MCZs - first tranche anounced

[l'escargot]

I am surprised no one has picked up on this released today:

Proposals for the First Tranche of MCZs

55. Defra is proposing that up to 31 sites are good candidates for designation in 2013.
These are (table 5 and figure 2):
• within the Irish Seas Conservation Zones regional project area four sites are proposed for designation in 2013: Cumbria Coast; Fylde Offshore; Hilbre Island Group; North of Celtic Deep;
• within Finding Sanctuary regional project area fifteen sites are proposed for designation in 2013: East of Haig Fras; Southwest Deeps (West); The Canyons; Lundy; Padstow Bay and Surrounds; Isles of Scilly; The Manacles; Upper Fowey and Pont Pill; Whitsand and Looe Bay; Tamar Estuary; Skerries Bank and Surround; Torbay; Chesil Beach and Stennis Ledges; South of Dorset; Poole Rocks;
• within Balanced Seas regional project area nine sites are proposed for designation in 2013: Stour and Orwell Estuaries; Blackwater, Crouch, Roach and Colne Estuaries; Medway Estuary; Thanet Coast; Folkestone Pomerania; Hythe Bay; Beachy Head West; Kingmere; Pagham Harbour;
• within Net Gain regional project area three sites areproposed for designation in 2013: Aln Estuary; Swallow Sand; Rock Unique.

And

Future Tranches

58. Defra expects to designate future tranches of sites to contribute to the objective of an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas. Sites recommended to Government by the Regional MCZ Projects that are not being proposed for designation in the first tranche may be included in later tranches.
59. In selecting sites and features for future designation Defra, working with SNCBs,will be considering:
�� the responses to the consultation including any suggestions for alternative sites for MCZs;
�� the contribution needed to achieve the UK’s commitment to establishing ecologically coherent network taking account of sites designated by neighbouring UK administrations and neighbouring EU member states;
�� the evaluation of reference areas; and
�� costs of sites to both industry and the public sector.
60. Defra will be engaging stakeholders in discussions on potential sites for future tranches. The exact mechanisms by which this will be done are currently being considered.

From here:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2012/12/13/pb13856-mpa-network/

Link to report at the bottom of the page

 

[BoyBlue49]

I thought MCZ was a make of motor bike.

 

[Searush]

I thought MCZ was a make of motor bike.

Marine Conservation Zones offer the possibility of severely curtailing your sailing activities. But what the heck, you seem to think it's a joke.

 

[Seadog17]

Marine Conservation Zones offer the possibility of severely curtailing your sailing activities. But what the heck, you seem to think it's a joke.

The guy has a sense of humour and doesn't take life too seriously, methinks.

 

[BoyBlue49]

Thanks Seadog17, it's laughter that keeps me going.
I drive young kids to school,they ask me why other drivers are so grumpy.
What do I tell them ?

 

[epervier]

Thanks Seadog17, it's laughter that keeps me going.
I drive young kids to school,they ask me why other drivers are so grumpy.
What do I tell them ?

Tell them they're just old farts with bus passes and shouldn't be cluttering up the roads at peak times anyway

 

[Seadog17]

Tell them they're just old farts with bus passes and shouldn't be cluttering up the roads at peak times anyway

 

[Baddox]

They have published a lot of text, some clear maps of where they propose these zones. What’s missing, or at least what I could not find are any details beyond their aims. How will they implement these aims to improve the marine environment? I applaud the initiative but it has to be tempered with a reasonable approach, and I have no idea what that will turn out to be.

 

[Seagreen]

Seconded. "wow, what shiny new MCZ they are!" What does this mean in practice? Could find nothing really relevant after scrolling though all the little boxes. No Anchoring? No fishing by either line, net or pot? No trawling? As far as I'm aware, making large chunks of the south Devon coast and estuaries "no anchoring" would potentially kill off a large chunk of the yachting industry.

 

[[2574]]

What does this mean in practice?

That is the key point. An erudite explanation of the consequences of the MCZ designation by someone who has knowledge of these things would be very helpful indeed.

rob

 

[[2574]]

I see that Scilly is a proposed designation. It will be interesting to see the response of the french yachtsman when he's met by an MCZ representative informing him that he can't anchor. I can imagine the entente cordiale being somewhat stressed and the extended use of the phonetics Foxtrot and Oscar.

 

[Tomahawk]

Smell the Coffee and wake up!

Anyonenwho has being paying attention to the Studland Bay thread will be aware what this is all about..

MCZ seem to centre on banning any activity that affects a "pristeen" marine envinronment.. in Wales this is taken to include thie "harmful" activity of sailing through a "sensitive" area...

Old Harry and others have been working very hard.. witout genal recognition... to fight for the needs for yachtsmen and MoBo's...

This is a serious threat to yachting and boating. I have met staff at English Nature in a previous existance and I have to say they are blinkered to anything other than their own agenda of conservation. They would ban anthing they percieve hurts their precious environment...

 

[Tomahawk]

heree is the Studland thread

link

And also a bump

 

[[2574]]

Anyonenwho has being paying attention to the Studland Bay thread will be aware what this is all about..

I'm sorry I don't have the necessary time away from my business to read every word that is written. I understand that there are various grades of restriction within the designated areas. I would still appreciate an erudite and concise explanation from those that do have the time to follow this. I am aware that OldHarry has worked very hard on the subject and I have thanked him on a previous occasion.

rob

 

[Pye_End]

Anyonenwho has being paying attention to the Studland Bay thread will be aware what this is all about..

MCZ seem to centre on banning any activity that affects a "pristeen" marine envinronment.. in Wales this is taken to include thie "harmful" activity of sailing through a "sensitive" area...

Can you provide evidence for this please.

Old Harry and others have been working very hard.. witout genal recognition... to fight for the needs for yachtsmen and MoBo's...

This is a serious threat to yachting and boating. I have met staff at English Nature in a previous existance and I have to say they are blinkered to anything other than their own agenda of conservation. They would ban anthing they percieve hurts their precious environment...

What do you propose?

It seems to me that Studland has been rather more advanced than many other areas, as it has always been known what we are up against, and the nature of the arguments. It is unclear to me what we would be fighting for in other areas.

As an aside, well done to Oldharry for his excellent campaign, and for keeping us all informed.

 

[l'escargot]

... It is unclear to me what we would be fighting for in other areas...

I think what has to be avoided is a fight against the principle of "conservation".

Yes it is right to fight for continued use of some areas but there are also areas that can be protected in the name of conservation that don't affect boaters. For instance there has been an underwater "nature reserve" at Kimmeridge Ledge for a number of years.

I don't think boaters will do themselves any favours in the long term by being seen to be "anti conservation" and in fact it could be in our interest to support sensible conservation in some areas that will benefit us as well.

 

[Pye_End]

I think what has to be avoided is a fight against the principle of "conservation".

Yes it is right to fight for continued use of some areas but there are also areas that can be protected in the name of conservation that don't affect boaters. For instance there has been an underwater "nature reserve" at Kimmeridge Ledge for a number of years.

I don't think boaters will do themselves any favours in the long term by being seen to be "anti conservation" and in fact it could be in our interest to support sensible conservation in some areas that will benefit us as well.

My feelings entirely. I do not understand why wildlife conservation is given negative connotations by so many. We need wildlife. Sensibly applied, MCZ's could be of value to us as a society.

 

[Tomahawk]

My feelings entirely. I do not understand why wildlife conservation is given negative connotations by so many. We need wildlife. Sensibly applied, MCZ's could be of value to us as a society.

Do remember that rats are part of wildlife, as are cockroaches and flies, as well as lice and ticks, not to mention mozzies and Sctotish midges... In biblical times a plague of locusts was never thought of as a wonderful visitation.. but rather disaster for everyone who would then starve..

Wildlife is taken to mean species we like rather than all the ecosystem including those parts that are possitively harmfull to humans. As such conserevation is a hobby or pastime. Conserevatioists do get very pasionate about their concerns for a species (read any email from Neil Garrett of the seahorse trust). However, other people are pasionate about opera, football, music and even the Morris Marina. But people who are passionate about the Marina do not seek to ban others from enjoying their passions. Conservationists seem to argue that because they care for their version of an ideal environment, they have the right to take away othe peoples liberties and freedoms.

So from that point of view I argue against conservationists.

 

[tidclacy]

+1

I have a huge problem with the Wallasea Island project in the Crouch, taking a vast area of good arable land and converting it for the benefit of birds when we need as much home grown food as we can get.

I visited recently at one of their open days and got three different answers why this land was sold. There was a hint that the RSPB made an offer to the owners of the land that they could not refuse and that they had to use quite a lot of persuasion.

 

[Pye_End]

Conservationists seem to argue that because they care for their version of an ideal environment, they have the right to take away othe peoples liberties and freedoms.

So from that point of view I argue against conservationists.

I have seen no evidence so far that the decision makers for MCZ's are suggesting conservation is the only factor in their decisions. It is always a balancing act.

For all the rats and ticks in life there are others that are important to us. Some we don't 'like' but are important to eco systems. Remember fish are 'wildlife', and an important source of nourishment. Many, many drugs are derived from 'wildlife'. We may be the dominant species, but that doesn't mean we should act irresponsibly to the detriment of our environment. I do not see a blanket right for humans to destroy.