WEYMOUTH OPEN DAY WILL HELP DECIDE THE FUTURE OF OUR SEAS
Tuesday 5th January 2010
Dorset residents who use the sea for work or pleasure are being encouraged to take part in the most comprehensive survey of marine activity ever undertaken in the south-west.
The Finding Sanctuary project aims to map the usage of our waters as part of a move to create Marine Conservation Zones to help ensure a healthy and productive future for the region’s coasts and seas. Anyone who wants to know more about the project or has comments to make is invited to a Drop-in Day being held in Weymouth on Monday 11th January from 10am – 7pm.
John Weinberg, Dorset Liaison Officer for Finding Sanctuary said: “The development of new Marine Conservation Zones could have an impact on a wide range of people whose livelihoods or leisure activities rely on our seas and coasts. So, it’s vital that future decisions are made with input from everyone involved, from fisherman to canoeists, wildlife watchers to charter boat skippers and anyone else with an interest.
“That is why I would urge as many people as possible to come along to the Drop-in Day so that they can find out more about the project and have a say in how our seas are managed in the future.”
As well as collating information from the region’s sea users, Finding Sanctuary has also set up a number of local groups to ensure that Marine Conservation Zones are created with full local participation. The Dorset Local Group is represented on the regional Finding Sanctuary Steering Group which includes representatives from all south-west counties and a wide range of marine sectors. It is this Steering Group that will make recommendations for Marine Conservation Zones to the Government.
The Finding Sanctuary project’s research will be used by the Steering Group to decide where Marine Conservation Zones should be placed, so that they do not unnecessarily impact how people use the sea. New Marine Conservation Zones will be formally designated by the Secretary of State for the Environment in 2012 and will help the Government fulfil its national and international commitments to create an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas.
The Finding Sanctuary Drop-in Day is being held at The Gallery, Weymouth Library, Great George Street, Dorset, DT4 8NN on Monday 11th of January from 10am to 7pm.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Photographs: The attached images of marine life, taken off the coast of Dorset by photographer Steve Trewhella, may be used free of charge in connection with this press release . Please credit as follows:
Photos by Steve Trewhella.
For further information: contact Joana Smith, Finding Sanctuary, Tel: 01392 878328 / 07968 434108
Email: joana.smith@southwestfoodanddrink.com www.finding-sanctuary.org
or John Weinberg, Dorset Liaison Officer, Tel: 07788 675 294
Email: John.weinberg@southwestfoodanddrink.com
Background information:
Finding Sanctuary is a partnership project between South West Food and Drink, the South West Wildlife Trusts, RSPB, National Trust, Natural England, JNCC and the County Councils of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset.
Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) are a new type of Marine Protected Area (MPA) being introduced through the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act. MCZs will be implemented to protect nationally important marine wildlife, habitats, geology and geomorphology. Sites will be selected both inshore and offshore, up to mean high water to protect the full range of marine life. MCZs will have a range of protection levels that reflect the level to which a particular habitat or wider ecosystem needs to be safeguarded.
MCZs together with other types of MPA, will make up an ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas. This means the MPA network will be a collection of areas that work together to provide more benefits than an individual area could on its own.
Finding Sanctuary is one of four regional projects which together make up the Marine Conservation Zone Project. The Marine Conservation Zone project has been established by Defra, Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to identify and recommend Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) to Government. The four regional MCZ projects cover the south-west (Finding Sanctuary), Irish Sea (Irish Sea Conservation Zones), North Sea (Net Gain) and south-east (Balanced Seas). These regional MCZ projects will work with sea users and interest groups to identify MCZs and provide recommendations for sites within their regions to Government.