Consultation display
Inquiry into the management of marine protected areas in Wales
- This consultation has completed. It ran from Friday, 16 December 2016 to Friday, 10 February 2017
- View the background to this consultation
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Response to the consultation
Evidence submitted in response to this Consultation
- MPAW 01 Individual - Bill (William) Glyn Miller-Jones PDF 55 KB View as HTML (1) 15 KB
- MPAW 02 New Economics Foundation (NEF) PDF 671 KB View as HTML (2) 89 KB
- MPAW 03 Individual - Karl Fry PDF 42 KB View as HTML (3) 8 KB
- MPAW 04 Lynda Warren - Aberystwyth University PDF 8 MB
- MPAW 05 North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority PDF 116 KB View as HTML (5) 4 KB
- MPAW 06 Wales Environment Link Marine Working Group PDF 794 KB
- MPAW 07 Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Relevant Authorities Group (RAG) PDF 438 KB View as HTML (7) 66 KB
- MPAW 08 Marinet Limited PDF 358 KB View as HTML (8) 33 KB
- MPAW 09 Ceredigion County Council, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority & Dŵr Cymru PDF 464 KB View as HTML (9) 43 KB
- MPAW 10 Seabed User & Developer Group (SUDG) PDF 287 KB View as HTML (10) 30 KB
- MPAW 11 Individual PDF 583 KB
- MPAW 12 Brian Saunders - Porthcawl Environment Trust PDF 43 KB View as HTML (12) 6 KB
- MPAW 13 Wildlife Trusts Wales PDF 764 KB
- MPAW 14 Pen Llŷn a'r Sarnau PDF 321 KB View as HTML (14) 46 KB
- MPAW 15 European Subsea Cables Association PDF 180 KB View as HTML (15) 30 KB
- MPAW 16 ClientEarth PDF 618 KB
- MPAW 17 Royal Yachting Association & Royal Yachting Association Cymru Wales PDF 315 KB View as HTML (17) 45 KB
- MPAW 18 Welsh Fisherman's Association PDF 352 KB View as HTML (18) 49 KB
- MPAW 18 Additional Information - Welsh Fishermen's Association. PDF 6 MB
- MPAW 19 Pembrokeshire Coast Park Authority & Snowdonia National Park Authority PDF 178 KB View as HTML (20) 30 KB
- MPAW 20 Individual - Blaise Bullimore PDF 407 KB
- MPAW 21 Natural Resources Wales PDF 940 KB View as HTML (22) 153 KB
- MPAW 22 Welsh Relevant Authorities Groups (RAGs) / European Marine Sites Officer Key Achievements PDF 446 KB View as HTML (23) 45 KB
- MPAW 23 Welsh Government PDF 2 MB
Purpose of the consultation
Marine
Protected Area (MPA) is the collective term for all forms of protected nature
conservation sites in the marine and coastal environment. Sites can be
designated under domestic, European and international legislation. MPAs can have
different levels of restriction, for example, No Take Zones where many
activities are prohibited, through to multi-use MPAs where lots of activities
can be allowed if they do not have an adverse impact on the wildlife and
habitats for which the site has been designated. Wales does not have any
No Take Zones, only multi-use MPAs. MPAs are the primary tool to conserve
biodiversity whilst balancing the multi-use nature of the marine environment
through the sustainable management of activities and natural resources.
The
seas around Wales make up over half the area of Wales. There are 128 MPAs
covering over 5500 square miles, or 35% of the Welsh seas and 75% of the
coastline. This includes sites such as Skomer Marine Conservation Zone in
Pembrokeshire that has been an MPA in some form for over 25 years.
In
its inquiry into marine policy in Wales, the Fourth Assembly’s Environment and
Sustainability Committee expressed concern about the level of priority given to
the marine environment by the Welsh Government. Amongst its recommendations,
the management of Marine Protected Areas was highlighted as a priority area for
improvement.
The
Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee called for evidence to
support its inquiry into the management of marine protected areas in Wales.
Objectives for the inquiry
- To assess the management of Welsh marine protected areas with a view to identifying opportunities to maximise the economic, social, environmental and cultural benefits that can be derived from them.
- To understand what the implications of leaving the European Union will be for marine protected areas and to identify any issues that will need to be addressed during the exit process.
Submissions
focussed on the objectives and addressed the following questions:
- Has the management of Welsh seas received sufficient resource and strategic direction to enable sustainable management that supports the well-being of current and future generations?
- How should Area Statements, to be developed by Natural Resources Wales, cover Welsh seas?
- (For example should the sea adjoining each welsh Local Authority be included in its Area Statement, or should the marine environment be considered separately in one or more marine Area Statements?)
- How well are Wales’ MPAs currently being managed?
- (This can include aspects such as the condition of sites, staffing to deliver management, surveillance and enforcement activities and the data on the extent of activities taking place in MPAs)
- What are the key issues affecting the effective management of multi-use MPAs?
- Do existing Welsh MPAs currently provide the right protection for the conservation of Welsh marine biodiversity?
- What lessons can be learnt from current MPA management activity in Wales (including designation, implementation and enforcement)?
- Are there MPA examples or practices elsewhere that Wales can learn from?
- The majority of Wales’ MPAs are designated under the EU Habitats Directive. How should the Welsh Government’s approach to MPA management take account of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union?
- If you had to make one recommendation to the Welsh Government from all the points you have made, what would that recommendation be?
- Do you have any other comments or issues you wish to raise that have not been covered by the specific questions?
Survey
The
Committee has also prepared a survey, which is
available online.
Disclosure
of Information
You can find details about how we will use your information at www.assembly.wales/inquiryprivacy.
Supporting documents
- Countryside Council for Wales - MPA Management in Wales 1 PDF 1 MB
- Countryside Council for Wales - MPA Management in Wales 2 PDF 913 KB
- Protecting Welsh Seas - Survey summary - Management of marine protected areas in Wales PDF 570 KB
Contact details
Should you wish to speak to someone regarding this consultation, please use the below contact details:
Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee
Welsh Parliament
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF99 1SN
Email: Contact@senedd.wales
Telephone: 0300 200 6565