Protection and management of nationally important Marine habitats and species
(2000)
Prepared by English Nature based on the views of a sample of members of the DETR Working Group on the Review of Marine Nature Conservation
Laffoley, D. d'A. & Bines, T.
Introduction
The DETR Review of Marine Nature
Conservation Working Group first met on 10 September 1999. It was
formed as a result of the Government's consultation a year earlier
on better protection and management for Sites of Special Scientific
Interest. The aims of the Working Group are:
- evaluating the success of previous statutory and voluntary
marine nature conservation measures and identifying examples of
current best practice and existing barriers to successful marine
conservation objectives;
- putting forward practical and proportionate proposals for
improving marine nature conservation in England, which may also
inform separate proposals for marine conservation in Wales;
and
- finalising recommendations by the end of 2000.
The review process will:
- focus primarily on marine nature conservation between the mean
low water mark and the 12 mile limit of UK territorial waters;
- take account of but not seek to duplicate international,
European and national marine conservation initiatives;
- take into account the current protection mechanisms in the
intertidal zone and proposed changes to the SSSI regime;
- take account of the implications of its recommendations both
for maritime users and for other regulatory regimes beyond
territorial waters and covering the intertidals;
- take into consideration other developing Government policies in
the marine environment; and
- consider recent developments in marine nature conservation
thinking.
The review group's
final report will be presented to DETR Ministers and the National
Assembly for Wales.
At the second meeting
of the Review Group on 2 November 1999, in addition to agreeing the
above Terms of Reference, English Nature offered to draft a paper
as a think piece which would take into account issues such as
existing legislation and its adequacy, the wider sea - quality,
pollution, hazardous substances, environmental assessments,
by-catch, plans and projects, relevant authorities, a legislative
framework for site protection and powers for Ministers.
It was agreed that
English Nature should produce a paper, drawing in the group, which
will be open to the group for consultation and discussion. This
report is provided in fulfilment of that action.
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document.
For further information please contact:
English
Nature, Northminster House, Peterborough PE1 1UA
20 pp
ISSN 0967-876X
Please cite as: This report should be quoted as:Laffoley, D. d'A, and Bines T. 2000. Protection and management of nationally important marine habitats and species. Prepared by English Nature based on the views of a sample of the members of the DETR Working Group on the Review of Marine Nature Conservation. Peterborough, English Nature Research Report 390. 20 pp. ISSN 0967-876X