MARINE PARKS BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME A global idea that could work for Britain A conference at the National Marine Aquarium Plymouth | June 2018 Executive Summary In June 2018, Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE) and Plymouth benefits. There is much to be gained from branding City Council organised a conference at the National Marine and celebrating the diversity of our marine and coastal Aquarium to explore the idea of Marine Parks. The proposition ecosystems. discussed was that Marine Parks could improve the conservation of the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural The conference heard from several speakers that Plymouth heritage of the UK’s coastal waters and create more Sound and its nearby waters are an ideal testbed for a marine opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the park. It was agreed that by connecting and weaving together special qualities of outstanding marine areas by the public. pre-existing designations and uses, a National Marine Park in Plymouth Sound could improve the delivery of a range of The 130 delegates heard first-hand experience and public interest and conservation objectives. perspectives from around the world and from the length and breadth of the UK coast. A consensus was then reached: Global experience suggests that public interest and cross Marine Parks could be used to better protect coastal waters party support is essential for the creation of marine parks. as public assets while bringing shared prosperity, broader Plymouth would appear to fulfil these conditions: there is an public engagement and regeneration of deprived coastal interested, Labour-controlled council, led by Tudor Evans, communities. OBE, and cross-party political support for exploring the idea of a marine park in Plymouth Sound from both Luke So what is a marine park? A marine park, as envisaged by the Pollard, the Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, conference, is a multi-use space - an umbrella designation and from Michael Gove, the Conservative Environment that draws together pre-existing, valuable designations Secretary. There is a high-conservation-value environment, such as marine conservation zones, alongside commercial maritime heritage, varied marine stakeholders and a diverse and recreational uses of the marine space. city of over 250,000 people. Plymouth has an opportunity to become the example that others follow. The Marine Parks designation uses the power of narrative and better public understanding to derive wider benefits from a fragmented marine landscape: with the whole being more valuable than the sum of its existing parts. “The sea is in Plymouth’s DNA... I would like to be the first leader of any However, there cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach to city anywhere in the UK that has a marine parks. This is a designation that should be considered national park to its north, a river and on a case-by-case basis, and driven by the needs of local a country park to its east and west communities, reflecting community priorities and delivering and a national marine park to its locally-appropriate social, economic and environmental south.” Tudor Evans OBE 1 2 Marine Parks Marine Parks Conference Report Conference Report Conference Proceedings event: highlighting how the idea of Plymouth drive to help tackle marine environmental Prof Atrill then posed some questions that Sound as a UK Marine Park had been part issues such as plastic pollution. would need to be answered to determine a of the platform for his election in 2017, and a clear vision for UK marine parks. Chairman’s Opening Remarks & concrete manifesto promise. National Marine Park or Marine National Address from Luke Pollard MP “The reaction from Plymouth marine Park? sites and the wider community has been These two similar terminologies come Professor Martin Attrill, from Plymouth incredible… the enthusiasm has been with distinct legal implications. The University Marine Institute, welcomed amazing” creation of a ‘Marine National Park’ means guests to Britain’s ‘Ocean City’, and to the working within, and adding to, the existing National Marine Aquarium. He framed the He commented that the response to the framework. The first option - the ‘National day ahead as a ‘discussion of the concept’ idea from the local community has been Marine Park’ - would mean creating an of a UK National Marine Park, and a chance ‘incredible’ - with support and enthusiasm entirely new framework. to come to some conclusions as to how the from a range of industries, including the idea could be moved forwards. catching sector and local engineering Are marine parks about direct conservation firms. He spoke of a ‘strong, comprehensive policy? and compelling case’ for the existence of The development of a marine park could He concluded by noting that he hoped to national marine parks, but raised a number deliver a statement that the seas are as publish outline proposals for what a National of questions it was hoped the conference important to the UK as our land. Existing Marine Park in Plymouth could do, and how gathering could begin to answer: UK National Parks cover just 9% of our land it could connect with the public, later in the area, and only 4% of our total land plus year (2018). He hoped for this to be delivered • How do we get the right legislation in the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). on a cross-party and cross-industry basis. place? However, overseas we are creating huge • What would it mean for local fishery areas that could be called ‘marine parks’ “Let’s make real the Government’s talk authorities - the Inshore Fisheries - large areas around overseas territories, about blue-belts” Conservation Authorities (IFCAs), for often designated as no-take zones. example? • What would it mean for existing Setting the Scene “Overseas the UK is creating huge areas conservation designations in the area? that could be called ‘marine parks’, with no He provided delegates with a vision to • How can we make this a ‘plain English’ way Prof Attrill pointed out to the conference equivalent scale in our domestic waters” consider: of communicating marine conservation, that this was a timely discussion: Secretary that can connect with the local public? of State for Environment, Food and Rural In our domestic waters, we have no “A Marine Park is a specially recognised Affairs, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, has recently equivalent-scale designations. If all current coastal or marine space, important for its “How can we communicate this idea in announced a review of UK national parks and proposed Marine Conservation Zones environment and community health and plain English?” policy. Mr Gove’s adviser, Julian Glover, said are combined, this represents a coverage well-being.” the conference was of “central relevance” to of 11% of our waters. No-take zones within Pollard spoke of the huge public enthusiasm his review and is looking forward to reading this amount to just 7 kilometres squared, a Local Member of Parliament, Luke Pollard for marine conservation seen in the wake its conclusions. Prof Attrill noted that 90% of similar size to Richmond Park in London. MP, provided an address to the conference of impactful television series such as Blue the public say national parks are important via video. He thanked attendees for Planet II, and the need to capture that energy to them. participating and provided context for the in proposals that connect with people’s 3 4 Marine Parks Marine Parks Conference Report Conference Report “The public aren’t aware of the exciting noting that commercial fishing is hugely of a keen scuba diver, Hiscock pointed to and diverse marine life to be found around culturally valuable, but may not represent the variety of wreck dives in the area, to the the UK” as significant an economic activity as submerged river gorge at Firestone Bay, and other marine uses. Brands can benefit to the ‘incredibly tropical’ and rare coral life Are marine parks all about public sales and quality of goods, and it may be to be found at the Plymouth Sound drop-off. engagement? worth considering the value of a marine Marine conservation terms, and their park brand for Plymouth – he commented, “Plymouth Sound drop-off is a site of associated acronyms - ‘MSFD’, ‘SAC’, ‘MCZ’, “there’s value in a Marine Park brand”. incredibly tropical-looking, rare and ‘SPA’ – can be confusing and a barrier to scarce coral” public engagement. Beyond this, studies Conclusions have shown the general public is not aware Prof Attrill concluded by stating that The commonly used recreational area out of the exciting and diverse marine life to Plymouth would be the perfect place to of Plymouth, which also hosts charter boat be found around the UK. In comparison test the concept of a marine park: the trips, water sports and dive training, extends to other nations, the UK scores low when surrounding waters already have the most 10 nautical miles out to sea, produces a semi- it comes to how impacted people feel by conservation designations of any marine circular area covering Plymouth Sound and Professor Callum Roberts of the University of environmental issues and how much they area. Plymouth could be the first national all current areas designated for different York presented on the UK Marine Protected prioritise an environmentally conscious park to include a city. forms of protection. This was posited as a Area (MPA) network in an international and lifestyle. Public engagement is also about range for a potential marine park. historical context. He noted the historical social inclusivity: research shows that social His remarks were followed by three further abundance of fish in UK waters, stating that groups engaging with existing national scene-setting presentations from Keith Hiscock also underlined the importance in the 1880s UK fishermen were landing five parks do not reflect the diverse make-up Hiscock, the Marine Biological Association, of education and outreach around times more fish, despite a low-tech, low- of our society.