Yesterdays MCZ Netgain meeting

[loopy]

Just an update on the process, I attended the first hub meeting on the formation of MTZ in our hub region, Berwick to Hartlepool. There is very little to report as the guidelines have not been published from DEFRA and cascaded down to NE and JNCC and then to netgain, these should be out in the next few days and may give us some idea as to what is going on. The meeting was very much a sign up to hub protocol and admin along with discussing mapping tools that we will require later. The only significant news is I asked for more RSA representation on the Next level (Stakeholder advisory panel) and this is being considered.
The next meeting is on the 10th &11th May if any of you have locations or species that you believe needs protecting I would be happy to put it to the hub and it will be considered. I still believe that for shore anglers we will be affected on the bait collection and digging front so we must keep up to speed and make sure it does not happen without us putting up our arguments. There are many well funded and organised groups on our hub such as Northumberland Wildlife Trust, heritage groups, RSPB, and Commercial fishermen many of there arguments are evidenced and documented by there Barrister. If any of you require more information just PM or e-mail me.
I have spoken to Alan Charlton about how I get this information out to all RSA in Northumberland, any ideas? This will all be over by next June! So not much time to get organised if we require it.

Les

Edit, Hot off the press take time to read it http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-2409

[northeast1]

Hope boat anglers dont get hit that hard, am happy to put everything back as long as i cans till fish...would hate to think we would not be able to wet aline at all.

Thanks for the info anyway.

[tonyfromalnwick]

Cheers Les.

[willywetegg]

Cheer's for the info Les, it's much appreciated.

I would suggest that anyone visiting other fishing websites, ask a moderator if they would mind posting it in a prominent position so the information gets to as many people as possible.

I will stick this at the top for you Les as this is very important to RSAs, if there is anything else you need to add you can keep it in the same place mate.

Jim.

[loopy]

Thanks Jim, having just had a quick glance at the 128 draft guidelines part 1 it is going to be interesting, part 2 to be published in June. The Doc is attending the Scarborough hub and we also have a man trying to co ordinate the 4 hubs in our region. So we are at least having a go.

[loopy]

MCZ Haven hotel meeting

My report to the RSA Marine Conservation zone Coordination Group.
Much of this will be mumbo jumo but you will get the drift, life goes on.

Netgain MCZ South Shields
11th June 2010
The meeting was in my opinion badly attended with I believe 12 members of the hub failing to attend or have a named nominee attending for them. So someone is not getting represented.
The RSA nominees Sam Harris (Angling trust) Alan Charlton (Northern Fed) Mike Sands ( Hartlepool boatman’s) Steve Walker ( RSA journalist) and myself attended,, so once again we are well represented oh and Alan Charlton’s dog and that is another story.
After the normal introductions it was commented on about the lack of attendance and this was in my mind crucial that you had all user groups represented as will become clear later. When questioned on nominees they are supposed to be named and it was made clear that is not an open meeting.
The whole day was then driven towards mapping after looking at the tools supplied, maps in 2 scales and various overlays such as commercial fishing activity along with the Ecological Network Guidance targets on broad scale habitat, the idea being that we had a test drive so to speak looking to meet various targets at level B Seafloor protection, we also had a compatibility matrix, showing what human activities are compatible with the protection of ecological features in MCZs. This showed RSA in Green (activity compatible) Intertidal collection of species in Yellow (activity compatible if managed appropriately (#) ) this might mean seasonal restrictions, limiting the intensity, or modifying the activity to reduce the impact. In other words bait collecting and they may control it. This document arrived via finding Sanctuary from NE, JNCC and SAP; it is only a working document and will be revised.
We were also told that the ENG had been signed off by JNCC with very little change the only significant one that they knew of being a reduction in species from 31 to 29.
The NG team were questioned about,
The maps not being accurate on the various points about intertidal rock and scale.
The data on commercial activity being VMS only, totally inadequate.
Protected wrecks and there location
When questioned we were also informed that there was as yet no available data on the intertidal area, obviously this was of great interest to RSA, interestingly only one table worked on that area everybody else ignored it.
The task was complex and not helped by having tools that did not interchange or in our opinion we did not have enough data to make anything other than a crude guess, that brings me back to the attendance of user groups it is essential to have everybody represented to get a clear understanding of all issues using their knowledge and experience in their field. You all know how complex this whole issue is and how hard this whole consultation is time wise and at the moment, very little accurate data sets.
The day finished with a table by table de brief that proved useful in as much as it proved we all had different ideas , the one thing that was obvious to us all was the vast scale of some of the areas given in the ENG for total proportion to be protected having seen it on a map.
Significantly this is only a test drive and the lines not written in stone it will be interesting to see how the LAG view the work so far, Nigel.
Time is the enemy of this consultation and I once again worry about the process and how it will develop with us having little accurate data, I was assured that we have no more information than the SAP to date!
Who will drive this consultation as time constraints inevitably come and IFCAs are in place next year itching to make some new bylaws.
So nothing to affect us yet but enormous possibilities on the bait collecting front.
As per Bulletin one (April 2010) points 1 to 5 have not changed.
The next meeting is late September, again I believe one day.

[jamiebrennan]

Thanks for the update Les, are these meetings open to the public or is it just members of the hub/reps of the hub?

[Topfly]

Cheers Les.

[loopy]

Mcz

Jamie the meetings are now closed only reps or named nominee, if you have any issues let any of the above reps know. After the September meeting we should have an idea in the meantime several of us will continue to lobby the powers that be.

Les

http://www.amblefishing.com/open_competition.asp

[tonyfromalnwick]

Thanks Les. Did Alans dog make any useful contribution ?

[Stores]

Thanks for your work Les. Can I ask a couple of questions?

-you mention green and yellow mapping. Was there a similar colour coding for both the commercials and diving groups - presumably they have an impact on the zones which may need to be modified in a similar way to the inter tidal strip.

- I can't believe that the inter tidal strip has no data. Surely it's the easiest part of the plan to collect data on (or is the plan still so far in it's infancy?) Even so how will the group make decisions without data that maps the past 5, 10 or 20 years?

- in your opinion is the make up of the various members biased towards one or more groups? The names you have mentioned will, I have no doubt, represent shore angling views admirably but if they are outnumbered by the "other" groups then the results may not be representative.

Stores

[Red5]

Good post Les....Has the little man fixed your PC yet?

[loopy]

Mcz

Stores
The matrix is in 9 activity groups, these are sub divided into user types,
Such as Fishing = mobile towed gear in the water column, towed gear on the sea floor, fixed bottom nets, nets pelagic, pot’s traps, commercial line fishing,RSA, intertidal collection of species.
The other groups are also sub divided.
Diving, boating, shipping, survey work, energy infrastructure & construction,
mining dredging, dumping & discharges, military activity, other activities.
You then have the broad scale habitat along the top, about 23 of them, so you can look along activity to BSH or Vicky verky and see what the colour key is.
Red activity not compatible, green compatible, yellow compatible if managed; there are some other symbols in the key.
Intertidal
There is no data available at the moment, it is out on contract. I for one will refuse to make any decisions without data that cannot be verified, so we will know by September.
With regards to the groups they are all mixed we had RSA represented on most groups at this stage all is well balanced but one not to be ignored .It is very frustrating and time is ticking away but we have formed a group of anglers from all over the country called the MCZ coordination group. We constantly monitor and communicate with netgain along with the other 3 projects we have Nigel Proctor (the Doc) on board as is our netgain RSA rep on the next level
We also send out press bulletins and we are also in contact with Mr Benyon (new fisheries minister) who is more than aware of our existence.
So we will not be knowingly sold down the river.

Rory, No I am still working on a notebook.
Tony, The dog made good use of the free biscuits.

Les

http://www.amblefishing.com/open_competition.asp

[Charlton]

Thanks Les. Did Alans dog make any useful contribution ?

Tony, he annoyed the hell out of the bloke in charge, it was obvious from even before the meeting started they didn't want me there. i was asked if I had got my questions they wouldn't answer, answered, below is the email I sent him.

questions answered "Why No" they where certainly ready for me, as soon as the intertidal section was brought up, a nice introduction from Les Weller for me to put my hand up, Steve looked, took Q's off a few others then said no more Q's. Funny how although I had not mentioned bait collecting, one of Net Gains staff said she would have a word with me about bait collecting, I could of been asking to go to the toilet for all they knew, or the dog might have wanted to go. You missed the fun and games before the meeting had even started. Was getting cup of tea with Les, Netgains gaffer came out and started asking if the dog was coming in, to which I said yes, Gaffer, is he staying all day, yes, Gaffer, I am just thinking of other people they may object, me if anyone complains I will take him out, as you know everyone, especially his staff made a great fuss of him. Gaffer, I am also allergic to dogs, me, you have been standing here talking beside him for two or three minutes and you are okay, Gaffer, it's only when I touch them, me don't touch him, Gaffer, he won't be running round in there will he, me, no. Les, he sat still all through the Cullercoats meeting without moving, they bored him that much he went to sleep, something along those lines anyway. Think he was hoping I would take the huff and go. Will see what happens before next meeting, then if I am there I will just put a red line right round the whole area. Personally I think, and so do others, that Netgain are being used by the JNCC and NE, as they failed miserably putting this forward, but are not being given all the info, I know the JNCC and NE have more info, info on the intertidal area, that what Netgain have been given and say they will try and get answers. Pity I had to leave had a few corker Q's to ask, maybe next time. On the day, thought it was tiresome, probably deliberately, shorter and easier ways (common sense ways) could have been used. Tony the dog could of made a useful contribution, but he is to well trained to do a woopsy in doors.

[jamiebrennan]

Thanks for all your efforts guys, at least we are being represented by people who know what they are going on about. It may have taken "us" and by us i mean the sport as a whole, years to get a voice, hopefully those in high places will listen to them and not just ride rough-shod over us as they have done in the past, thanks again your doing a grand and valuable job.