New marine channel opens up
24 February 2010
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and Natural England welcomed the launch today (23 February) of the Fishing Coalition for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
This new alliance represents much of the UK fishing industry and will provide a vital point of contact for Government and nature conservation organisations as they work with the industry in developing the growing network of MPAs. With the government required by European law to introduce a network of MPAs by the end of 2012, streamlined, efficient communication between all parties is essential – the MPA Coalition marks a big step forward in helping to achieve this.
Janette Ward, Natural England’s South West Regional Director, said: “Natural England welcomes the creation of the MPA Coalition and we look forward to working together in the South West to discuss how the MPA network can achieve better marine protection alongside a more vibrant fishing industry in our inshore waters. We understand the concerns of the fishing industry and it is vital that there is always clarity, transparency and trust between us. Ongoing dialogue with the MPA Coalition will be an important way in which we can achieve this.”
John Goold, JNCC’s Marine Director said: “This is an extremely active time for marine conservation with many important and far reaching decisions to be taken over the next few years. We welcome the establishment of the MPA Coalition, which will provide a unified voice from the fishing industry across the UK, and we look forward to close collaboration across all of our offshore MPA work. MPAs should allow society to reap the benefits from our seas while at the same time protecting them for future generations. We want to ensure that our approach is fully inclusive and it is vital to include the views of people that value and make a living from the sea."
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Notes to editors
About MPAs
The network of Marine Protected Areas will consist of Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Ramsar sites, Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) and Scottish MPAs. The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and forthcoming Marine (Scotland) Bill, as well as European legislation, mean that in law the Government is required to introduce MPAs in UK inshore and offshore waters. MPAs apply right across the UK, although the way that MCZs will be implemented in England is slightly different from the approach being taken in Wales and Scotland.
1. For more information, please contact:
Natural England: for English inshore waters (0 – 12 nautical miles) Joanna Busk, Press Officer – South West Region, Natural England 07900 608440 joanna.busk@naturalengland.org.uk
Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC): for UK offshore waters (12 – 200 nautical miles) National Communications Team, JNCC 01733 866839 communications@jncc.gov.uk
www.jncc.gov.uk/marineprotectedsites
2. Natural England is the statutory nature conservation adviser for Government for England (including territorial waters from 0 to 12 nautical miles) and is committed to delivering an ecologically coherent and representative network of MPAs. It will commit time from its own specialist staff and research products to support the MCZ Project as well as providing funding. More info on our website.
3. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee is the statutory adviser to Government on UK and international nature conservation, on behalf of the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside, the Countryside Council for Wales, Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage. Its work contributes to maintaining and enriching biological diversity, conserving geological features and sustaining natural systems. JNCC is also the statutory conservation adviser to Government for UK offshore waters. www.jncc.gov.uk
4. The Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) Project has been established by Defra, Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) to identify and recommend Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) to Government. The Marine Conservation Zone Project will be delivered through four Regional MCZ Projects covering the south-east (Balanced Seas), south-west (Finding Sanctuary), Irish Sea (Irish Sea Conservation Zone) and North Sea (Net Gain). These four independent Regional MCZ Projects will work with sea users and interest groups to identify MCZs and provide recommendations for MCZs within their regions to Government. MCZs are a new national designation as proposed in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. MCZs will be designated to protect nationally important and representative habitats and species and, together with the Natura 2000 sites, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Ramsar sites and new national MPAs in Scotland and Northern Ireland will create the UK MPA network.
The South West Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) Project is: Finding Sanctuary: South-West Regional MCZ Project Joana Smith. Communications Coordinator Joana.Smith@southwestfoodanddrink.com 01392 878 328 www.finding-sanctuary.org
