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Plymouth's Coastal Officer, believes that Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is the key to delivering an ecosystem approach for coastal management in Plymouth, and that we now have a unique opportunity to take a lead. She tells us why.

The Marine Bill White Paper describes MSP as the "proposed system for strategically managing activities in the marine area."

The Tamar Estuaries Consultative Forum (TECF) already has a history of delivering local level integrated coastal management for the Tamar Estuaries and coastal areas, and a fundamental part of this is managing the interests of the European Marine Site. So she is keen to explore the opportunities for adapting a local scale, MSP approach to delivering ecosystem management for the Tamar Estuaries, and the benefits it offers.

The main benefit is that the integrated and forward planning of all activities, based on the ecosystems approach, will help facilitate sustainable development. In order to properly manage the impact of human activities on marine ecosystems it is necessary to have an overview of all of the activities taking place in a sea area as well as the conservation needs. This will enable consideration of cumulative and in-combination impacts on the marine environment in the development of the plans’ objectives.

"We have proposed to the Marine Bill team that the Tamar Estuaries Management Forum is the ideal trial vehicle for local scale MSP," she says. "The team welcomed the idea, and I am optimistic about it's chances."

As well as the recent achievement of the Plymouth Sound and Estuaries chapter in the Plymouth LDF Core Strategy, TECF is working on three projects which adopt a spatial planning approach to planning and management, these include the Marine Protected Areas project, Managing the Upper Estuary, and Recreation Management.

Being in the forefront of the development of MSP will not only improve the way we look after the estuaries, their wildlife and those who depend on them. But it will also enhance Plymouth's reputation as a forward looking place, able to get its act together to look after its marine environment and have a thriving maritime sector.

That will strengthen our case for maritime inward investment, and for Defra to site their proposed Marine Management Organisation here.

See documents table below for the full Maritime Plymouth Newsletter.

The Tamar Estuaries Management Action Plan 2007 to 2009

The Tamar Estuaries Management Action Plan 2007 to 2009 was approved at the Tamar Estuaries Consultative Forum's (TECF) meeting held on 9 November 2006. The Action Plan identifies priority actions for the delivery of the Tamar Estuaries Management Plan 2006 to 2012 over the forthcoming financial years, and provides a format for annual reporting against which progress towards deliverables can be monitored. You can download the The Tamar Estuaries Management Action Plan 2007 to 2009 from the documents table below.

The Action Plan for 2007 to 2009 sets out eleven priority actions and projects under eight key management areas. Each Action Plan identifies and outlines a specific project and/or service, resource requirements/costs, funding options, timeframe for delivery, and lead project partners responsible for delivery. All action plans and projects directly contribute to the delivery of the management objectives for the Plymouth Sound and Estuaries European Marine Site (Chapter 1).

The Action Plan is a living document and remains flexible to respond to arising management requirements and needs of TECF partners. The Action Plan also provides an overview of TECF’s current activities.

You can keep up to date with the progress of the projects outlined in the Action Plan by visiting this news page.

The Tamar Estuaries Management Plan 2006 to 2012

The Tamar Estuaries Management Plan 2006 to 2012 was formally adopted by the Tamar Estuaries Consultative Forum on 13 July 2006.

The Tamar Estuaries Management Plan 2006 to 2012 provides strategic direction for Tamar Estuaries Consultative Forum's (TECF) work for the next six years and marks an essential achievement in our ongoing work as competent authorities in managing the Plymouth Sound and Estuaries European Marine Site.

Key management priorities taking us into 2007 include:

• the development of a dredging protocol for the Tamar Estuaries
• investigation of opportunities for marine protected areas management
• continued work with our education program
• improving coordination of research and monitoring, and
• the development of an information management system.

Details of these projects are outlined in the Annual Work Plan 2006 to 2007, which can be downloaded from the documents table below.

Management Plan Launch

The official launching of the new management plan took place on 10 October 2006 aboard the boat Padstow. Individuals from a variety of organisations with an interest in protecting the natural environment of the Tamar Estuaries, while also promoting the area as a working port and centre for tourism and leisure, celebrated the launching of plan, and enjoyed a boat tour of the estuaries themselves.

Commodore Simon Lister, Devonport Naval Base Commander said the management plan would be of ‘real value’ to everyone associated with the marine world. “We take our economic and environmental responsibilities very seriously”, he said. “What we’re trying to do in order to manage the Tamar better is a complex thing. It’ll be challenging, but I’m sure the plan will help tremendously.”

Janette Ward, the newly appointed South West Regional Director of Natural England (formerly English Nature), said the forum acts as a model to other groups looking to protect the environment. “The management plan gives us the chance to look after what we’ve got and shows how we can look after the future,” she said. “It’s a great plan and I want to congratulate all the organisations involved for what they have done.” Extracts from the Evening Herald 11 October 2006.

As well as enjoying fantastic support from the Evening Herald, the launching of the management plan was also aired on BBC television and radio.

The Plymouth Sound and Estuaries Coastal Planning Study

With growing development pressures predicted for Plymouth bringing with it increased potential for development pressure within the coastal zone it is important to have a robust framework to provide due consideration for estuaries’ nature conservation assets in making planning decisions.

A coastal planning project has been successfully completed by Royal Haskoning on behalf of the Tamar Estuaries Consultative Forum producing planning guidance on coastal development and biodiversity, and protection of the estuaries nature conservation value. The study provides:

• a locally focussed, evidence based planning guidance for use by the authorities with jurisdiction over the study area
• a framework for considering the direct, indirect and cumulative effects of shoreside, intertidal and subtidal development
• a review of nature conservation interests of the estuary
• identification of anticipated development pressures and their potential ecological impacts
• guidance on how the planning system can actively ensure that coastal development and biodiversity interests can be balanced

A copy of the final report and key guidance document can be downloaded from the documents table below. We encourage and welcome any feedback on the documents. As well as the study we will also be providing useful links to websites with general information on marine consents and coastal planning.

The Coastal Planning Study Report is a working document and provides a solid basis upon which to develop and refine local planning policy and management decision making tools. One of the key challenges of the study has been to engage planners from local authorities in identifying the issues regarding planning decision making in coastal areas. We encourage and welcome feedback and comments.

TECF Work Programme 2007 to 2009

An Annual Work Programme for 2007 to 2009 is currently being drafted, defining priorities for implementation of the management plan.

Priority Actions include:

• development of dredging protocol for the tamar estuaries
• investigating marine protected management opportunities in the Plymouth area
• promotion of the coastal planning guidance document
• research and monitoring, and information management for the estuaries
• estuaries and coastal education programme

For more information visit our activities and projects page.

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