Marine Conservation Zones in England - BASC update

[Conor O'Gorman]

The following is an update from BASC's website this evening, click on the weblink at the end for more information

 

Proposals have been made to ban wildfowling, angling, the collecting of shellfish and even beachcombing within ‘reference areas’ which form part of a network of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ) around the English coast. BASC is not opposed to marine conservation but is opposed to proposals which would restrict shooting.

 

On 17th July Natural England will publish statutory advice on last year’s proposals for MCZs and 65 associated ‘reference areas’ around the English coast. That advice could influence which MCZs and reference areas will be shortlisted for public consultation later this year.

 

Natural England’s advice will include:

 

• 
   
  
• Advice on the creation of an ecologically coherent network of MPAs.
  
• An overview of the regional MCZ project process used to identify recommended MCZs, including how sea users, and interest groups were involved.
  
• JNCC and Natural England’s view of the four regional project’s MCZ recommendations.
  
• An assessment of the most at risk sites/priority sites for protection.
  
• An assessment of the scientific certainty of the regional MCZ project recommendations.
  

 

Each site will receive one of three ratings by Natural England:

 

1. 
    
   
2. Recommended for designation
   
3. Recommended for designation but with more work required (ecological evidence gathering, for example)
   
4. Not recommended for consultation
   

 

BASC’s key concern is for known wildfowling interests in two out of the 65 proposed reference areas - one at Blakeney Marsh in Norfolk (Net Gain project) and one at North Mistley in the Stour estuary (Balanced Seas project).

 

BASC has lobbied against the proposed designation of these two reference areas and awaits the publication of Natural England’s advice with great interest.

 

For more info see weblink below

 

Marine Conservation Zones in England – latest update