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Balanced Seas in the South-EastThe Balanced Seas project, based in the University of Kent in Canterbury, is here to help protect our seas in the south-east. Balanced Seas will support sea users and interest groups to recommend Marine Conservation Zones to Government.
Balanced Seas covers inshore and offshore UK waters of the Eastern Channel and adjacent areas. It extends from just north of the Suffolk/Essex border, to the Hampshire/Dorset border in the south-west, and includes the Thames Estuary and the Solent.
The Marine and Coastal Access Bill is currently going through Parliament. Once it becomes law, it will create a new type of Marine Protected Area, called a Marine Conservation Zone. Marine Conservation Zones will protect nationally important marine wildlife, habitats, geology and geomorphology. Sites will be selected to protect not just the rare and threatened, but the range of marine wildlife (photo at right by Natural England). Balanced Seas will invite sea users and interest groups to apply to be representatives on a Regional Stakeholder Group. This group will be responsible for developing the recommendations for the Marine Conservation Zones in the south-east. It will be supported by the Balanced Seas project team. Sue Wells, Project Manager for Balanced Seas, explains, “Members will be expected to represent their area of interest, not just their own personal interests, and to liaise with others outside the meetings to ensure everyone’s views and concerns are being appropriately addressed.” The Balanced Seas project team is now fully established in the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at the University of Kent. Next steps for the team are to raise awareness of the project and make sure all those with an interest in the marine environment of the south–east are identified. Balanced Seas will then start the process to set up the Regional Stakeholder Group. Balanced Seas is a partnership project with the University of Kent (DICE), Kent County Council, Natural England and Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Linda Davies, Director of Environment and Waste, Kent County Council, says, “It is an exciting time to be involved in such an important project. The challenge is to balance the importance of biodiversity conservation with economic activity in the south-east. Only by doing this will we achieve a fully sustainable solution to the management of our valuable marine resource.” Professor Douglas MacMillan of DICE, says, “We were keen to host and support the project because marine protected areas are an important step towards the sustainable use of marine biodiversity. The process of selecting marine protected areas is very important to long term success and I am delighted we can bring DICE’s expertise in the scientific and human dimensions of conservation planning to support this project.” He adds, “However the project is not really about experts but it is a dynamic project that centres around our stakeholders in the south-east. Those with an interest can put pen to paper and help shape the future of our seas.” Working with all those with an interest in the project area is essential for success.
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