Marine Act Implementation: Public Consultation - 21/7/10
The public consultations and supporting documents on the Marine Policy Statement, the Marine Planning System and Marine Licensing consultation are now live. The consultation period runs from 21st July 2010 - 13th October 2010.
* The Marine Policy Statement (UK) will be the first part of new systems of marine planning being introduced around the UK. It will provide the high level policy context within which Marine Plans will be developed, and set the direction for marine licensing and other relevant authorisation systems. The Marine Policy Statement will be the overarching policy framework for the UK marine area.
* The Marine Planning System consultation (England) will provide a context for the Marine Policy Statement by outlining the planning system in England as a whole, and has been designed to function both as guidance for the planning function of the Marine Management Organisation and as a wide-ranging description of the marine planning system for the benefit of other interested bodies and persons.
* A new Marine Licensing System introduced by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 will be launched in Spring 2011. The consultation (England only) sets out policy proposals for the implementation of the new system, covering key aspects including the application process, appeals against licensing decisions, and exemptions.
The Marine Plan area consultation sought views on the proposed marine plan area boundaries for English inshore and offshore regions and the criteria for selecting the order in which the Marine Management Organisation should begin planning within those regions.
Posted 21/07/2010 18:16
Climate Change Imapcts on Our Seas - 15/7/10
The Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) launched its latest annual report card on 15 July 2010 providing the very latest updates on how climate change is affecting our seas.
Almost 100 scientists from 40 leading UK science organisations, contributed to this peer-reviewed report, which covers 30 marine and coastal topics. The report includes a new regional seas climate change impacts map, which highlight important differences in climate change impacts across UK regional seas. These maps show that whilst many impacts are being seen in southern UK waters, future climate change will lead to impacts across all UK regional seas.
The report also takes a first look at how the UKCP09 climate projections can aid our understanding of future marine climate change impacts, and for the first time covers air-sea exchanges of CO2, deep-sea habitats, waterbirds and human health.
New findings in the 2010-2011 MCCIP annual report card include:
* Temperatures are generally increasing, but inter-annual variability is high; 2008 UK coastal sea surface temperatures were lower than the 2003 – 2007 mean.
* Some fish distributions have moved northwards over the past 30 years by distances ranging from around 50 to 400km, with coldwater species such as monkfish and snake blenny moving the furthest.
* climate change has contributed to a decrease by approximately 9% in the total number of seabirds breeding in the UK between 2000 and 2008. Breeding success has also declined over the same period.
* Increasing sea temperatures may have the potential to increase the geographic range of some harmful algal bloom species associated with Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) events.
MCCIP’s future work on marine adaptation through 'Marine Climate Smart Working' was also highlighted at the launch event. Building on the evidence base provided in the annual report cards, this new approach will provide a high profile vehicle to recognise the issues, challenges, opportunities and achievements faced by different users of the marine environment in attempting to put marine climate change adaptation in place.
Posted 20/07/2010 09:52
Wightlink Scoping Report - 12/7/10
Wightlink has submitted a Scoping Report to all relevant stakeholders as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Wightlink’s proposals for the ferry service running from Lymington to Yarmouth. It has undertaken to complete a voluntary EIA of the operation of the ferry service on the Lymington to Yarmouth route, which includes the implementation and completion of shore works at the ferry terminal and the mitigation works on the salt marshes to the east of Lymington River, together forming the Project for the purposes of the assessment. The Scoping Report will inform the content of the Environmental Statement (ES) for the Project which will accompany the applications for the relevant consents required to complete the Project.
Under the relevant legislation, the local planning authorities are required to provide their opinion on the scope of the ES having considered the Scoping Report and consultation responses to it. Their scoping opinion has to be issued by 29 July 2010.
Posted 12/07/2010 19:49
Yarmouth Harbour Development - 8/7/10
Following considerable consultation over the past two years and many compromises, Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners have agreed the plans for the development of the inner harbour between the harbour entrance and the Yar Bridge.
The reasons for the changes are
* to improve the facilities to meet the demands of our customers;
* to improve navigation within the inner harbour;
* to increase the income of this area of the harbour to help pay towards the maintenance and improvement of existing harbour assets.
However, the Commissioners intend to undertake this development in stages, with phase one being implemented during the winter 2010/11, and the other phases in later years as funds become available. Applications have been made for planning permission with the Isle of Wight Council, and to the relevant government agencies for other necessary licences. This process will take a few months.
Posted 12/07/2010 13:59
New Oyster Fisheries Partnership for Chichester Harbour - 7/7/10
In recent years, the number of oysters dredged by fishermen in Chichester Harbour has plummeted. Just three years ago, fishermen were regularly dredging 25 bags a day of oysters at the start of the season. This catch size had been consistent for many years. Now, the fishermen consider it a good day when they bring home eight bags of oysters.
A new partnership has been set up to try to halt and turn around the decline in oyster numbers. Sussex Sea Fisheries are working in partnership with Chichester Harbour Conservancy, Natural England, NOC and local commercial fishermen. The group have agreed to trial an oyster relaying scheme. Locally dredged oysters will be relaid in beds in a number of locations in Chichester Harbour. By laying them in dense beds, it will increase the chance of successful reproduction for the oysters. The stocks will be monitored for breeding success.
Posted 07/07/2010 13:36
Portsmouth Port wins ISO14001 environmental award - 24/6/10
Portsmouth Port has been awarded the prestigious ISO 14001 standard - the International Standard for Environmental Management - in recognition of its commitment to environmentally friendly port operations. ISO14001 is rigorously enforced by British Standards to make sure the day-to-day activities of the Port are the subject of continuous environmental impact assessments. Other aspects of the business, including the management of waste and monitoring of water and energy consumption, are also regularly checked.
Environmental awareness is evident not only in this award but also in the design for the Port's new terminal, which is currently under construction. The building will use the latest “green” technologies to lessen its impact on the environment. 'Wind catchers' on the roof will be used to help air condition the main public areas, along with thermal energy from the sea pumped into the terminal for heating. Every detail of the building reflects a desire to improve eco-performance – the toilets, for example, will be flushed using salt water.
Posted 14/07/2010 08:49
Oil washes up on Hampshire beaches - 21/6/10
Oil is washing up on beaches in Hampshire after a pipeline leaked in Southampton Water on Sunday. Esso said there had been a release of oil at its marine terminal in Fawley at 2120 BST as a ship was being unloaded. The company said the unloading was immediately stopped and it was working to clean up the spill.
Fareham Borough Council said oil had been found between Warsash and Solent Breezes. Esso said it was assessing how much has escaped. Residents are being advised by the council to avoid contaminated areas.
Posted 21/06/2010 14:12
New interactive marine map launches online - 16/6/10
A new interactive map has been launched by the Marine Conservation Zone Project, to create an insight into how the sea is being used, and to build upon what we know about existing marine species and habitats in our seas. Anyone who uses the sea is invited to contribute to this initiative, which will help to identify potential sites for Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). MCZs are a new type of Marine Protected Area (MPA) which will conserve nationally important marine species and habitats, and will become part of a network of MPAs that the UK is committed to establishing by 2012.
This interactive map has been specially developed for the Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) Project, a partnership project which is working with people who use the sea _ for their livelihood or leisure pursuits _ to identify MCZs in English inshore waters and offshore waters next to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. People can take part in two ways: either by uploading information about their marine activities, and the location of marine wildlife, notable habitats and geological features they have seen; or by just looking at the layers of data out of personal interest to discover more about their region’s sea.
The interactive map is at www.mczmapping.org and the deadline for uploading data is 30 September 2010.
Posted 16/06/2010 19:14
Southampton's £8m Aeronautica museum plan unveiled - 15/6/09
Plans have been unveiled for a £8m museum celebrating Southampton's maritime and aviation history. The Aeronautica attraction, based at the docks, would house historic aircraft and ships linked to the city. It would include a full-size replica of the stern of SS Olympic, the sister ship of Titanic which sailed from Southampton on its fateful voyage. Docks owner, Associated British Ports, is in discussions with the council over the site which could open by 2015. It is hoped successful applications for arts and heritage grants would cover most of the costs.
Posted 16/06/2010 19:44
National Launch of MMO - 15/6/10
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) will hold its national launch on 15 June, close to its new base in Newcastle. The MMO was established this year under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 to deliver the UK government's vision for clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas.
It will balance the development of marine industries, such as wind farms and oil and gas exploration, with the need to conserve and protect marine species and habitats.
Its head office in Newcastle is supported by 18 offices around the coast of England.
Posted 15/06/2010 10:04
English Heritage takes control of Low Lighthouse - 11/6/10
The keys to a nationally important lighthouse on the Hampshire coast have been handed over to English Heritage. Control of Low Lighthouse, at Hurst Castle, near Lymington, was transferred by Trinity House, the lighthouse authority at a ceremony on 11 June. English Heritage will now be responsible for the maintenance of the tower.
The 21m (70ft) tall lighthouse was used between 1911 and 1997 and is now protected as a scheduled monument. The ceremony was attended by the Friends of Hurst Castle and members of the Association of Lighthouse Keepers.
Posted 11/06/2010 20:11
Seabirds vote overwhelmingly for Langstone Harbour - 7/6/10
Langstone Harbour has attracted increased number of Terns and record numbers of Mediterranean Gulls this breeding season. Preliminary surveys suggest that 55 Little Terns, 10 more than in 2009, are nesting in the harbour and almost half of them are using areas of artificially recharged shingle.
These areas were created as part of the Langstone Little Tern Project, which has been largely funded by the Environment Agency (EA) to help this struggling species.
The sites include those created in 2009 on the RSPB reserve and one created in 2010 at the Hayling Oysterbeds, which is owned by Havant BC and jointly managed by the Hampshire and IoW Wildlife Trust.
The harbour is the key site on the South Coast for these birds. Even in 2008, when numbers of them were at their lowest in 29 years because of a lack of suitable nesting sites, Langstone had more than half of the South Coast population.
If breeding is successful, chicks should appear from mid June onwards. Return migration to West Africa starts in August and continues into September.
It is also a record year for Mediterranean gulls with 400 nests counted on the RSPB reserve. This could have been helped by the very wet February and March leading to a plentiful supply of earthworms, the main food source for both adults and chicks throughout the breeding season.
A pair of Mediterranean gulls first bred in UK in 1968, but it was not until the late 1990s that UK breeding numbers reached three figures. Throughout the 2000s, Langstone Harbour has often held the largest UK breeding colony.
Posted 07/06/2010 12:18
DP World Southampton upgrades shipside capabilities - 2/6/10
DP World Southampton is upgrading its shipside capabilities by deepening its container berths and purchasing further ship to shore cranes.
Once the dredging works are completed later this year the depth for berths 205, 206 and 207 will be 14.0m, 14.6m and 15m respectively. These deeper berths will provide greater flexibility for vessels calling at Southampton with almost eighty percent of the terminal’s quay providing a minimum depth of 14.0m alongside.
In addition to the dredging works, DP World Southampton has placed an order with Liebherr for two additional super post-panamax cranes to upgrade the terminal’s crane fleet. These new cranes will mean that fifty percent of the terminal’s crane fleet are of super post-panamax design.
The new cranes will have an outreach of 22 containers wide and will be identical to the four cranes which were commissioned in 2008 and 2009 and servicing the new generation of mega-vessels. It is anticipated that both cranes will be delivered to the terminal during the first quarter of 2011.
Posted 11/06/2010 20:34
Richard Benyon, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment and Fisheries - 18/5/10
Richard Benyon MP was appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State on 14 May 2010. His portfolio includes:
* Natural environment
* Ecosystem services
* Biodiversity
* National parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty
* Wildlife
* JNCC
* Flooding and water (including Nitrates)
* Inland waterways (including British Waterways)
* Land management (including commons and contaminated land) and soil
* Rural Affairs
* Coastal erosion
* Marine and Coastal Access Act implementation
* Marine Management Organisation
* Coastal and wider access, countryside and rights of way
* Marine Environment
* Fisheries, including CFP
* EU Fisheries Council
* Departmental administration
* Apprenticeships
Richard Benyon has been MP for Newbury since May 2005. Before coming to government Mr Benyon served as a Shadow Minister for the Environment, Fisheries and Wildlife. Prior to this appointment he was a Party Whip. He has also served on the Home Affairs Select Committee.
Posted 18/05/2010 17:40
IOW Beaches Win Awards - 13/5/10
The Isle of Wight has been awarded three Blue Flag beaches while also receiving 11 QCAs, giving it a total of 14 awards from the Tidy Britain Group.
Shanklin joins Ventnor and Sandown beaches in being awarded both a Blue Flag and a QCA while Colwell, Cowes, East Cowes, Gurnard, Seagrove, Springvale, Totland and Yaverland retained their QCAs.
The Island's total of fourteen awards once again puts it joint top in the country alongside Torbay.
The criteria beaches must meet to win the award includes good access, facilities including lifeguard provision, litter free and clean bathing water.
Posted 13/05/2010 13:42
