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The Wildlife Trusts welcome the launch of a new interactive MCZ map
The Wildlife Trusts welcome the launch of a new, interactive map by the Marine Conservation Zone Project. This seeks to create an insight into how the sea is being used, and to build upon what we know about existing marine species and habitats in our seas. Anyone who uses the sea is invited to contribute to this initiative, which will help to identify potential sites for Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). MCZs are a new type of Marine Protected Area (MPA) which will conserve nationally important marine species and habitats, and form part of a network of MPAs that the UK is committed to establishing by 2012.
Here in the North Sea region, 12 east coast and inland local Wildlife Trust’s are working to achieve the greatest possible benefit for marine wildlife through extensive involvement in our regional MCZ project, Net Gain. The Wildlife Trust’s currently have representatives on each of the 4 regional Hub Groups and also hold a place on the Stakeholder Advisory Panel. The interactive map, available from www.mczmapping.org has been specially developed for the Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) Project, a partnership project which is working with people who use the sea ̶ for their livelihood or leisure pursuits ̶ to identify MCZs in English inshore waters and offshore waters next to England, Wales and Northern Ireland. People can take part in two ways: either by uploading information about their marine activities, and the location of marine wildlife, notable habitats and geological features they have seen; or by just looking at the layers of data out of personal interest to discover more about their region’s sea. All data will be analysed and will inform recommendations for potential MCZs as part of the work being delivered by our regional MCZ project, Net Gain. Deadline for data input is 30th September 2010.
Tom Hooper, project manager of Finding Sanctuary, the South West MCZ project comments:
“We’ve been using a regional version of this interactive map in the south-west for just over a year now, and it is fantastic news that it is now being rolled out nationally across all of the MCZ projects. All of us involved with the MCZ Project want to ensure that these important decisions are based on the best data; not just from marine industries, but from individuals who use the sea. Together, with information from face-to-face interviews that all four regional MCZ projects have been conducting, it will help to build up a detailed picture of the ecological value and use of our seas.”
Using this exceptional level of public participation and the best evidence available, the MCZ Project is working with sea users and interest groups to plan Marine Conservation Zones for a healthy, sustainable marine environment. A network of MPA’s forms part of the Wildlife Trust’s vision for Living Seas, in which wildlife thrives from the depths of the ocean to the coastal shallows. To find out more about The Wildlife Trust’s work within the North Sea visit www.northseawildlife.org.uk. Here, you can learn more about North Sea species by downloading one of the Wildlife Trust’s regional North Sea booklets.
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