Coastal News
UK secures fisheries deal - 19/12/08
UK Fisheries Minister Huw Irranca-Davies welcomed a European Union agreement that will see British fishermen gain vital quota increases while taking action to protect stocks and cut waste.
Fishermen secured bigger hauls of some types of fish and suffered a smaller than feared cut in prawn quotas, while in the important West of Scotland fishing grounds the UK successfully resisted cuts to the livelihoods of fishing communities while fishermen there will face challenging new conservation measures.
Increased catch limits for British fishermen in 2009 include:
* 30 per cent more North Sea cod;
* 32 per cent more mackerel;
* 13 per cent more North Sea plaice; and
* 8 per cent more monkfish for West of Scotland.
New alert centre to improve response to flooding - 17/12/08
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has announced a new warning centre to help protect people and businesses from flooding.
The £7.7 million flood forecasting centre, run by the Met Office and Environment Agency, will improve the country's ability to predict and respond to flooding by providing a single national forecasting and alert service.
It will help emergency responders to prepare for and respond to flooding. The service will complement the existing public flood warning arrangements from the Environment Agency.
The centre is part of the Government's action plan in response to Sir Michael Pitt's review of the 2007 summer floods, which recommended that a better warning system was need in the event of flooding.
Hansard Transcript for the 2nd Reading of the Marine Bill - 16/12/08
The Hansard transcript from the House of Lords second reading of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill and the following debate is now available online on the Parliament website. Click on the link '2R' to view the transcript.
The Bill will now move to the Committee stage, due on 20th January 2009.
Plans for Scheme at East Head Submitted - 16/12/08
A planning application has been submitted to Chichester District Council to recycle some 15,000 tons of sand and shingle into the vulnerable hinge and neck area of East Head in Chichester Harbour.
The plan will involve recycling material from the north to the south of East Head to create an enlarged barrier beach that will significantly widen and strengthen the point of the beach where East Head joins the West Wittering car park.
This work is the first step in implementing the new Coastal Defence Strategy for the West Wittering and East Head frontages, and it is hoped it will be undertaken in March 2009.
The strategy is based on the Adaptive Management of East Head and will seek to maintain the social, economic, environmental and navigational value of the feature for the life of the strategy. It will involve responding and adapting to changes at East Head caused by coastal processes and sea level rise with a number of different measures.
The project is being taken forward by a partnership consisting of West Wittering Parish Council, Chichester District Council, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the National Trust, West Wittering Estate, Cakeham Manor Estate, the Woodger Trust and the Chichester Harbour Conservancy. The Harbour Conservancy will act as the contractor to undertake the works on behalf of the partnership.
The environment in your pocket 2008 - 11/12/08
The twelfth edition of The environment in your pocket has been published by Defra. This is an annual publication containing material on various environmental themes including climate change, air quality, waste and recycling, land, coastal and marine waters, radioactivity, wildlife and inland water. The main theme of this year's publication is climate change and a larger section has been devoted to topics relating to climate change.
£5m to help fishermen net a secure future - 9/12/08
Inshore fishermen across England will be able to bid for a share of £5million to scrap their boats and quit the industry in a bid to protect others' livelihoods and the future of the fleet.
Fisheries Minister Huw Irranca-Davies has unveiled an action plan designed as a first important step to tackle problems facing England's inshore fishing fleet and help fishermen stay in business.
England's 2,500 small-scale inshore fishermen have been under pressure because of tight quota restrictions (monthly catch limits for certain types of fish) and an imbalance between the size of the fleet and the quota available to it.
The government has announced measures to help stabilise the fleet and make it fitter for the future.
For more information go to http:/ /www.defra.gov.uk/marine/fisheries/fishman/inshore-fleet.htm.
Marine and Coastal Access Bill published - 5/12/08
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn today welcomed publication of pioneering legislation for better protection and development of the seas around Britain.
The Marine and Coastal Access Bill, includes:
* a new network of marine conservation zones;
* the establishment of a new Marine Management Organisation which will be a centre of marine expertise;
* a new marine planning system which will enable a more strategic approach to be taken to the use of our seas;
* a simpler more streamlined marine licensing system;
* better management of fisheries; and
* a new right of access for people to walk round the English coast for the first time.
The marine conservation zones will protect species and habitats of national importance, and the Bill will allow local laws to be put in place to protect the zones from human activity, which may cause damage.
The Bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 15 December.
Queen's Speech Includes the Marine Bill - 3/12/08
The Queen's speech to both Houses of Parliament on 3rd December has included the proposed Marine and Coastal Access Bill.
"My Government will bring forward measures to protect the environment for future generations. A bill will be introduced to manage marine resources and to create a new right of public access to the coastline."
The text of the speech can be viewed on the House of Commons website.
