ICZM in the UK : A Stocktake Final Report ICZM in the UK : A Stocktake Final Report March 2004 ICZM in the UK a Stocktake Final 0 SCOPING REPORT Report.doc ICZM in the UK : A Stocktake Final Report Notice This document has been produced by ATKINS solely for the purpose of the project: ICZM in the UK: A Stocktake. It may not be used by any person for any other purpose other than that specified without the express written permission of ATKINS. Any liability arising out of use by a third party of this document for purposes not wholly connected with the above shall be the responsibility of that party who shall indemnify ATKINS against all claims costs damages and losses arising out of such use. Document History JOB NUMBER: 5014129 DOCUMENT REF: 5014129/DG/62/010 Purpose and Revision Originated Checked Reviewed Authorised Date Description 1 March 001 Draft Final Report HR JMcC SG ISH 2004 24 March 002 Final Report HR JMcC SG ISH 2004 i ICZM in the UK : A Stocktake Final Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) is a process which seeks to ‘join up’ the different policies that have an effect on the coast whilst bringing together stakeholders to inform, support, and implement these policies. During the 1990s, the European Commission funded a “Demonstration Programme” on ICZM. This included 35 projects around Europe, (seven in the UK) which were examined to understand the pressures and problems facing coasts. The EU Demonstration Programme identified a wide range of environmental and social issues at the coast such as habitat destruction, loss of fish stocks and biodiversity, pollution, economic decline and social deprivation. Interrelated biological, physical and human issues facing European coastal zones were also investigated and the causes were traced to a number of underlying problems, namely: ¨ a lack of vision related to management at the coast based on a very limited understanding of coastal processes and dynamics and with scientific research and data collection isolated from end-users; ¨ inadequate involvement of the stakeholders in formulating and implementing solutions to coastal problems; ¨ inappropriate and uncoordinated sectoral legislation and policy, often working against the long-term interests of sustainable management of coastal zones; ¨ rigid bureaucratic systems and the lack of coordination between relevant administrative bodies limiting local creativity and adaptability; ¨ local initiatives in sustainable coastal management lacking adequate resources and political support from higher administrative levels. The Demonstration Programme also identified eight key principles for ICZM: ¨ a broad overall perspective; ¨ a long-term perspective; ¨ adaptive management; ¨ local specificity; ¨ working with natural processes; ¨ involving all the parties concerned; ¨ support of relevant administrative bodies; ¨ using a combination of instruments. These results provided the basis for a European Parliament and Council Recommendation concerning ICZM which was adopted by the fifteen Member States of the EU in 2002. The Recommendation proposed that Member States should conduct a national stocktake to analyse which actors, laws and institutions influence the planning and management of their coastal zones. Based on the evidence gathered by the stocktaking, Member States should then develop a national strategy to implement ICZM. In March 2003, the UK Government commissioned Atkins to carry out a stocktake of the current framework for management of the coastal zone in the UK. This, the final report of the project, is a contribution to the developing ICZM programme for the UK and the national strategies for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are due to be completed by 2006. ii ICZM in the UK : A Stocktake Final Report The findings are based on research carried out since April 2003 using questionnaires, interviews, workshops, expert panels and case study reports. These methods were used to gather the views of coastal practitioners on the situation in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole. Reference has also been made to the considerable body of existing information gathered by the EU Demonstration Programme on ICZM and other surveys, research, and coastal projects that have taken place around UK during the last decade. The main issues are illustrated in the report using examples that show what is happening on the ground. The UK Coastline More than 19,000km long, the UK coastline is an environment of considerable contrast, dynamism, and inspiration. The coastal land, estuaries, and inshore waters of the UK are rich in natural resources and wildlife. They support a large proportion of the population and a great variety of economic activity as well as a range of leisure and recreation interests. The special nature of the coast lies in the fact that it is the transition zone between land and sea. This interface where land, sea and air meet is a highly dynamic environment where the biological, chemical and physical attributes change continuously and sometimes dramatically, altering the profile of the shoreline. The coast also includes highly productive and biologically diverse ecosystems with features that serve as critical natural defences against storms, flooding and erosion. Decision-makers concerned with the planning and management of this zone have to reconcile potentially competing activities and interests such as: ¨ facilitating economic development; ¨ meeting the demands of tourism and recreation; ¨ protecting areas of scenic, geological or ecological importance; ¨ protecting vulnerable communities against the effects of erosion and flooding. The Coastal Management Framework in the UK Historically, coastal management policies and decisions in the UK have been made with reference to individual sectoral interests such as transport, environment, economic growth or waste management. The framework currently in place reflects the sectoral nature of managing coastal issues in the UK and, like many other European nations, the framework is not representative of true ICZM principles as set out by the European Commission. At the present time local non-regulatory actions are much closer to these principles and aspirations. Key government departments which have an interest in coastal management include: ¨ Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (in sustainable development, environment protection, wildlife conservation, coastal defence, fisheries and water quality); ¨ Department of Trade and Industry (offshore oil and gas and offshore renewable energy); ¨ Department for Transport (ports, harbours and shipping); ¨ Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (land-use planning and aggregate extraction); ¨ Ministry of Defence. Many policies are also the responsibility of the devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales whose remits extend to 12 miles offshore (beyond which powers are reserved to the UK Government). A number of executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies have varying levels of jurisdiction over the regulation and management of the coast including: iii ICZM in the UK : A Stocktake Final Report ¨ English Nature; ¨ Countryside Agency ¨ Countryside Council for Wales; ¨ Environment Agency (covering England and Wales); ¨ Sea Fisheries Committees (England and Wales); ¨ Environment and Heritage Service (Northern Ireland); ¨ Scottish Natural Heritage; ¨ Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Local government is also a key player and, in the UK, is a mix of District, Borough and Island Councils, County Councils, and Unitary Authorities. In general, local authority jurisdiction extends down to the mean low water mark. However, different situations are likely to apply in estuaries, bays and inlets. Local authorities can have local Acts of Parliament or make local byelaws to extend their statutory functions seaward (generally associated with health and safety for the management of tourism and recreation). In Scotland, local authority jurisdiction extends further down the foreshore than elsewhere in the UK as the 1982 Civic Government (Scotland) Act allows local authorities to make bye-laws restricting recreational activity on seashores or adjacent waters up to 1km offshore. The 2003 Water Environment and Water Services Act extends local authorities’ planning control of aquaculture developments in the marine environment up to 3 miles offshore. Harbour authorities generally have their own powers laid down in a private Act of Parliament or in a harbour empowerment or revision order. But substantial areas of harbours fall within the jurisdiction of local planning authorities and are therefore subject to planning control. Above mean low water, the land-use planning system is the dominant mechanism for development control and this is operated through various components and supporting instruments such as structure plans, local development frameworks and local bye-law making powers. The land-use planning system is based on an applications procedure to the local planning authority who determine what action should be taken with reference to the statutory development plans and associated government guidance. Below mean low water, the planning framework is more sectoral, with separate systems for the regulation of particular types of development. Here government departments are the principal decision-makers through various license and consents procedures. Ownership of the foreshore and seabed below low water mark is generally held by