Recommendations
8. The
Government should put in place engagement and communications plans
for the MCZ programme, before consulting on the next tranche of
MCZs in 2015, to ensure that it is more widely understood and
accepted. (Paragraph 24)
9. The
Government should seek to apply the lessons from the consultation
process for the first tranche of MCZs and bring forward and extend
the mapping and research work needed to underpin the next rounds.
That further research will help the Government demonstrate that
it is taking on board any consequences for business and leisure
users. Ultimately, however, it should follow a precautionary principle
approach to designations to protect our threatened marine biodiversity,
based, if need be, on the 'best available' data. To demonstrate
to all sides that it is committed to the environmental protection
of our seas, the Government should seek to front-load the selection
of further MCZs so that more all in the second, rather than in
the third, tranche of designations. The Government's planned second
tranche of 37 sites is insufficient, and a significantly higher
target should be set. (Paragraph 34)
10. The
Government must immediately set out its strategy for managing
the existing MCZs, and include site management details for the
second tranche of MCZs at the start of their consultation process
in early 2015. (Paragraph 39)
11. When
the Government and regulators determine the management arrangements
for existing and future MCZs, they should seek to facilitate voluntary
agreements where these would not undermine or weaken the particular
MCZ's objectives, while making it clear that they will use statutory
enforcement where and when necessary. (Paragraph 44)
12. The
Government needs to move quickly to reassure key stakeholders
that it has a credible strategy for management of the Marine Conservation
Zones. Full management plans for all 27 existing MCZs should be
published at the latest by November 2014—the first anniversary
of their designation. Substantial draft management plans for each
of the next tranche of MCZs should be part of the consultation
on that tranche when it is launched in early 2015. (Paragraph
51)
13. The
Government should also identify a body with a clear lead role
for strategy and co-ordination on the MCZs. The MMO might be given
that role, but if so the Government will need to ensure that the
organisation's plans and resources … would allow it to discharge
that responsibility effectively. (Paragraph 52)
14. In
its response to this report, the Government should provide
its assessment of the budget and resources that the Marine Management
Organisation will make available to manage the MCZs, what level
of efficiency improvements are implicit in any reduction in that
budget or resources, and how such efficiencies will affect the
level of MCZ management and enforcement that the MMO will be able
to provide. (Paragraph 58)
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