Manx Marine Nature Reserve Project
In October 2008 the then Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (now DEFA) started a 3 year project to select and establish the Isle of Man’s first Marine Nature Reserve.
A Marine Nature Reserve is a type of Marine Protected Area, an area of the sea protected from some damaging activities and impacts. The Isle of Man has had legislation for Marine Nature Reserves since 1990 but none have yet been designated. Marine Protected Areas are a well-established tool for protecting marine habitats and species and have been successfully used all around the world to benefit marine conservation.
Experience from establishing Marine Protected Areas around the world has shown the importance of involving users of the sea and the local community in the process of designating a Marine Protected Area. The Manx Marine Nature Reserve Project is using this experience and ensuring that there is a high level of involvement of people with an interest in the sea.
In October 2008 the first meeting about the project was held with local fishermen.
In November 2008 a Manx Marine Nature Reserve Workshop was held for key marine interest groups who were invited to participate in activities and discussions to put forward their ideas and opinions on Marine Nature Reserves.
In January and February 2009 eight open Manx Marine Nature Reserve Community Meetings were held all around the Isle of Man to give everyone a chance to hear about the project directly and contribute information.
This website will be regularly updated with information about the Manx Marine Nature Reserve Project.
Update
A Proposed Marine Nature Reserve in Ramsey – Your input is needed!
The Manx Marine Nature Reserve Project has now moved to the next stage.
We need your comments on a proposal to establish the Isle of Man’s first Marine Nature Reserve in Ramsey Bay. The proposal for a Marine Nature Reserve in Ramsey Bay has been developed by the Manx Fish Producers’ Organisation and the Fisheries Directorate of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.
The main features that would be protected in the proposed Marine Nature Reserve include an extensive horse mussel reef in the Ballacash Channel off the Point of Ayre, maerl beds in Ramsey Bay and eelgrass meadows off Port Lewaigue. The proposed Marine Nature Reserve will include a Fisheries Management Zone which it is anticipated will be managed by the Manx Fish Producers’ Organisation and a Conservation Zone to protect some of the features of conservation importance. We would also like to look at the possibility of establishing more highly protected Core Zones within the Conservation Zone.
We need the involvement of the people who currently use Ramsey Bay to help us develop the best possible Management Plan for the proposed area and also to identify appropriate zones for activities that will ensure that the special habitats of the Bay are protected and also promote opportunities to develop tourism, recreational and educational uses of the area.
There are a number of ways in which you can participate at this stage in the consultation process:
- Respond by letter or email to the formal consultation document available in full or as a shorter summary below and at www.gov.im/consultations
- Respond to the quick and easy online questionnaire at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/KGNKWJB
- Attend one of our consultation drop-in sessions at Ramsey Town Hall on Saturday 15 January 10am-5pm or Tuesday 18 January 2pm-8pm.
- Invite us to a meeting of your interest group so we can record your responses and provide any additional information you may require.
- Contact us to set up an individual meeting where we can go through the consultation, answer your questions and record your responses.
- This new stage of the consultation is open until 28 February 2011.
For further information please contact:
Email: fiona.gell@gov.im
Tel: 01624 695738 or 695730
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