Review of Marine Nature Conservation

A Review of Marine Nature Conservation (RMNC) was established in 1999, by Defra, to examine how effectively the UK system for protecting nature conservation in the marine environment is working and make proposals for improvements. A cross sectoral Working Group, to which the JNCC and the country agencies contribute, was convened to undertake the Review. The original remit of the Working Group focused on territorial waters of England and Wales, and was extended in 2000 to cover the continental shelf and superjacent waters under UK jurisdiction (usually up to 200 nautical miles from the coast). The Working Group has a wide membership drawn from statutory and non-statutory organisations, industry and user groups with a particular interest in the marine environment.

The RMNC interim report and recommendations was produced in March 2001. A key recommendation was a proposal for a pilot scheme to test ways of integrating nature conservation into key sectors at the regional seas scale in order to make an effective contribution to sustainable development on a regional basis. Following RMNC discussions and preparation of a detailed specification, the Irish Sea pilot was announced by Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at the launch of the Marine Stewardship Report (Safeguarding our Seas: A strategy for the conservation and sustainable development of our marine environment) on 1 May 2002.

The RMNC final report first draft was discussed at the 16th working group meeting on 11 March 2004. The RMNC final report is available from the Defra website.

Research Reports prepared for the RMNC

The Concept of classifying the Marine Environment into Ecological Units and its application in the Irish Sea Pilot - This short paper by Malcolm Vincent (JNCC Project Director Irish Sea Pilot) explains what we mean by ecological units and how we will use them as part of the new nature conservation framework we are testing. 4pp including draft map of Irish Sea ecological units.

Draft criteria to identify nationally important marine nature conservation features. This report was prepared by country agency and conservation NGO staff led by David Connor (JNCC). It takes forward a recommendation of the interim report of the RMNC and contributes to the development of the new framework for marine nature conservation. The report was approved by the RMNC at its November 2002 meeting and the draft criteria will now be tested and refined by the Irish Sea Pilot.

Extent of Local Authority Jurisdiction in the Marine Environment - This report was prepared for European Wildlife Division, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions by David Tyldesley and Associates in Association with Browne Jacobson Solicitors. December 2000. Doc. Ref. 1273rpt

Report on a Workshop to review the effectiveness of statutory regimes for Marine Nature Conservation - This report was prepared for European Wildlife Division, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and Review of Marine Nature Conservation Working Group by David Tyldesley and Associates in Association with Browne Jacobson Solicitors. 27 December 2000. Doc. Ref. 1284rpt

Report on Consultations about a Workshop to review the effectiveness of statutory regimes for Marine Nature Conservation - This report was prepared for European Wildlife Division, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and Review of Marine Nature Conservation Working Group by David Tyldesley and Associates in Association with Browne Jacobson Solicitors. 29 December 2000. Doc. Ref. 1284cons.rpt

The following reports, describing a new nature conservation framework for the marine environment were submitted to the RMNC working group.

Protection and management of nationally important marine habitats and species. (2000)

Laffoley, D. d'A. & Bines, T.

Prepared by English Nature based on the views of a sample for the members of the DETR Working Group on the Review of Marine Nature Conservation. Peterborough: English Nature Research Reports, No. 390. 20 pp.

Historical perspective and selective review of the literature on human impacts on the UK's marine environment. (2000)

Laffoley, D. d'A

Prepared by English Nature for the DETR Working Group on the Review of Marine Nature Conservation. Peterborough: English Nature Research Reports, No. 391. 20 pp.

Nationally important seascapes, habitats and species. A recommended approach to their identification, conservation and protection. (2000)

Laffoley, D. d'A., Connor, D.W., Tasker, M.L. & Bines, T.

Prepared for the DTR Working Group on the Review of Marine Nature Conservation by English Nature and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Peterborough: English Nature Research Reports, No. 392. 17 pp.

An implementation framework for conservation, protection and management of nationally important marine wildlife in the UK. (2000)

Laffoley, D. d'A., Baxter, J., Bines, T., Bradley, M., Connor, D.W., Hill, M., Tasker, M. & Vincent, M.

Prepared by the statutory nature conservation agencies, Environment Heritage Services (Northern Ireland) and JNCC for the DETR Working Group on the Review of Marine Nature Conservation. Peterborough: English Nature Research Reports, No. 394. 29 pp.

Rationale and criteria for the identification of nationally important marine nature conservation features and areas in the UK. Version 02.11. (2002)

Connor, D.W., Breen, J., Champion, A., Gilliland, P.M., Huggett, D., Johnston, C., Laffoley, D. d'A., Lieberknecht, L., Lumb, C., Ramsay, K., and Shardlow, M.

Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (on behalf of the statutory nature conservation agencies and Wildlife and Countryside Link) for the Defra Working Group on the Review of Marine Nature Conservation.