People living in and around the Falmouth area who use the sea for work or pleasure are being encouraged to take part in the most comprehensive survey of marine activity ever undertaken in the south-west.
The Finding Sanctuary project is a partnership project between South West Food and Drink, the South West Wildlife Trusts, RSPB, National Trust, Natural England, JNCC and the County Councils of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, The project aims to map the usage of our waters as part of a move to create Marine Conservation Zones to help ensure a healthy and productive future for the region’s coasts and seas. Britain’s first and only Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) was designated earlier this month in the seas off Lundy Island. Further MCZs are to be designated in 2012.
Anyone who wants to know more about the project or has comments to make is invited to a Drop-in Day being held in Falmouth on Wednesday 27th January from 10am – 8pm at the National Maritime Museum, Discovery Quay, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3QY.
Former fisherman Spike Searle who is the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly liaison officer for Finding Sanctuary said; “I would encourage as many people as possible who use the sea - whether it’s commercially or for leisure interests - to share their information and observations from around the Cornish coastline. This will ensure that local people have a say in the important planning of the new Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs).”
As well as collating information from the region’s sea users, Finding Sanctuary is working with the local Cornwall Marine Protected Area (MPA) Group to ensure that Marine Conservation Zones are created with full local participation. The Cornwall MPA Group is represented on the regional Finding Sanctuary Steering Group which includes representatives from all south-west counties and a wide range of marine sectors. It is this Steering Group that will make recommendations for Marine Conservation Zones to the Government.
The Finding Sanctuary project’s research will be used by the Steering Group to decide where Marine Conservation Zones should be placed, so that they do not unnecessarily impact how people use the sea. New Marine Conservation Zones will be formally designated by the Secretary of State for the Environment in 2012 and will help the Government fulfil its national and international commitments to create an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas.
Anyone who wishes to contribute to The Finding Sanctuary project should contact Spike Searle for more information, on 07815 942420 or by email
For further information about the Drop-in Day please contact Joana Smith, on 01392 878328, 07968 434108 or by email.
