Defra consults on 23 proposed new English MCZs
Defra has opened a public consultation on 23 proposed new Marine conservation Zones in English seas. The consultation runs from 30th January to 24th April 2015.
In their announcement of this consultation, Defra state: “This consultation is to seek your views on whether it would be appropriate to designate each of the 23 proposed Marine Conservation Zones (MCZsMCZ Marine Conservation Zone) in the second tranche and to add new features for conservation in 10 of the first tranche MCZs.
“The sites proposed in this consultation protect a range of species and habitats. Characteristic features protected by these sites include intertidal rocks: the rocky seashores which host rock pools where plants and animals such as barnacles, blue mussels, limpets, whelks and periwinkles can find shelter from the waves.
“Another feature protected in these sites are sandy beaches that may appear devoid of life, but in fact host a range of species such as shrimp-like sandhoppers, cockles, sea snails and worms buried beneath the surface.
“Features that are more unusual protected in these MCZs include native oyster and the spiny lobster, both of which are becoming less common in our seas. The sites will also protect the rare pink sea-fan, a soft coral and one of the most exotic-looking of our seabed animals. It is in fact a colony of tiny anemone-like polyps with stinging tentacles, which capture microscopic animals from the passing water.
“The declining ross wormRoss worm Ross worms build tubes made out of sand or shell fragments, and sometimes many thousands of worms all build tubes which clump together forming large reefs, which are an important habitat for a range of other life. They are very fast growing and can form thick crusts over just one summer. These worms feed by catching tiny food particles from the water. reef is also protected at a number of sites. Ross wormsRoss worm Ross worms build tubes made out of sand or shell fragments, and sometimes many thousands of worms all build tubes which clump together forming large reefs, which are an important habitat for a range of other life. They are very fast growing and can form thick crusts over just one summer. These worms feed by catching tiny food particles from the water. build tubes from sand and shell fragments; the tubes of large numbers of the worms can form reefs, which at their largest can be about half a metre in height and cover an area of several hectares. These worm-built reefs are important because they provide a habitat for a wide range of other seabed-dwelling animals.
“Together, these sites will contribute to an ecologically coherent network of MPAs around our shores. We have been working with the Devolved Administrations in the UK, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and national conservation agencies to take stock of the habitats and species protected in existing and planned MPAs and to identify the gaps within the network. The features protected in these sites were chosen to fill the big gaps in the current network, such as where a species or habitat is currently not protected in a region, or only a very small proportion is protected.
“Together, the sites proposed for designation in the second tranche cover a total area of 10,810 km2. This adds to the 9,664 km2 protected by the 27 MCZs designated in 2013.
The proposed MCZs are:
- Consultation Document, 849.3 kB (PDF document)
- North Sea – Coquet to St. Mary’s rMCZ site summary, 686.4 kB (PDF document)
- North Sea – Farnes East rMCZ site summary, 660.5 kB (PDF document)
- North Sea – Fulmar rMCZ site summary, 801.7 kB (PDF document)
- North Sea – Runswick Bay rMCZ site summary, 648.0 kB (PDF document)
- North Sea – Holderness Inshore rMCZ site summary, 645.3 kB (PDF document)
- North Sea – Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds rMCZ site summary, 601.4 kB (PDF document)
- South East waters – The Swale Estuary rMCZ site summary, 668.9 kB (PDF document)
- South East waters – Dover to Deal rMCZ site summary, 890.2 kB (PDF document)
- South East waters – Dover to Folkestone rMCZ site summary, 1.0 MB (PDF document)
- South East waters – Offshore Brighton rMCZ site summary, 638.0 kB (PDF document)
- South East waters – Offshore Overfalls rMCZ site summary, 805.5 kB (PDF document)
- South East waters – Utopia rMCZ site summary, 535.6 kB (PDF document)
- South East waters – The Needles rMCZ site summary, 718.1 kB (PDF document)
- South West waters – Western Channel rMCZ site summary, 1001.4 kB (PDF document)
- South West waters – Mounts Bay rMCZ site summary, 918.5 kB (PDF document)
- South West waters – Land’s End (Runnel Stone) rMCZ site summary, 831.9 kB (PDF document)
- South West waters – North West of Jones Bank rMCZ site summary, 651.5 kB (PDF document)
- South West waters – Greater Haig Fras rMCZ site summary, 965.4 kB (PDF document)
- South West waters – Newquay and the Gannel rMCZ site summary, 761.6 kB (PDF document)
- South West waters – Hartland Point to Tintagel rMCZ site summary, 530.0 kB (PDF document)
- South West waters – Bideford to Foreland Point rMCZ site summary, 754.5 kB (PDF document)
- Irish Sea – West of Walney rMCZ site summary, 620.6 kB (PDF document)
- Irish Sea – Allonby Bay rMCZ site summary, 868.1 kB (PDF document)
Source: Defra website. See further details about this consultation at https://consult.defra.gov.uk/marine/tranche2mczs
Marinet observes: Marinet welcomes any area of the sea that secures protection. However we note the following features of this UK government programme:
1. Originally (2 years ago, after lengthy consultation with all interested parties) the Government proposed 127 MCZs, but then backtracked a year ago and proposed a “first tranche” of just 27 reserves, with a promise of more to follow. We now have a second tranche of 23 proposed MCZs, giving a combined total 50 MCZs. At this rate of progress it will take a further 3 years before we reach the original proposed figure of 127 MCZs (which in itself many felt to be woefully inadequate at the time). So using the Government’s approach to the delivery of marine conservation (MCZs) made possible by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, it would seem that it is going to take almost 10 years before the Government’s delivery of its commitment under the 2009 Act is complete.
2. Apart from being a very slow rate of delivery, and apart from being limited in terms of the actual percentage area of the sea protected, the reality is that these MCZs have no management regime worthy of the name, and no enforcement procedure to ensure their protection. Thus as senior marine conservationists have observed they are just lines on a piece of paper, and little else.
3. We need an entirely different approach to the management of our activities involving the sea, and of our actions in relation to its protection. As can be clearly seen, what the UK government is doing — and other Governments around the world are not that dissimilar — is almost worthless. It’s a charade — it pretends to be something when actually it is vacuous and empty, providing nothing real or genuine.
4. Marinet and Marinet Member, Deborah Wright, have proposed a revolutionary transformation in the way we manage our activities in relations to the seas and oceans, see Conserving the Great Blue. We are seeking a transformation of the UN Law of the Sea so that the legal default position for all the seas and oceans is that they are effectively one marine reserve. Yes, all seas everywhere on the planet are treated and managed by us as a marine reserve. This is the primary default position. All human activity then has to be licensed, and to obtain that licence every activity (including fishing) has to prove that it will respect the integrity of the seas and oceans, and their ecosystems. If the activity cannot, or does not, then no licence. Further enforcement is central to this new regime, and the revenue from licensing provides the money to deliver this. Under this new paradigm for the Law of the Sea all the weak-hearted behaviour by governments around the globe, which is almost universal as illustrated by our own government above, is made redundant and obsolete. Good sense and true values are back in control and governments, like everyone, has to obey the law and respect the integrity of the seas.
5. This can be so. It will be so if you say it must be so. Marinet says precisely this, and is committing its resources to this end. Join us, and you too can be part of this huge and immensely important change. This is the New World that is the 21st Century. Be with us, and be a part of it.
