Thanks to the Marine and Coastal Access Bill new Marine Conservation Zones could be coming to your area soon. Four projects have now been set up around England to help divers and other sea users have a voice in deciding where these zones should go, and what activities should be restricted in them. These projects are: Finding Sanctuary in the south-west, Balanced Seas in the south-east, Net Gain for the North Sea and Irish Sea Conservation Zones for the Irish Sea.

If you dive in the south-west Finding Sanctuary is asking you to share your information about which areas of sea are important to you. ‘Why would I want to do that’, you ask yourself?

As a diver you have unrivalled knowledge of sea areas around the south-west and you will probably want to recommend that some sites are protected because they are particularly special to you. In some Marine Conservation Zones, take by recreational users including divers could be restricted. However, by contributing your information and thoughts you are ensuring that your interests can be taken into account during the planning of these new protected areas.

There are two ways you can get involved to have your say:
1. Visit the Interactive Map www.finding-sanctuary.org/page/webGIS
2. Call Finding Sanctuary on 01392 878 340 and arrange to meet your nearest liaison officer who will help you to map the areas which are important to you.

If you dive in other parts of the country get in touch with your nearest project.

South-west
Finding Sanctuary
www.finding-sanctuary.org
Email: info@finding-sanctuary.org
Tel: 01392 878 340

South-east
Balanced Seas
www.balancedseas.org
Email: balancedseas@kent.ac.uk
Tel: 01227 827 839

North Sea
Net Gain
www.netgainmcz.org (website under construction)
Email: dani@yhsg.co.uk
Tel: 01482 382 007

Irish Sea
Irish Sea Conservation Zones
www.irishseaconservation.org.uk
Email: info@irishseaconservation.org.uk
Tel: 01925 813 200

Devon people invited to have their say on new measures to protect sea life

If you are a diver, fisherman, charter boat operator, sea angler, leisure boater or have an interest in marine wildlife, come along to one of the Finding Sanctuary drop-in days:

Ilfracombe
Thursday 26th November 2009, 10am – 8pm
Ilfracombe Yacht Club, The Quay, Ilfracombe, EX34 9EQ

Totnes
Wednesday 2nd December 2009, 10am - 8pm
The Mansion, Fore Street, Totnes, TQ9 5RP

David Murphy, Finding Sanctuary’s liaison officer for Devon said: “We are asking people who use the sea around Devon to come along and find out about how new Marine Conservations Zones (MCZs) could affect their lives.”

“MCZs are being introduced through the Marine and Coastal Access Act and are coming soon. At Finding Sanctuary, we believe that the people and groups that could be affected by the MCZs should be involved in deciding where they are located and how they are managed. We are working on behalf of everyone to achieve the best possible outcome for MCZs, both in terms of conservation and people’s livelihoods and leisure interests. However, we can only achieve this if sea users come and tell us what they think.”

Successful Finding Sanctuary drop-in days have already been held at Looe, Padstow, Exmouth and Newlyn, with further drop-in days currently being planned for Falmouth, Plymouth, Bude, Weymouth and other towns in the south-west.

To find out more call Sarah McLintock on 01392 878 340/07544 590 294, email sarah.mclintock@southwestfoodanddrink.com or look at our website.

If you use the sea in the south-west, we want to hear from you. Come along to one of the Finding Sanctuary drop-in days to find out how new Marine Conservation Zones could affect you and how you can get involved. Dates for the new year are already being added, just come along at any time during the day.

Weymouth Drop-in Day
Monday 11th January 2010, 10am – 7pm
The Gallery, Weymouth Library, Great George Street, Dorset, DT4 8NN

Falmouth Drop-in Day
Wednesday 27th January 2010, 10am - 8pm
National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Discovery Quay, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3QY

A drop-in day in Plymouth is also being planned for January, details to follow soon.

To find out more call Sarah McLintock on 01392 878 340/07544 590294, email her at sarah.mclintock@southwestfoodanddrink.com or look at our website.

Don’t forget, if you can’t make it to one of our drop-in days, you could always map the areas of sea you use on our Interactive Map online. If you use the sea in other parts of England, contact your nearest project: South-east - Balanced Seas, North Sea - Net Gain and Irish Sea - Irish Sea Conservation Zones. If you are not sure which regional project you fall under, take a look at our map.

Finding Sanctuary are running more drop-in days around the south-west to allow people who use the sea in this region to come and find out more about Marine Conservation Zones. No appointment needed, just come along to find out how MCZs could affect you and how you can get involved by mapping the areas of sea you use.

We have added another January drop-in day in Plymouth:

Plymouth Drop-in Day
Tuesday 19th January 2010, 10am - 8pm
The Royal Western Yacht Club, Queen Anne's Battery, Plymouth, PL4 0TW

To find out more call Sarah McLintock on 01392 878 340/07544 590294, email her at sarah.mclintock@southwestfoodanddrink.com or look at our website.

If you use the sea in the south-west, we want to hear from you. It is your opportunity to speak to Finding Sanctuary staff about new Marine Conservation Zones, how they could affect you and how you can get involved. Dates have been organised for February and March around the south west, so come along at any time during the day to your nearest venue.

Bude Drop-in Day
Thursday 25th February 2010, 10am – 8pm
Bude Tourist Information Centre, Crescent Car Park, Bude, Cornwall, EX23 8LE

Newlyn/Penzance Drop-in Day
Monday 1st March 2010, 10am – 8pm
Fishermen’s Mission, Ship Institute, North Pier, Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 5JB

Poole Drop-in Day
Thursday 18th March 2010, 10am – 8pm
The Lifeboat College, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ

Bristol Drop-in Day
Tuesday 23rd March 2010, 10am – 8pm
The Kings Arms, 168 Whiteladies Road, Bristol, BS8 2XZ

To find out more call Sarah McLintock on 01392 878 340/07544 590294, email her at sarah@finding-sanctuary.org or look at our website.

Don’t forget, if you can’t make it to one of our drop-in days, you could always map the areas of sea you use on our Interactive Map online.

If you use the sea in other parts of England, contact your nearest project:
South-east - Balanced Seas
North Sea - Net Gain
Irish Sea - Irish Sea Conservation Zones.

If you are not sure which regional project you fall under, take a look at our map.

Finding Sanctuary will be holding a workshop on June 23rd for ALL recreational sea users in Exeter.

For more details see the attached flyer or visit our website



If you would like to attend, please contact Sarah McLintock to book a place either via email or phone

E-mail: sarah@finding-sanctuary.org
Tel: 01392 878 340

Good morning all,

We have now put the outputs from our Recreational Workshop up on our website.

Due to file size restrictions, they are split into several documents for download, but can all be found on the Resources page of the website under the general tab. The presentations given on the day are also available for download from the website, along with the corresponding videos with a couple available on our YouTube page.

Please feel free to pass this on to anyone and everyone you know.

We only have 2 full months of data collection remaining! The feedback we recieved from divers at the workshop was taht we need to get information from more independent divers, as the majority of our data has come from dive clubs. Therefore, it is vital that as many divers as possible are made aware of what we are doing and use our online Interactive Map to fill in the gaps in our knowledge of how the sea is used.

The contacts that were supplied on the day are being passed on to our Liaison team and will be followed up in the coming months.

Kind regards,
Sarah

sarah@finding-sanctuary.org
01392 878 340

I am not a member of any dive club, they don't do enough diving for me