Working with Natural England

Alan Law, Marine Director, Natural England

Overview

• Our relationship with the shellfisheries sector

• Natural England’s role

– Context to our work

– Marine conservation picture

– Defra approach to managing fisheries

• Way forward

Natural England: perceptions of us

Some people have the perception that Natural England is

Remote, specialised?

Detached from practical realities of business?

Opposed to development?

Uses legislation and evidence as obstacles?

This is the exception not the norm but we want to work together with industry to address these concerns and improve the relationship.

Who we are and what we do

Statutory advisors on landscape and biodiversity

o Deploying evidence

o Remit to 12 nm

Act as Defra delivery body – licensing or designations

o Not the policy maker or regulator

An enabler/finder of solutions

o Advise regulators

o Understand relevant industries

Developments in Marine conservation

• European and UK designations – part of MSFD

– SACs, SPAs, MCZs, SSSIs.........

• Designations require advice on management and activity

– Both current activity and future or planned activities

• Designations create need for evidence

– Both to designate and to monitor condition

• Growth agenda – offshore renewables and Aquaculture

– The environment an obstacle or an essential basis?

6

MPAs - European Marine sites

MCZs

31 proposed for designation in first tranche out of 127 recommended sites

Natural England – marine work

• Assimilating and improving the evidence base to enable Defra to make designation decisions

• Reporting on the conservation status of marine features

• Developing advice packages for industry and regulators

– Helping to secure consents

• Advising on new plans and developments

• Advising on implementing Defra’s approach to fishery management

Defra approach to Management of Fisheries in European Marine Sites

• Commercial fisheries in European Marine Sites need to conserve, and comply with legal obligations under EU Directives.

• Existing local fisheries measures will not be re-visited if already compliant with the Habitats Regulations.

• Fishing industry representatives are engaged in the process to design and implement the approach.

• Approach is risk prioritised, phased, uses an evidence based Matrix.

• IFCAs and MMO lead implementation, with support from NE

Implications of revised approach

• For activities classified as red in this matrix Defra’s expectation is that (where required) additional measures will be developed by December 2013; The red classification only applies to certain types of commercial fishing practice occurring on highly sensitive habitats.

• For activities classified as Amber or Green a further site specific assessment by the IFCAs/MMO will be carried out which will determine whether or not additional measures are needed – to be done by 2016.

• For activities classified as Blue, there is no interaction so no further action required.

What is Natural England doing?

• Providing data to IFCAs and MMO to identify red-features

o help them be specific in measures they develop.

• Provide advice on key issues

o use of buffer areas

o being proportionate on precautionary decisions.

• Help build the evidence base for amber and green assessments to be carried out from 2013-16.

• Work with industry and regulators to develop assessment methods.

What does this approach mean to aquaculture and shellfisheries?

• Amber/green shellfishery and aquaculture activities will need to be assessed

• We recognise that this is a significant area of work and we want to work with the SAGB to develop and deliver the solutions.

• Much engagement already over ‘Appropriate Assessments’

– some very good practice

• This will include developing assessment protocols, projects, and commissioning new evidence

Way Forward

• Enhanced partnership working between SAGB and NE

• Secondment of Rob Whiteley into the SAGB

• Rob had 3 years working with fisheries in our Irish Sea Team, now working for Natural England’s national fisheries team

• Starting June 2013

SAGB/NE secondment: outcomes sought

• Review and revision of the NE/SAGB MoU

• Develop guidance on the legislative process:

• Build links between regulators and industry on Pacific oysters

• Develop links between NE staff and aquaculture practitioners

• Data collection with industry, especially around Defra’s approach to fisheries in European Marine Sites

• Open communication channels – work together

Questions?