Lundy becomes England’s first Marine Conservation Zone

Lundy Island, one of England’s most spectacular marine habitats, has today (12/01/2010) become England’s first Marine Conservation Zone.

While the creation of the marine conservation zone (MCZ) around the island under the Marine Act is effectively just a name change for the site, which has been a marine nature reserve for more than 20 years, it is hoped it will become a blueprint to the way the seas around the UK are protected from exploitation.

Over the next two years, plans for a network of protected zones will be drawn up around English, Welsh and Northern Irish waters.

Its new status establishes it as the first example of the new approach to marine protection being taken under the Marine and Coastal Access Act, which will contribute towards the creation of the network of "ecologically coherent and well-managed marine protected areas" by 2012, said the Government's conservation agency Natural England.

Chief Executive Dr Helen Phillips, Natural England’s Chief Executive, said: “As England’s first Marine Conservation Zone, Lundy represents the first step in delivering the marine protection ambitions of the Marine and Coastal Access Act, and it is fitting that an area of such obvious environmental importance is being designated in this way.”

The seas around Lundy, off the coast of Devon, are home to an impressive range of wildlife, such as grey seals, red band fish, crawfish and at least eight species of coral, which include pink sea fans, red sea fingers and sunset cup corals). Lundy is also the only place in the UK where five cup corals exist together.


Natural England video

Its importance was recognised by its designation as a Marine Nature Reserve in 1986 and it was also designated as a Special Area of Conservation in 2000 in recognition of the significance of its special habitats, which include reefs, sea caves and sandbanks.

Natural England said the new Lundy Marine Conservation Zone will cover the same area as the former Marine Nature Reserve. The existing management of the island’s waters, including the No Take Zone, will remain in place unchanged.

Helen Phillips added: “Lundy is a showcase of what a well protected marine environment can become. Today’s designation ushers in a new era of marine protection and it is important that the momentum to develop more Marine Conservation Zones is now sustained.”

Huw Irranca-Davies, Minister for the Marine Environment, said: "We can't always see what is happening to the wildlife and habitats under our seas, but they need just the same protection as those on land and this world-first in legislation will provide that."

Lundy’s designation accompanies a much wider project to identify and designate new MCZs elsewhere. The MCZ Project is inviting people who use and value the sea to recommend the locations of future MCZs.

There are currently four independent, stakeholder-led MCZ Projects – Balanced Seas (south-east), Finding Sanctuary (south-west), Irish Sea Conservation Zones (Irish Sea) and Net Gain (North Sea).

The Marine Conservation Society is also running a campaign on the issue.

Shop for Marine Reserves

BY choosing where we shop and letting our feelings know, we can slowly influence retail chiefs over the products they stock.

Concerted campaigns by the likes of the Marine Conservation Society and Bite-Back has helped take endangered marine species off the shelves of some big players.

But thanks to the MCS and Co-Op you can have an instant say about the future of our seas.

Over the coming week, Co-op will be promoting marine reserves by asking customers to vote for them at the check-out - with a simple click on a chip-and-pin machine in answer to the statement "I support marine reserves to help sealife - Yes/No".

They did a similar exercise in February at over 2,000 stores nationwide, and netted 298,000 messages of support for marine reserves in just one week.

According to the MCS, it really makes politicians sit up and listen.

In an email, the charity said "This is a critical time, as the final debate for the UK Marine Bill will take place in Parliament when MPs return from the summer recess; the bill should become an act in November.

"At present it has no mention of marine reserves. - just "marine conservation zones" which, astonishingly, may allow people who cause harm within them completely off the hook!"

According to the charity's campaign if things don't change marine ecosystems will degrade further and fish catches to continue to decline due to over-fishing.

In order to protect the marine environment Co-op and MCS support turning with 30 per cent of UK waters into marine protected areas or designated as no-take reserves.

Marine reserves have proved effective in helping ecosystems and fish populations recover from the effects of over fishing and habitat destruction. They also increase fish populations outside their boundaries through what are known as ‘spillover’ effects.

Which means better experiences for us divers - no one wants to dive to the sea bed without the chance to see the amazing life that exists down there.

So If you haven't already, please go to the MCS website http://www.marinereservesnow.org.uk/ and add your voice to strengthen the UK Marine and Coastal Access Bill and ! protect our marine wildlife.

Should scuba divers eat fish?

Over-fishing is as big a problem to humanity this century as global warming, according to the man behind documentary, the End of the Line.
Yet research shows most of us don't realise that our seas are under such a pressing threat.
Journalist Charles Clover's film exposes the impacts of fishing on marine life, the plight of species such as bluefin tuna, and the profound implications of a future world with no fish.
But a key message from the film is that actions individuals can take will help bring change.

Which raises the question, should scuba divers eat fish?

For us the underwater world is our playground. Healthy reefs are what draw us to far-flung locations around the world. I'm sure we've all had a moan when dive sites haven't lived up to expectations and been shorn of life.
Yet I'm sure we've all enjoyed a sneaky piece of local fish afterwards.

It's diffiuclt for us Brits, we have been brought up on a diet of fish and chips. Sea bass cooked simply with a twist of lemon and some black pepper over sweet potato mash and some veg has to be one of my favourite tuck-ins.

But seabass are also among the Marine Conservation Society's list of 69, yes 69, fish to avoid. While it states some seabass fisheries are okay, how can I be certain whether the fillet on the plate has come from a sustainable source or not? Is it best to just so no full-stop.

Some scientists have warned the oceans are in so much peril world's fisheries could face collapse by 2048. This will have a devastating impact on our environment.

As previous blogs have touched on, we need a healthy marine ecosystem to absorb carbon dioxide from the air but, such is the damage to the underwater world, ocean acidity is increasing and threatening the very ecosystems and coral reefs that we enjoy.
According to the latest research, fish play their part in regulating acidity, secreting a compound called calcium carbonate, which if it dissolves in the upper levels of the oceans could help replenish the alkalinity of the seas.
Therefore fewer fish contributes to greater ocean acidity = destroyed coral reefs.
If that happens every dive, no matter where in the world, will be like a desert.

Quoting a friend: "For centuries we have taken our marine riches for granted. But in recent decades we have taken too much, with too little care. Fragile habitats have been destroyed, fish stocks have collapsed and valuable resources have become dangerously depleted. The marine environment is on its knees. Now it is time to give something back."

Charles Clover called on consumers to demand sustainably-caught fish from retailers and restaurants. Which is a start. It's taken almost 20 years for politicians (short-termists by nature) to understand the impact of global warming but the oceans can't afford for them to catch up here.

The EU has proposed some new measures of shark finning in European waters. If they can drop national interest and have a look at the ridiculous rules around fishing we might have something to go on.

We can also support the development of Marine Conservation Zones, contained in a bill working its way slowly through Parliament.

But back to my earlier question. Should we divers lead by example and so no to the fish on the menu to do our little bit to reduce demand? Just as it is in the long term interests of fishermen not to empty the oceans, it is also in ours. Travelling half way around the world for a dive site that resembles a lifeless quarry doesn't hold much appeal

After all, Mother Nature has a way of bouncing back if we relieve the pressure and give her time.

Marine Conservation Society Award

Slumdog Millionaire v The Curious Case of Benjamin Button? Brad Pitt v Mickey Rourke? Kate Winslet v well, Kate Winslet? I'm sure there are people arguing right now over who deserves this year's Oscar.
While they're doing that, let me tell you that the Marine Conservation Society has nipped in to win it's own honour - the Best Environmental Campaign 2009 award with their battle for Clean Seas.
Campaigns to reduce pollution at sea were nominated by readers of Coast Magazine and debated by a panel of judges including dive hottie Miranda Krestovnikoff.
Among it's initiatives, MCS Beachwatch involves over 5,000 volunteers each year in cleaning up and surveying beaches.
The conservation group has also brought the issues of plastic bags, balloons, sewage dumped at sea to public and government attention through its Campaign for Clean Seas.
Dr Sue Kinsey, of the MCS pollution team, said: "We're absolutely delighted to win this award, which we accept on behalf of the team of volunteers and staff who have worked so hard to bring about change."
Congratulations to the team.
My money's on Slumdog, Pitt and er Winslet by the way.

Google Ocean - dive without leaving your desktop

Just finished playing with a new version of Google Earth, and it promises to be a fantastic dive-planning-research-gathering-marine-life-saving resource. Or timewaster depending on what takes your fancy.
The plaything of deskbound travellers' (or those who want to zoom into their own house from space as if an invading Martian) now includes some of the great dive spots in the world.
A new layer called Google Ocean aims to bring the Blue Planet to life by featuring large swathes of the ocean floor and abyssal plains.
It gives users a 3D exploration of the sea floor, allowing them to visit underwater volcanoes, run videos on marine life, shipwrecks, clips of favourite dive spots and includes info from the world's leading scientists, researchers, ocean explorers and conservation groups.
Sylvia Earle, the National Geographic Society's explorer in residence, who helped develop the programme said: "I cannot imagine a more effective way to inspire awareness and caring for the blue heart of the planet than the new ocean in Google Earth."
The Marine Conservation Society said they can now map for the public where in the world some of the most sustainably-sourced kinds of fish come from.
In a statement, the charity said: "MCS is tremendously excited by the sheer potential of Ocean on Google Earth. Its new features will help bring the ocean to life in homes, businesses and classrooms in a more visual form than ever before.
"Our first layer shows the fish available to consumers that can be obtained without risk of depleting stocks, a positive message to accompany the launch."

Here's a quick example of what I found.

Thistlegorm - most of us have been there so it seemed an easy one. Zoom in close enough and you'll get an image of the liveaboards lined up (a familiar site for most of us). Click of the dive site symbol and it will show a nice pic of the gun on the stern. There is also footage from Cousteau's Silent World 1956 documentary. If you haven't been to the wreck it gives a nice introduction to where it is and what you can expect.

Nine boats1! Thistlegorm on a good day

Scapa Flow - you get a number of dive sites with pics including sonar images such as this of the SMS Dresden

4009 - that's the number given to a 4m long Great White Shark tagged off the coast of California and you can check out where she's been.

satellite track of 4009

Black bream - according to the MSC black bream caught in the English Channel are kind of okay to eat because they are caught in a reasonably sustainable way.

Zenobia - Oh my God!

Where has the past 90 minutes of my life just gone?