Marine Strategy Framework Directive Consultation: UK Initial Assessment and proposals for Good Environmental Status
Consultation Start: 27 March 2012
Consultation End: 18 June 2012
For the UK, the directive is part of a package of policies, united by
our vision for ‘clean, healthy, safe, productive, and biologically
diverse oceans and seas’. The directive’s aims are consistent with this
vision and current policies, such as the implementation of the Marine
and Coastal Access Act, and the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy
will play a major role in helping us achieve Good Environmental Status
(GES).
The directive is very wide-ranging and sets out eleven
descriptors of GES relating to biological diversity, non-indigenous
species introductions, commercially exploited fish and shellfish
populations, food webs, human-induced eutrophication, sea floor
integrity, hydrographical conditions, concentrations of contaminants,
contaminants in fish and other seafood, litter, and noise.
Further Information
Find more information on the MSFD including consultation Q&A and factsheets from the link:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/03/27/marine-strategy-framework-1203/
Consultation Start: 27 March 2012
Consultation End: 18 June 2012
For the UK, the directive is part of a package of policies, united by
our vision for ‘clean, healthy, safe, productive, and biologically
diverse oceans and seas’. The directive’s aims are consistent with this
vision and current policies, such as the implementation of the Marine
and Coastal Access Act, and the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy
will play a major role in helping us achieve Good Environmental Status
(GES).
The directive is very wide-ranging and sets out eleven descriptors of
GES relating to biological diversity, non-indigenous species
introductions, commercially exploited fish and shellfish populations,
food webs, human-induced eutrophication, sea floor integrity,
hydrographical conditions, concentrations of contaminants, contaminants
in fish and other seafood, litter, and noise.
Further Information
Find more information on the MSFD including consultation Q&A and factsheets from the link:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/03/27/marine-strategy-framework-1203/
The Love Your River Campaign
The “Love Your River” campaign launched on 28 March 2012 and is
backed by Defra, the National Trust, the Environment Agency, the
Wildlife Trusts, Keep Britain Tidy, water companies, and Waterwise to
promote the value and benefits of our rivers to our everyday life. The
need to protect our rivers has become more urgent in light of droughts
being declared in various parts of the country, with some of southern
Yorkshire joining the list of drought affected areas today. More
details are available from the link- http://www.defra.gov.uk/loveyourriver/
Tamsin Phipps, the BCU's Government & Public Affairs Manager, was
nominated by the BCU Board to represent our interests and help with the
development and work of the new C&RT and we're pleased to
announcethat her nomination and detailed application were accepted by
the very strict vetting process.
Tamsin will be on the council with 11 other nominated representatives
and elected members of Council along with the 13 Waterways Partnership
Chairs. The first meeting of Council in Birmingham on 28 March 2012.
In future elections the number of elected candidates will increase to
further extend the democratic make-up of Council.
Tony Hales, Chair of the Canal & River Trust, comments: “The Council
will be the guardian of the long-term values and purposes of the Trust
and it will play an important role in helping to shape policy, raising
and debating issues. The range and breadth of experience represented on
the Council is extensive, it will prove a valuable advisory body for
Trustees and management to draw upon.
Council members will serve for a period of four years. All minutes
from Council meetings will be available online. Find out more at: www.waterscape.com/trust.
South West Regional Development Team - Access to Rivers.
March 2012
For many years the South West Region and their Waterways &
Environment Team has looked after the local issues and access
arrangements on the rivers in the region. They have worked hard in
negotiations in circumstances that can be quite demanding.
The Team has provided clarity and certainty of access to some of the
rivers in the area for various times of year through a variety of access
arrangements to include the River Dart.
The River Dart is one of the popular rivers for white water in England.
The river rises high on Dartmoor as the Rivers East and West Dart with
their confluence at Dartmeet. The most used section of is between
Newbridge and Buckfastleigh , and provides much sport. It is a river
where many canoeists first experienced white water on a natural upland
river and continue to do so.
Canoe England is continuing the access arrangement on the Dart to make
some provision for those canoeists requiring a greater certainty of
access at particular times. The arrangement has seen some changes over
time thanks to the work and perseverance of the volunteer Waterway
& Environment Team. The need to register before using the river has
been removed and access extended into mid March.
Other access arrangements in the South West include the rivers East
Lyn, and Barle. Information is posted on the SW Region website and
linked to the Canoe England website.
Access to the rivers in the south west provides a range of white water
gradings for both coaching and general sport. For the local community
the canoeing activity is recognised as bringing a much needed boost to
the local economy outside the main holiday period.
Helping the Environment – Get involved!
March 2012
From recycling and insulation to greening events and preventing
pollution, there are many ways for a club to start operating more
sustainably - but we recognise that this takes time and effort.
Why go green?
We all like to canoe and kayak on clean seas, lakes and rivers, and so
it’s in all our interests to do what we can to minimise our impact on
the environment. Take a look at just a few of the key benefits for your
club;
• Protecting our environment – we want to enjoy our surroundings when
we go out on the water so we all need to play our part in preventing
pollution or damage.
• Saving Money – saving energy and water, and recycling more can save
hundreds, even thousands of pounds a year. Money that could be better
spent on boats and equipment!
• Complying with environmental legislation – keeps your club on the right side of the law.
• Meeting expectations – many organisations now have environmental
policies and your existing and prospective members may expect you to put
measures in place.
We know that many of you are already working on greening your canoe
clubs and we would like to know what you are doing so we can use the
case studies to show others what can be done as well as to promote our
green credentials.
Please get in touch at: [email protected]
River Medway Clean Up Project
The River Medway Clean Up is a project that has just been brought to
our attention. As part of Go Canoeing Week, to keep the River Medway
looking pristine, clubs, centres, groups and individuals who use the
river are joining with the Environment Agency for a mass clean up on
14th or 15th April 2012.
Sections of the river will be divided up to manageable sections and
arrangements made for easy access, and for spots to place collected
rubbish. Rubbish bags will be provided.
To help make this river a cleaner place please contact Paul Newman,
South East Regional Secretary for more information or just to let him
know you are interested and coming:
[email protected]
or you can visit the link below on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/310300055691462/
Red Tape Challenge - Water and Marine Theme
February 2012
We have received a request from DEFRA to take part in their latest
consultation. Perhaps you too would like to add your comments to this.
From their letter inviting us to take part
“As you may be aware, the ‘Red Tape Challenge’ was launched in April
last year to open up Government regulation to the scrutiny and challenge
of the public, businesses and experts. The Red Tape Challenge website
is being used to gather innovative ideas on how the aims of our
regulations can be fulfilled in the most successful and least burdensome
ways, of over 1200 regulations considered so far, more than 50% will be
scrapped or improved.
The Government is committed to being the greenest government ever.
Protecting and enhancing the natural and marine environment is crucial
to our long-term economic success and quality of life: there is no
intention to reduce environmental protection. However, to support a
sustainable economy we have to make sure that our policies are being
implemented in the most effective way possible.”
For paddlers there are two main areas up for review... "Water and Marine" and "Biodiversity, wildlife management, landscape, countryside and recreation".
DEFRA want to use the Red Tape Challenge to hear your thoughts on how
water and marine regulations are working in practice – what works well,
as well as what does not – and whether there are more effective means of
achieving their policy goals. If you have particular thoughts, for
example on alternatives to regulation, or innovative approaches to
compliance with water and marine measures, this is the opportunity for
you to share them with DEFRA.
DEFRA are looking to all of their stakeholders – the public, businesses,
representative bodies and non-governmental organisations – to tell them
how the regulations are working in practice and what can be done to
improve them. The more specific you can be the better – They want to
make a real difference to how they achieve their objectives.
Please get involved and leave your comments and ideas on the regulations on the website http://www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/home/index/ or send a private submission to the Red Tape Team at [email protected]
We will respond on behalf of Canoe England but please do take some time to wade through this ... your views are important too!
Hampshire Avon Autumn Paddle & the national media