Sustainable development of the Manx territorial sea is the theme of a workshop being held this week.
Representatives of Government Departments, utilities, carriers, tourism, commercial and leisure sea-goers, environmental and conservation groups and educationalists have been invited to attend the event, entitled ‘Biosphere Isle of Man – a Place for Sustainable Marine and Coastal Development’.
The workshop is organised jointly by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA), which is behind the Island’s bid to gain world Biosphere Region status from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and the Celtic Seas Partnership.
The latter is a European Commission Life+ project which is led by WWF-UK (formerly the World Wildlife Fund).
The workshop takes place at the iMuseum, Douglas, on Friday (8 May).
It will be opened by Chris Thomas MHK, Member of DEFA with responsibility for Environment, Safety and Health.
He said:
‘The workshop will bring people together to share information and develop management approaches to ensure sustainable use of our territorial sea. I am looking forward to this important discussion.’
Among the speakers are Dr Sue Kidd, of the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Liverpool, who will describe the aims of the Celtic Seas Partnership; Dr Ken Milne, Director of Energy and Support Services at the Department of Economic Development, who will discuss potential coastal and marine developments, and Bernard Warden, Director of Environment, Safety and Health at DEFA, who will speak about how the Biosphere Isle of Man bid will recognise sustainable marine policies and practices.
Group discussions will then examine opportunities for sustainable practice in commercial shipping, energy, fisheries, coastal and marine tourism and recreation and coastal protection and adaptation to climate change.
Mr Thomas said:
‘This is the start of a process to develop ideas about sustainable marine use through the UNESCO Biosphere project. Our territorial sea is managed by the Government on behalf of the people of the Island, many of whom have a professional or personal interest in it.
‘It is also a complex and interconnected ecosystem. Inviting stakeholders to inform our future approaches should ensure marine growth is sustainable.’
