Marine Conservation Zones

[Tong]

Hi all,

I saw this post on a scuba forum so thought i would copy it over here.

Marine Conservation Zones coming soon to the south-west….
Thanks to the Marine and Coastal Access Bill new Marine Conservation Zones could be coming to your area soon. Four projects have now been set up around England to help divers and other sea users have a voice in deciding where these zones should go, and what activities should be restricted in them. These projects are: Finding Sanctuary in the south-west, Balanced Seas in the south-east, Net Gain for the North Sea and Irish Sea Conservation Zones for the Irish Sea.

If you dive in the south-west Finding Sanctuary is asking you to share your information about which areas of sea are important to you. ‘Why would I want to do that’, you ask yourself?

As a diver you have unrivalled knowledge of sea areas around the south-west and you will probably want to recommend that some sites are protected because they are particularly special to you. In some Marine Conservation Zones, take by recreational users including divers could be restricted. However, by contributing your information and thoughts you are ensuring that your interests can be taken into account during the planning of these new protected areas.

There are two ways you can get involved to have your say:
1. Visit the Interactive Map http://www.finding-sanctuary.org/page/webGIS
2. Call Finding Sanctuary on 01392 878 340 and arrange to meet your nearest liaison officer who will help you to map the areas which are important to you.

If you dive in other parts of the country get in touch with your nearest project.

South-west
Finding Sanctuary
http://www.finding-sanctuary.org
Email: info@finding-sanctuary.org
Tel: 01392 878 340

South-east
Balanced Seas
http://www.balancedseas.org
Email: balancedseas@kent.ac.uk
Tel: 01227 827 839

North Sea
Net Gain
http://www.netgainmcz.org (website under construction)
Email: dani@yhsg.co.uk
Tel: 01482 382 007

Irish Sea
Irish Sea Conservation Zones
http://www.irishseaconservation.org.uk
Email: info@irishseaconservation.org.uk
Tel: 01925 813 200

Dates update

Have your say: More Finding Sanctuary drop-in days across the south-west
If you use the sea in the south-west, we want to hear from you. It is your opportunity to speak to Finding Sanctuary staff about new Marine Conservation Zones, how they could affect you and how you can get involved. Dates have been organised for February and March around the south west, so come along at any time during the day to your nearest venue.

Bude Drop-in Day
Thursday 25th February 2010, 10am – 8pm
Bude Tourist Information Centre, Crescent Car Park, Bude, Cornwall, EX23 8LE

Newlyn/Penzance Drop-in Day
Monday 1st March 2010, 10am – 8pm
Fishermen’s Mission, Ship Institute, North Pier, Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 5JB

Poole Drop-in Day
Thursday 18th March 2010, 10am – 8pm
The Lifeboat College, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ

Bristol Drop-in Day
Tuesday 23rd March 2010, 10am – 8pm
The Kings Arms, 168 Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS8 2XZ

To find out more call Sarah McLintock on 01392 878 340/07544 590294, email her at sarah@finding-sanctuary.org or look at our website.

Don’t forget, if you can’t make it to one of our drop-in days, you could always map the areas of sea you use on our Interactive Map online.

If you use the sea in other parts of England, contact your nearest project:
South-east - Balanced Seas
North Sea - Net Gain
Irish Sea - Irish Sea Conservation Zones.

If you are not sure which regional project you fall under, take a look at our map.

If i see anything else about it i will keep you posted.

Pete

 

[glowworm]

Tong well done for posting this information.

If you had not we may have missed this. Looking on the website there has already been a drop in day in Weymouth on 11th January 2010 which i knew nothing about.

I will attend the drop in day @ Poole in march.

I have also emailed the following people for more information.

John Weinberg Dorset Finding Sanctuary Liaison officer

B.Betts Dorset County Council MCZ Group

Lets see what happens

 

[devondave]

Tong has raised an important issue , one which could potentially affect our sport .
This marine bill has been in the pipeline for some time , but seems to attract no interest on db .
From what I understand there now follows a two year consultation period , after which areas will be chosen to become MCZs .
These MCZs will have different levels of conservation protection , ranging from a closed season on certain species to no commercial fishing up to complete no-take zones like Lundy .
Just to be clear a MCZ with a no-take policy means NO SPEARFISHING .
There seems to be a large lobby for this type of zone , after all it has worked well around Lundy .
I have a lot of sympathy for the marine conservation bill , given the sad state of our seas , something clearly has to be done , but hypocrite that I am , I don't want my spearfishing affected in any way .
We all need to familiarise ourselves with this bill and the consequences it could have for spearfishing .
Don't let this slip by and then complain when your favourite spot becomes off limits .

Regards ,
Dave .

 

[Lazuli]

This marine bill has been in the pipeline for some time , but seems to attract no interest on db .

No discussion on the BSA website either which is disheartening.

 

[devondave]

No discussion on the BSA website either which is dishearten.

Hmm , my worry about the BSA is that they will have to put forward a case for competitions as well as ' a couple for the pot ' type fishing .
I don't have strong feelings about competitions either way , having never taken part or even seen one , but I can imagine trying to get one organised in a marine park might be tricky .

 

[glowworm]

I have received an email back from John Weinberg and he has informed me that our very own Dave Thomason (Spearo UK) is the BSA representitive for the South West.

Dave sits in on all meetings so i think we can safely say we have a voice

 

[devondave]

Extracts from an article in this months diver magazine :-

Restrictions in MCZs will vary , from partial to full fishing bans and any appropriate controls on other commercial and recreational activities , including diving .

Members of the public have untill the middle of this year to let the projects know what they do on or under the water , and how often .

. . . a campaign is being is being run by the Marine Conservation Society , seeking support for a list of 73 sites around the country that it hopes to see designated as MCZs .

Is anyone else getting more than a little bit concerned ?

Regards ,
Dave .

 

[Lazuli]

I am very concerned as the whole of the southwest is a mecca for recreational fishing of various kinds. Fine, legislate against certain commercial practices and set up prohibited zones against those, but why tar joe recreational with the same brush? Very unfair.

 

[googlyfloogly]

Well done for starting this thread. Perhaps we should be making the regional threads aware of this one, so we can discuss it in one place. DB forums mean that Spearos across the UK are in touch with each other, which is a good start.
I would guess that all Spearos are right behind Marine Conservation in principle, therefore we would be backing the general philosophy that such a bill would be based on.
What we would need to get across is the message that - as far as I am aware - Spearfishing does not represent a threat to marine life, rather that it promotes awareness and appreciation of the marine environment. As such it would be wrong if it were "caught in the net" (sorry) of legislation aimed at protecting the environment. Surely such legislation should be aimed at trawlers and other non-sustainable practices.
Is there a case here for Spearos putting together a statement / petition / database of who goes in where / when and the sort of catches we take home? Would this be better than us all getting in touch individually?
Also, there may well be cases where "no take zones" are necessary and appropriate. What are folks view on this? I guess we need some input here from those in the know - marine scientists?
It could be that "partial take zones" would benefit us, if they meant we didn't have to duck under trawlers / jetskis!
Does anyone have a link to the bill / proposed bill? It would be good to see it.
Is the BSA representative of all of us? I'm not a member. Should we all join?

 

[glowworm]

Go to the following web site all is explained there.

Finding Sanctuary

This affects ALL levels of fishing and can only be veiwed as a good thing

The BSA has been talking to them from the very begining.

Find your local drop in session and go along for a chat.

I am

 

[Lazuli]

If you do a bit of googling on this issue it appears that Finding Sanctuary have already exhibited an active webpresence on a number of yachting, diving and angling forums. Perhaps we should send our local liaison officers an invite to attend this thread????

Expectedly most of their submissions contain public diplomacy aimed at getting people to attend the drop-in days and so on. If you find it there are also some "stakeholder" accounts of their experiences of attending these meetings. Notably there is some suspicion that it is more of an intelligence gathering exercise on the part of Finding Sanctuary rather than an active dialogue / listening experience. Don't get me wrong, I am totally in favour of legislation which protects the marine environment from destructive practices (of which spearfishing is not one), but I cannot help but feel that blithe talk of stakeholders conceals the fact that the structure for the implementation of the Marine bill is already in place and we will be something of a post facto consideration. There is an article which suggests MPs have reassured anglers that their current rights to dangle a line will not be threatened. I worry that spearfishing could get "caught in the net" of legislation, however, as we do have our critics and adverse agitprop could tighten the noose.

 

[Tunny]

All,

Some very good points so far Foogly googly's comment about getting together as a body of people would be a better representation of our hobby/sport than individuals attending the meetings.

Could Deeper Blue Mentors not represent us all as fellow spearo's? Or the BSA maybe do something on behalf of the whole spearo community on deeperblue?

It could be a good thing for us all - if they do ban trawlers and other types of unsustainable commercial fishing but allow non commercial fisherman and spearo's then we could all be seeing a lot more fish in our chosen waters...

Maybe a mentor will step in now and advise us all that this already being done...?

Either way let us all hope that this not another threat to our beloved hobby/sport.

If I can make it to a meeting then I will.

Cheers

Ryan

 

[podge]

I have received an email back from John Weinberg and he has informed me that our very own Dave Thomason (Spearo UK) is the BSA representitive for the South West.

Dave sits in on all meetings so i think we can safely say we have a voice

Go to the following web site all is explained there.

Finding Sanctuary

This affects ALL levels of fishing and can only be veiwed as a good thing

The BSA has been talking to them from the very begining.

Find your local drop in session and go along for a chat.

I am

All,

Some very good points so far Foogly googly's comment about getting together as a body of people would be a better representation of our hobby/sport than individuals attending the meetings.

Could Deeper Blue Mentors not represent us all as fellow spearo's? Or the BSA maybe do something on behalf of the whole spearo community on deeperblue?

It could be a good thing for us all - if they do ban trawlers and other types of unsustainable commercial fishing but allow non commercial fisherman and spearo's then we could all be seeing a lot more fish in our chosen waters...

Maybe a mentor will step in now and advise us all that this already being done...?

Either way let us all hope that this not another threat to our beloved hobby/sport.

If I can make it to a meeting then I will.

Cheers

Ryan

Tunny have a read of John's posts above, you'll see that the BSA and Dave (spearo UK) are and have been involved from the very start.

 

[Tunny]

I stand corrected by the 'King'!

Sorry I should have read each and every post before getting carried away... :naughty

That is what a few glasses of Merlot does to me! :friday

 

[Gaz D]

I have received an email back from John Weinberg and he has informed me that our very own Dave Thomason (Spearo UK) is the BSA representitive for the South West.

Dave sits in on all meetings so i think we can safely say we have a voice

Ahh, so that's where I need to look for him!

.

 

[glowworm]

Spoke to Dave on friday about this and it sounded good

 

[googlyfloogly]

Thanks for the link Glowworm. I have registered on "finding sanctuary" and drawn maps to show what I catch where. I hope this helps to protect our sport!

 

[kkdavids]

Hi All, as Chairman of the BSA i can ensure you that we are very actively involved in this, and as mentioned earlier in the thread Dave Thomasson representing us in the southwest region. Dave has been involved from the start, and reports back to the committee with updates etc through our committee meetings. We hope to have a bit information on whats going on (covering how it started, whats happening now, and the future) in our next magazine (Crystal Clear) which is due out in March

 

[devondave]

Hello kkdavids , thats very reassuring . Is there anything we ordinary spearos can do to help in any way ? Or is best if we keep out of the way ?

Regards ,
Dave .

 

[kkdavids]

Hi dave, i will speak to dave T and see if he needs anymore information (i understand the information gathering process is going on now)...Thanks another Dave!