place for each MCZ that may restrict activity. These will be decided by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) in partnership with the stakeholders at a local level.”

Mr Rayner added that Defra has indicated that socio economic factors (which include leisure boating) are a consideration and that it was the balance between these and the ecological importance of an area which led to the Stour and Orwell not being designated as MCZs.

The MMO is responsible for managing certain activities to further the conservation status of designated MCZs.

It will lead on the management of fishing activities in MCZs between six and 12nm and on the management of other marine activities in all MCZs within 12nm.

It says management measures will differ from site to site depending on what features the site intends to protect, but activities will only be regulated if they cause harm to wildlife or damage habitats that are being conserved in the MCZ.

Amy Wadlaw, MMO spokesperson, told Maritime Journal: “There is no assumption that any specific type of activity will be restricted. Management measures may include byelaws (for unregulated activity such as recreational uses of the sites), fishing vessel licensing conditions, marine licences and voluntary agreements or education. Permanent management measures will be implemented following engagement with interested parties.”

Two further phases of MCZs will be designated over the next three years.

Designated MCZs

Inshore
The Blackwater Crouch Roach and Colne Estuaries, Aln Estuary, Beachy Head West, Chesil Beach and Stennis Ledges, Cumbria Coast, Folkestone Pomerania, Fylde, Isles of Scilly, KIngmere, Lundy, The Manacles, Medway Estuary, Padstow Bay and Surrounds, Pagham Harbour,Poole Rocks, Skerries Bank and Surrounds, South Dorset, Tamar Estuary, Thanet Coast, Torbay, Upper Fowey and Pont Pill, Whitsand and Looe Bay

Offshore
The Canyons, East of Haig Fras, North East of Farnes Deep, South West Deeps (West) and Swallow Sand