MCZ Project areas

We live in a world of great, but fragile beauty and have long realised that the impact of man’s growth and development is not only local but also global in extent. A number of international conventions have sought to implement requirements for nations to conserve natural habitats and wild fauna and flora in order to protect the rich diversity that surrounds us and enriches our lives both materially and spiritually.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are zones of the seas and coasts where wildlife is protected from damage and disturbance. The UK has committed to establishing an ecologically coherent network of MPAs under several agreements including the OSPAR Convention, World Summit on Sustainable Development and Convention on Biological Diversity.

These MPAs fall into 5 designations

  • Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) which protect marine habitats or species of European importance. This includes the Alde, Ore and Butley estuary on the East Coast and the Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons on the South Coast.
  • Special Protection Areas (SPAs) which protects populations of specific species of birds of European importance. This includes Chichester and Langstone Harbour and Medway Estuary and Marshes
  • Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Although most SSSIs are on land and intertidal area there are some which extend into the marine environment below low water mark. The Wash is England’s largest SSSI containing 14 per cent of England’s coastal SSSI habitat. It is also designated as Special Area of Conservation (SAC), a Ramsar site, and a Special Protection Area (SPA). It holds the largest colony of common seals in the UK – about 90 per cent of the English population.
  • Ramsar Sites,named after the international agreement signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, which provides for the conservation and good use of wetlands. Foulness and Poole Harbour come under this designation.
  • Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ) which were created by the Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009) and protect nationally important habitats, species and geology.

 

Marine Conservation Zones are the most recent development, established by the Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009). The Marine Conservation Zone Project is being led by Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) to identify and recommend Marine Conservation Zones to Government. It will be delivered through four Regional Projects covering south-west seas (Finding Sanctuary), the Irish Sea (Irish Sea Conservation Zones), the North Sea (Net Gain) and south-east seas (Balanced Seas). They will work with sea users and interest groups to identify Marine Conservation Zones and provide recommendations for sites within their regions to Government for implementation towards the end of 2012.

The time scales for this are fairly tight (as at 20th December 2010)

  • 28 February 2011: the four MCZ regional projects submit their third progress reports to the Science Advisory Panel.
  • 1 June 2011: On receiving feedback from the Science Advisory Panel, the four MCZ regional projects will be required to deliver draft final proposals, including site boundaries and conservation objectives.
  • 31 August 2011: the four MCZ regional projects will deliver their final MCZ recommendations to the Science Advisory Panel and the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies – which are the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Natural England.
  • 30 September 2011: the four regional and cumulative impact assessments must be delivered to the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies.
  • 30 November 2011: the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies must deliver their final advice to Government, to enable designation of MCZs by 2012.

 

How might this affect you? Already a large area of sea in the popular South Coast area, including Swanage Bay, Studland Bay, Bournemouth Bay and even Poole Harbour, is being considered for MCZ status. A consequence of this is that anchoring may be banned in large areas of the MCZ. Studland Bay is one of the few anchorages on the South Coast sheltered from the prevailing south westerly winds and is popular with many sailors.

How can I get involved? The RYA is a ‘stakeholder’ in all the 4 Regional Projects presenting the needs of the recreational boat user (presumably you are a member??). The best way is to contact the Regional Project covering your area and your enquiry will be forwarded onto the representative covering your area of interest.

Contacts

Finding Sanctuary local groups

Irish Sea Conservation Zones liaison officers

Net Gain contact list

Balanced Seas
Essex, Thames, Suffolk & North Kent list of representatives
Sussex & South Kent list of representatives
Solent, Isle of Wight & Hampshire list of representatives

References

Government
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/post/postpn310.pdf
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/marine/protected/mcz/index.htm

RYA
http://www.rya.org.uk/infoadvice/planningenvironment/Pages/MarineConservationZones.aspx