CMS News Archive
The latest edition of marine planning news has come out. It includes update notes on Marine planning workshops in the South marine plan areas, Updates progress on the draft marine plans for the East coast, a tourism study on south coast, Social impacts and values and Evidence-gathering projects.
The MMO have also commissioned a research project to increase our understanding of the social impacts and value of tourism, recreation, aquaculture and fisheries to contribute to the development of the South marine plans and other MMO work
As part of the MMO’s duty to co-operate, and in response to comments received at our recent marine planning workshops, a number of local authorities have suggested that we reinforce the message that the UK Marine Policy Statement (MPS) should be considered alongside the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) when undertaking local planning requirements. “In coastal areas, local planning authorities should take account of the UK Marine Policy Statement and marine plans...” (Paragraph 105, NPPF). Recreation We have commissioned Marine Planning Consultants (MPC) to collate spatial recreational activity data. The project aims to: identify spatial data on marine recreation activity in the South Inshore and South Offshore marine plan areas from Folkestone to the River Dart in Devon and develop tools to help strengthen partnerships with national recreation bodies to aid future data collation at a national scale. For more information on these updates go to:
http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/marineplanning/news/newsletter12.htm
‘The UKTAG is a working group of experts drawn from UK environment agencies and conservation agencies1. It also includes representatives from the Republic of Ireland. The UKTAG develops guidance and makes recommendations to the UK's government administrations on technical aspects of implementation of the Water Framework Directive to help with river basin planning. It operates through a series of technical task teams established for specific subjects including chemicals, marine waters, water resources, groundwater and fresh waters. The UKTAG’s role includes provision of technical advice on appropriate classification tools and classification rules for chemical, biological and physical quality elements and the environmental standards2 for achieving different WFD status and how they may be used for river basin planning. The group also offers advice to the agencies that provide its members. In developing recommendations for environmental standards the UKTAG takes into consideration available scientific and technical or it may commission research into specific areas where the science is not fully understood. In presenting its advice and recommendations to UK’s government administrations, the UKTAG seeks to put proposals for new or revised standards in to context by describing the likely changes in WFD status classification at a UK level or at an individual country level where possible. The UK government administrations consider these implications before deciding whether to adopt the UKTAG’s recommendations for environmental standards.’ To read more go to:
http://www.wfduk.org/stakeholders/stakeholder-review-2012-response-submissions
In a week when Ofgem have highlighted our impending energy challenges The Guardian has lead on the news that ... ‘the government is launching a last-ditch attempt to sign up energy companies to build new nuclear power stations by proposing to sign contracts guaranteeing subsidies for up to 40 years. The coalition agreement reached between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in 2010 promised that nuclear power stations would be built only if the industry got no public subsidy, but costly overruns for new reactors overseas and the exit of several major utilities from the UK programme, most recently Centrica, have driven ministers and officials to backtrack on that pledge and accept they will have to provide financial support. The Guardian has learned that ministers, intent on keeping the guaranteed wholesale cost of each unit of energy below the politically crucial figure of £100 per megawatt hour, are proposing to extend contracts from the 20 years originally envisaged to at least 30 and possibly as long as 40 years.’ The link below has commentary on this news:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/24/nuclear-energy-safer-cleaner-healthier-uk
The Telegraph carried many of the pictures that went to make up this years contributions – there are some stunning images:
The profile of both fisheries policy and the Marine Conservation Zone debate continues to rise. Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall’s programmes on Thursday evenings are making the link between fishing practice and marine protected areas. Whilst George Monbiot has also contributed to this debate lamenting Defra’s performance.
Seaside towns to get a £16 million cash boost for projects from the Coastal Communities Fund.
Seaside towns around the country are receiving a big cash boost for projects that will create thousands of jobs and bring new business opportunities to coastal communities, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles announced today (11 February 2013). Twenty seaside projects in England will receive grants of up to £2.6 million each from the Coastal Communities Fund to use on projects that will deliver almost 4,000 jobs, support 250 new business start-ups and create more than 1,500 apprenticeships and 400 volunteering opportunities. The money will be used for a variety of projects, such as: schemes to provide skills training and advice, rejuvenating old heritage and leisure facilities and helping businesses embrace digital technology; to read more go to:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/job-boosting-fund-for-20-seaside-towns
‘Marsh stated that ‘Project Noah’ was aimed at ensuring home insurance in flood-prone areas was widely available and fairly priced. The broking giant added the project was created in response to rising payouts for flood damage and the approaching end to the Statement of Principles on the provision of flood insurance. It will allow insurers to transfer residential flood risks to the international reinsurance market. According to the participants, Project Noah also identifies and calculates the flood risk of every residential property in the UK which will enable investment in flood defences to be more effectively targeted. The project has been tested with insurers and will launch in mid-2012. Hutton Swinglehurst, head of flood risk for Marsh UK, said: “The provision of cost-effective home insurance for homes in areas exposed to flooding is a major challenge for the UK’s insurance industry. “We have tested Project Noah with some of the UK’s largest insurers, as well as leading global reinsurers, who believe that this state-of-the-art model provides an innovative solution to an intractable problem.” He continued: “For many years, insurers have been wanting to compete for the business of consumers who would otherwise be attractive were it not for the flood risk to their homes. Project Noah will allow them to do so.” Donald Macdonald, head of UK property at Guy Carpenter, said the project would create a “virtuous circle” as increasing numbers of companies getting involved in the pool would make risks more predictable which would in turn bring down prices.’
‘An alignment between the Environment Agency and Natural England will be needed at the very least, says the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), because effective environmental stewardship is needed now more than ever. Responding to Defra's Triennial Review of the Environment Agency and Natural England, CIWEM called first for a clear definition of function and governance between the two bodies before any merger is considered. “This will dictate the skills that are required within in a single body or in aligned bodies. The review should focus on outcomes and whether these will be better achieved by a single body, or by aligned bodies pursuing clearly defined policies and outcome targets.” In its response, CIWEM stressed the need to further facilitate effective partnerships to help deliver the environmental improvements that are required in the coming years. CIWEM also urged Defra to rethink its focus on growing the economy, which should not be one of its primary roles.’ To read more ...
Ocean 2012: ‘For decades, the European Union has failed to prevent overfishing but today, in an historic vote, an overwhelming majority, 502 vs. 137 members of the European Parliament called for the restoration of fish stocks by 2020. Going much further than the Fisheries Council, the European Parliament voted to set an early date to end overfishing and to set a clear target to rebuild depleted fish stocks. They also supported strict capacity assessments in line with the EU’s international commitments and financial aid to be conditional on compliance with the rules. Lastly, they supported the proposal to reward fishermen who fish in more environmentally and socially sustainable ways with priority access to the resource.
“An overwhelming number of members of the European Parliament from all political groups made history today, by voting to reverse decades of overfishing by the EU and by setting ambitious targets for the restoration of fish stocks,” said Uta Bellion of OCEAN2012 and The Pew Charitable Trusts.
“The vote sends a very clear message to EU fisheries ministers that in the upcoming negotiations with the Parliament on the Common Fisheries Policy reform, they will have to consider ending EU overfishing earlier than they would like to.”
http://ocean2012.eu/press_releases/100-european-parliament-votes-to-rebuild-europe
The Forestry and Woodlands Policy Statement incorporates the Government’s Response to the Independent Panel on Forestry’s Final Report. It acknowledges the importance of the Panel’s report and confirms that the Government shares its vision for the future of our forests.
It sets out clear priorities for future Government policy-making, focused on protecting, improving and expanding our public and private woodlands. It covers, among other things, the future of the Public Forest Estate, woodland creation and management, the economic development of the forestry sector, community involvement in local woodlands and tree health.
The statement confirms that the Public Forest Estate will remain in public ownership, and announces that a new body will be established to hold the Estate in trust of the nation and manage it for the long-term benefit of people, the economy and the environment.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2013/01/31/pb13871-forestry-policy-statement/
SuDS: The State of the Nation - a national survey and Round Table summit specially commissioned for Engineering Nature's Way by Hydro International. Our aim, to take the pulse of current SuDS implementation and ask: where do we go from here? SuDS: The State of the Nation was conducted in association with CIWEM (Chartered Institute of Water and Environment Management), SBWWI (Society of British Water and Wastewater Industries) and British Water. The Round Table was chaired by Alastair Moseley, Honorary Vice President of CIWEM.
The survey of local authorities preparing for roles as SuDS Approving Bodies in England and Wales delivered some emphatic results available to download in a new report officially published today.
A distinguished panel of drainage experts, local government and industry practitioners joined a Round Table debate hosted by Hydro. They responded to challenges of SuDS implementation highlighted in the report with a positive vision of SuDS for the future.
http://www.engineeringnaturesway.co.uk/resource/suds-the-state-of-the-nation-round-table/
This is the full text of David Cameron's speech at the launch of DECC's energy efficiency mission.
"I want to tell you why I believe energy efficiency is so important. Yes of course it is a vital part of how we cut carbon emissions and continue to meet the ambitious targets set out in the Climate Change Act, which will allow us to meet growing energy demand in a way that protects the environment for our children, grandchildren and generations to come. Of course that is important, but my argument today is not just about doing what is right for our planet, but doing what is right for our economy too.
Because make no mistake we are in a global race and the countries that succeed in that race, the economies in Europe that will prosper, are those that are the greenest and the most energy efficient.
Let me be clear why that is. Energy consumption is set to grow by a third over the next two decades alone. And in a race for limited resources it is the energy efficient that will win that race.
It is the businesses that are best insulated from energy price shocks who will be the most successful, it is the consumers who are the least vulnerable to energy prices whose household bills will be the lowest and who can be the most confident about their future. And yes, it is the countries that prioritise green energy that will secure the biggest share of jobs and growth in a global low carbon sector set to be worth $4tr by 2015.
So to those who say we just can't afford to prioritise green energy right now, my view is we can't afford not to. To read the rest of the speech, go to....
http://www.link2portal.com/david-camerons-speech-green-economy
A Demonstration Test Catchment project new policy and practice note from explains the important role that the DTCs are playing in addressing water pollution. The Demonstration Test Catchments have been set up to evaluate whether water pollution can be reduced through farming practice and agricultural land measures while maintaining farming productivity and profitability. This brief note looks at how problems vary across the three catchments and what solutions are being trialed by the research teams. Copies are available from anne.liddon@ncl.ac.uk or on line below.
We are continuing to receive reports of seabirds covered in a sticky wax-like substance being sighted off, or washed up on the South and South West coasts of England. The situation is still far from clear, but here is what we know so far: What is the sticky substance, and where has it come from?
Results from the sampling by the Environment Agency show the pollutant is a refined mineral based oil mixture, but not from an animal or vegetable origin. This definitely rules out palm oil. Stan Woznicki, the MCA’s Head of Counter Pollution, said: “We have not received any specific reports of pollution within the English Channel area, but today we sent one of our counter pollution surveillance aircraft to investigate. It covered the sea areas between Dover and the Isles of Scilly, but no pollution was detected. “Initial analysis indicates that the contaminant is a refined mineral oil and further analysis results are awaited." The source remains a mystery – no shipping incidents have been reported, and there have been no sightings of any surface slicks. As birds have been washed up along a significant length of coastline, it seems likely the source is/was far out to sea. To read more
Marine Minerals Limited (MML) have applied to the to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), the planning authority for marine issues, to seabed mine (dredge) for tin on the north Coast of Cornwall between St Ives and Perranporth, within 200 metres of the shoreline. Cornish company Marine Minerals wants to dig up sand from around the north coast of Cornwall to extract valuable tin. The tin has been washed out from old mines around the coast and is now in high demand for manufacturing in the Far East to make electronic goods like mobile phones. The North Coast Protection Association (NCPA) believe that this project will result in a net economic loss, and seriously damage marine habitats. The environmental scoping report is now available to view on the MMO public register at the link below. The scoping document is part of the pre-application process and will therefore not result in the issuing of a marine licence at this stage.
Marine Minerals Ltd is currently developing a project to extract tin from sand in near-shore areas off the north Cornwall coast between St Ives and Perranporth.
This project is currently in the pre-application stage, which will not result in the issuing of a marine licence. The MMO have received a joint screening request and scoping report from the applicant, this forms part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. The scoping report can be viewed on the online public register (reference MLP/2012/00308) see link below . Any comments that we have received relating to the scoping report will be passed on to the applicant.
Should Marine Minerals Ltd choose to make a full application to the MMO, the members of the public will be given an opportunity to comment on the application. It will be made available on the MMO’s public register and advertised in local newspapers. In the meantime, the MMO will keep this page updated with any significant news relating to this project.
The application process is explained in more detail in the marine licensing section at http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/licensing/marine/process.htm
Further information on Environmental Impact Assessments, including details of the Scoping process, are available at http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/licensing/documents/guidance/08.pdf
https://marinelicensing.marinemanagement.org.uk/mmo/fox/live/MMO_PUBLIC_REGISTER/
Nicholas Stern author of the 2006 review speaks out on danger to economies as planet absorbs less carbon and is 'on track' for 4C rise. Lord Stern, author of the government-commissioned review on climate change that became the reference work for politicians and green campaigners, now says he underestimated the risks, and should have been more "blunt" about the threat posed to the economy by rising temperatures. In an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Stern, who is now a crossbench peer, said: "Looking back, I underestimated the risks. The planet and the atmosphere seem to be absorbing less carbon than we expected, and emissions are rising pretty strongly. Some of the effects are coming through more quickly than we thought then." The Stern review, published in 2006, pointed to a 75% chance that global temperatures would rise by between two and three degrees above the long-term average; he now believes we are "on track for something like four ". Had he known the way the situation would evolve, he says, "I think I would have been a bit more blunt. I would have been much more strong about the risks of a four- or five-degree rise."He said some countries, including China, had now started to grasp the seriousness of the risks, but governments should now act forcefully to shift their economies towards less energy-intensive, more environmentally sustainable technologies. "This is potentially so dangerous that we have to act strongly. Do we want to play Russian roulette with two bullets or one? These risks for many people are existential."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/27/nicholas-stern-climate-change-davos
Customers of water and sewerage and water only companies deserve excellent service at a fair price. As the economic regulator for the water and sewerage sectors in England and Wales, Ofwat want to ensure this is delivered, while at the same time protecting the natural environment.
Ofwat are now consulting on how they will set the price and service package (‘price controls’) that the monopoly water and sewerage and water only companies must deliver for each of the five years from 2015 to 2020. A key feature of our proposals is, for the first time, to set separate price controls for: retail water and sewerage services to household customers, retail water and sewerage services to non-household (business) customers, wholesale water services and wholesale sewerage services.
By setting these distinct controls, we can target our regulation on the different activities that companies carry out. This is essential if we are to keep prices down, while encouraging innovation and sustainable solutions to manage this valuable and precious resource.
http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/pricereview/pr14/pr14publications/prs_web201301framework
After years of being a popular sustainable choice, mackerel should no longer be appearing so regularly on your dinner plate. The oily fish, which is packed with Omega 3, has been removed from the MCSs latest Fish to Eat list and is now rated by the charity as a fish to eat only occasionally.
The change in fortunes for the species is the result of overfishing of the stock and the subsequent suspension of the north east Atlantic stock’s Marine Stewardship Council certification, meaning it is no longer considered a sustainable fishery. The evidence which has led to mackerel dropping from the MCS Fish to Eat list to the Think list (don’t stop eating it, but eat it less frequently), comes from the most current scientific information available from ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea). It’s this evidence (link to methodology) that MCS uses to compile it’s Fish lists which ensures consumers get the clearest information they can from advice available. MCS Fisheries Officer, Bernadette Clarke, says numbers of mackerel have increasingly been found further north west in the Atlantic. “The stock has moved into Icelandic and Faroese waters, probably following their prey of small fish, crustaceans and squid. As a result both countries have begun to fish more mackerel than was previously agreed. The total catch is now far in excess of what has been scientifically recommended and previously agreed upon by all participating countries. Negotiations to introduce new catch allowances have so far failed to reach agreement.”
European member states have approved a €10bn capital increase into the European Investment Bank which will help enable a number of energy and environmental projects. Amongst the projects expected to benefit is the construction of an integrated offshore electricity grid in the North Sea, the Irish Sea, the English Channel, the Baltic Sea and neighbouring waters. This will transport electricity from wind farms and other offshore renewable energy sources to centres of consumption and storage, and increase cross-border electricity exchange and security. This and other projects are part-financed by "Project Bonds"; credit enhancement in the form of private debt issued by the sponsors of a project, whose risk is backed by the European Investment Bank and the EU, including an upfront capped contribution from the EU budget. The extra funding for the EIB will allow it to provide over €60bn in total over a three-year period for many more economic revival projects across the European Union.
The World Economic Forum has published Global Risks 2013: an annual publication that identifies and quantifies 50 risks to Global security. It covers five sectors Economic, Environmental, Geopolitical, Societal, and Technological. Water Supply is identified as the highest Societal risk and second overall. It is ranked 4th in "Likelihood" and 2nd in "Impact". For every risk that has been identified the publication illustrates how that risk has changed since 2011. Whilst "Water supply crises" has reduced fractionally since then, it is still the highest Societal risk by some clear margin. The only risk that is ranked higher is within the Economic sector - "Major systemic financial failure" .
News Feed
