One of the first steps the Government has taken under the
Marine and Coastal Access Act is the creation of an independent
Science Advisory Panel to assist the work to select Marine
Conservation Zones (MCZ).
Dr Peter Ryder has been appointed as Chairman, and he is joined
by a Panel of world-leading marine experts. A physicist who has
worked primarily in the fields of operational meteorology and
oceanography, Dr Ryder is a former Deputy Chief Executive and
Director of Operations of the Met Office, where he spent most of
his career. He has extensive experience in chairing executive and
advisory committees.
Dr Ryder said “I am delighted to have been appointed as chairman
of this Panel by the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, and I am
strongly motivated to make a success of our collective efforts. We
are privileged to be able to help construct and promote strong
scientific foundations for an effective network of Marine Protected
Areas.”
Defra is working with the statutory nature conservation bodies,
Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC),
to establish Marine Conservation Zones to contribute to a network
of Marine Protected Areas.
John Goold, Marine Director for JNCC, welcomed the announcement
“The establishment of the Science Advisory Panel will help to
ensure that the potential Marine Conservation Zones identified
through the stakeholder-led process meet the ecological criteria
required to guarantee the protection of our seas. We are encouraged
to have such a strong list of panel members with such a broad range
of scientific expertise.”
Four regional projects led by local people with an interest in
the use of our seas have been set up to select potential MCZ sites.
Finding Sanctuary in the South West was the first of the regional
projects to be established.
Tom Hooper of Finding Sanctuary said: “Having a strong and
experienced Chairman for the Science Advisory Panel is a really
significant step forward for Finding Sanctuary and the regional
Marine Conservation Zone projects. I hope the Panel will soon forge
a strong working relationship with our Stakeholder Groups to help
guide our work to develop a coherent and scientifically robust
outcome for England’s Marine Conservation Zones.”
The Marine Conservation Zone Science Advisory Panel is an
independent body which has been established to support the four
regional projects in the MCZ selection process by offering
objective scientific assessment of site proposals, and independent
advice to Ministers. Panel members have been drawn from a diverse
range of marine scientific disciplines in order to ensure a
balanced and comprehensive skill set.
The Panel members are:
PROFESSOR JULIET BRODIE (Natural History
Museum, London)
Professor Brodie is a marine algae specialist, and she has
extensive knowledge of the taxonomy, distribution and importance of
algae and the activities which impact upon it. She has over 25
years experience as a marine scientist, and her work has included
the identification of sites of importance for seaweed and other
algae.
PROFESSOR MICHAEL ELLIOTT (University of
Hull)
Specialising in estuary and coastal science and
management, Professor Elliott has worked for 35 years as a
marine scientist. He has been involved in many initiatives in the
marine field both in the UK and elsewhere during this time,
providing advice to many organisations, agencies and government
departments, particularly regarding the environmental effects of
coastal and estuarine activities and the management of those
impacts.
DR. JASON HALL-SPENCER (University of
Plymouth)
Dr Hall-Spencer is a lecturer in marine biology at the
University of Plymouth, with a strong track record in providing
input to the selection of MPAs, particularly in areas beyond 12
nautical miles from the coast. He also has personal experience of
working on fishing vessels throughout Europe and a history of
working within coastal communities.
DR. KEITH HISCOCK (Marine Biological
Association, Plymouth)
Four decades of marine biological survey and of using science to
support conservation have given Dr Hiscock a wealth of knowledge
relevant to the work of the SAP. After leading programmes within
the nature conservation agencies, he established the Marine Life
Information Network at the Marine Biological Association in 1998
and is now an Associate Fellow there.
PROFESSOR MICHEL KAISER (University of
Bangor)
Professor Kaiser has undertaken world-leading research to
understand human impacts on the marine environment and the
consequences of different management strategies. He has focussed on
sustainable fisheries and aquaculture issues, and has held a number
of influential positions, including chair of Defra’s Marine
Fisheries Stakeholder Forum.
PROFESSOR CALLUM ROBERTS (University of
York)
Professor Roberts is well-recognised as one of the key
scientific contributors to the film The End of the Line. He has
extensive experience in the science and establishment of MPAs and
networks around the world. He is author of The Unnatural
History of the Sea, an account of the effects of 1000 years of
fishing and hunting on marine life. He currently lectures at the
University of York.
DR. BETH SCOTT (University of Aberdeen)
Dr. Scott’s academic career as a marine ecologist includes
several years working onboard fishing vessels in Alaskan
waters. Her research focuses on functional linkages
between bio-physical oceanographic processes, flexible life history
traits and population dynamics of fish and seabird species.
Her work is helping to identify critical marine habitats
where predators and prey species interact.
PROFESSOR GRAHAM UNDERWOOD (University of
Essex)
Professor Underwood has research experience across a range of
disciplines within the marine area, and he specialises in estuarine
and coastal systems, especially the ecology and functioning of
mudflats, sandflats and salt marshes. He is also a regular
contributor to BBC Radio 4’s environment programme Home Planet.
Notes
1. The Marine Conservation Zone Project has been established by
Defra, Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee
to identify and recommend Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) to
Government. The Marine Conservation Zone Project will be delivered
through four regional MCZ projects -covering the south-west
(Finding Sanctuary), Irish Sea (Irish Sea Conservation Zones),
North Sea (Net Gain) and south-east (Balanced Seas). These regional
MCZ projects will work with sea users and interest groups to
identify MCZs and provide recommendations for sites within their
regions to Government.
2. Further information on the Marine Conservation Zone Project
is available on www.jncc.gov.uk/marineprotectedsites