Second tranche of Marine Conservation Zones being considered

by Louise Nicholls on 26 Feb 2014 At a meeting on 24 February, Defra announced the sites which are under consideration for the second tranche (T2) of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in England.

37 sites are being considered for inclusion in T2 which cover both inshore and offshore sites right around the English coast.

Alana Murphy, Planning and Environmental Officer who was present at the meeting said 'This list is just an early indication of those sites that might be in the public consultation for the second tranche due to take place early next year, with designation planned to take place by the end of 2015'.

Defra is currently gathering further evidence on the proposed sites and during the year will consult with the different sectors, including the recreational boating sector, on management measures. Defra plans to include an indication of what the management measures could be and what activities could be restricted in the public consultation.

'We are pleased that Defra is applying the lessons learned from the first tranche of MCZs and including the management measures in the consultation.

'However, several of the inshore sites included on this list may be of concern to the RYA, depending on the proposed management measures. We will now be working with RYA members and clubs to review all the evidence we originally submitted in 2012 and will discuss these concerns with Defra,' concludes Alana.

The first tranche (T1) of 27 MCZs were designated in November 2013 and consideration of management measures for these zones is currently underway.

Sites under consideration for the second tranche of MCZs

1.Coquet to St Mary’s 3.Fulmar 5.Compass Rose 7.Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds 9.Dover to Deal 11.Offshore Brighton 13.Utopia 15.Norris to Ryde 17.The Needles 19.Western Channel 21.Lands End 23.Great Haig Fras 25.Hartland Point to Tintagel 27.North of Lundy 29.Celtic Deep 31.Mid St George’s Channel 33.Slieve Na Griddle 35.West of Walney 37.Allonby Bay

2.Farnes East 4.Runswick Bay 6.Holderness Inshore 8.The Swale Estuary 10.Dover to Folkestone 12.Offshore Overfalls 14.Bembridge 16.Yarmouth to Cowes 18.Studland Bay 20.Mounts Bay 22.North-West of Jones Bank 24.Newquay and The Gannel 26.Bideford to Foreland Point 28.South of Celtic Deep 30.East of Celtic Deep 32.North St George’s Channel 34.South Rigg 36.Mud Hole

 

You can read more information on MCZs and the RYA’s position at www.rya.org.uk/go/currentaffairs.