The ACA Forum

Posts Tagged ‘environment’

The full research report behind this summary is available on the Research Report page of this website.

Nigel Mortimer of the AONB has sent this message and link to a recent talk by Prof Richard Thompson.:-

During Science Week, earlier this year, I invited you to a couple of talks on plastics ‘The Good, the Bad & the Ugly’ kindly hosted by the Kingsbridge Community College.

Professor Richard Thompson from Plymouth University was one of the two excellent speakers, talking on “Marine Litter: are there solutions to this global environmental problem ?”

Professor Thompson gave a very similar talk to members of the Marine Biological Association last Friday and due to Global demand, the talk was recorded. If you’d like to watch it yourself, here is the link;

www.mba.ac.uk/2016/11/16/microplastics-talk-by-richard-thompson

Richard spoke to the ACA some years ago but his story about microplastics has moved on somewhat since then.  I attended the talk at Kingsbridge College referred to by Nigel and found it fascinating.   An outline is provided below.:-
Marine Litter is a global environmental problem with consequences for human health, the economy and wildlife.  This litter is pervasive throughout our oceans form the poles to the equator and from sea surface and shoreline to the deep sea. It is hazardous to seafarers resulting in unnecessary coastguard and rescue callouts and has substantial economic consequences for the local authorities responsible for clean-up. Perhaps most widely documented are encounters with wildlife which can result in direct harm and death. Well over 600 species of marine organisms are reported to encounter marine litter and the majority of these encounters are with plastic items.

However, marine litter is an environmental problem that can be solved. The majority of the items that become marine litter are single use disposable items including packaging and sewage related debris. Such items can bring considerable societal benefit, for example in terms of food security and light weighting to reduce fuel usage, however these benefits can all be realised without the need for any  emissions of litter to the ocean.  Hence the long term solutions lie in recognising that if designed, used and disposed of appropriately, then end-of-life items that currently accumulate in waste management facilities and as litter in the natural environment can be used as a resource for production of new products. Working toward a circular economy of this kind will help reduce our reliance on non-renewable resources and simultaneously reduce the quantity of waste requiring disposal.

Thursday 24th November 2016
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Once upon a time there was a surprising number of water mills along the length of the Devon Avon, supporting a way of life that has now largely disappeared.  However, many fascinating remnants still exist and this talk, ‘Water mills on the Devon Avon – an exploration of historical sites’,  by Joddy Chapman will set the scene.   The talk is jointly presented by the Aune Conservation Association and Bigbury History Society in Bigbury Memorial Hall (StAnn’s Chapel, Bigbury, TQ7 4HQ).  All will be welcome to attend.  Tea and biscuits will be available.  There will be a small entry charge to cover our costs.

Some important relevant consultations that are live at the moment  :

1.    The South Devon AONB Planning Guidance Consultation is now open until Tuesday 16th August 2016. For full details, please visit www.southdevonaonb.org.uk/our-work/responding-to-planning/south-devon-aonb-planning-guidance-consultation

We are also presently preparing a guide to preparing a ‘Construction Environmental Management Plan’ – essentially an audit of all the potential environmental impacts of a development, from inception to post build use, and how each impact will be mitigated to safeguard the setting and ‘downstream’ habitats of the development.

2.   The Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority has formally advertised the proposed Netting Permit Byelaw 2016 yesterday and the period of public consultation on the Byelaw has started.

The proposed Byelaw will provide the Authority with the ability to balance the needs of persons netting with the requirements to secure a sustainable marine eco-system and local socio-economic environment for the benefit of all sea users.  Any person that uses a net, other than of a type specified in the byelaw, to fish in the Authority’s District is required to do so in accordance with a permit issued by the Authority.  Under this byelaw the Authority will have the ability, among other things, to restrict the number of nets that can be used, where the nets can be used and introduce a daily catch limit.  The permit conditions contain all the Authority’s management restrictions that apply to netting activity in the District.  The permit conditions will be reviewed when necessary on the basis of best available evidence and within a time period not exceeding three years.

A full text of the above Byelaw, the permit conditions and the associated Impact Assessment can be inspected at, or obtained from Devon & Severn IFCA, Brixham Laboratory, Freshwater Quarry, Brixham, Devon, TQ5 8BA. Tel: 01803 854648; Email: office@devonandsevernifca.gov.uk or viewed on www.devonandsevernifca.gov.uk

Any person wishing to comment, support or object to the confirmation of the above Byelaw must do so in writing to:

Marine Conservation and Enforcement Team, Marine Management Organisation, Lancaster House, Hampshire Court, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 7YH (or IFCAbyelaws@marinemanagement.org.uk) by 22nd September 2016 and must send a copy to the Chief Officer at Devon & Severn IFCA, Brixham Laboratory, Freshwater Quarry, Brixham, Devon, TQ5 8BA (or office@devonandsevernifca.gov.uk  ).

The Authority intends to hold a series of events between 15th and 26th August 2016 around the district to publicise the Byelaw consultation and to provide you with an opportunity to discuss the proposals with the Authority’s officers.  Some venues are yet to be confirmed so please visit our website or contact the office after 29th July 2016 to find out when and where the events will be held.

The ACA supports the SAS campaign to clean our seas and estuaries of sewage-related materials.  The following message was received from SAS on 23rd May 2016:-

Today, we’re taking your support for the Sewage Free Seas campaign to Westminster with us to be presented to the Environment Agency at our All Party Parliamentary Group. Your support joins 13,000 fellow ocean enthusiasts, surfers, water users and environmentalists calling for Sewage Free Seas. This huge response, in just six weeks, shows just how concerned coastal communities are about sewage pollution at our beaches.
We will make the case for Sewage Free Seas on behalf of you and all our supporters, calling for the Environment Agency and water companies to stop sewage pollution ruining some of the nation’s best beaches.
The meeting will bring together Members of Parliament to hear evidence from speakers from the European Centre for the Environment & Human Health, surf industry leaders, Surfing GB, the shellfish industry, the Marine Conservation Society and Leah.  Leah is a young surfer who fell seriously ill after surfing at her favourite spot whilst a sewer overflow, hidden upstream, discharged untreated human sewage into the sea.
We rely on the support of our members to enable us to campaign for Sewage Free Seas at the highest level.  Supporting Surfers Against Sewage with a regular donation is the best way you can help us achieve our long term vision of a clean, safe and protected ocean environment.  Please join us today, for just £2 a month.
We’ll email you again after the All Party Parliamentary Group to let you know the outcomes and what that means for protecting your health and our special beaches.
Thanks again for your support
Team SAS