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Scottish Coastal Forum: Current ICZM initiatives: Spring 2004
CROSS-BORDER MANAGEMENT OF OUR COASTAL ZONE
The Solway Firth is one of the least industrialised estuaries in Britain and contains some of the largest continuous areas of intertidal habitat. The Inner Solway is designated as a candidate Special Area of Conservation, as well as being a SSSI, SPA, and Ramsar Site. Other areas of the Solway are also designated for their natural heritage and landscape, including the Solway Coast AONB, Caelaverock NNR and Dumfries and Galloway's National Scenic Areas.
This multitude of designations could appear to be confusing and is perhaps compounded by the fact that the Solway Firth crosses the border of England and Scotland. For example, the role of lead authority on the Inner Solway European Marine Site is held jointly by English Nature and Scottish Natural Heritage. To address the issue of integrated coastal management across the border the Solway Firth Partnership was created.
The Solway Firth Partnership, however, is not only about nature conservation. Over the last five years the Partnership has played a key role in developing sustainable management plans for the Cockle and Mussel fisheries. These plans are essential for maintaining the shellfish industry at sustainable levels and ensuring retention of key local jobs. The Partnership brought together the different parties to ensure that the commercial fishery can sit side by side with the requirements of the Solway's extensive bird populations.
"The Partnership has directly improved cross-border co-operation on issues such as shellfish management."
Quote from members' questionnaire.
Scotland's first offshore windfarm has been given approval for construction in the Solway Firth. As a major industrial development within the middle of the Solway this will have obvious impacts upon both sides of the Solway. The windfarm is truly a cross-border development with its location in Scotland, whilst being connected to the grid in England. The Partnership put the developers in contact with local communities and interest groups to make sure everyone was adequately consulted during the initial environmental assessment.
"The SFP provided a vital link between the users of the Solway and the
developers of the Robin Rigg windfarm. They assisted in the dissemination of information to the public and provided a valuable framework, within which cross border discussions could take place to ensure a consistent approach to Surveying the eco system within the Solway; which does not observe any borders."
Jeremy Sainsbury, Natural Power.
The existence of the Partnership and our track record of cross-border working has ensured that all of the relevant authorities from both England and Scotland are engaged with the Scottish Executive in the development of the environmental monitoring of the windfarm during both construction and operation.
What next for the Solway Firth Partnership? There are two major national and European issues which will soon affect the management of our coastal resources. The Water Framework Directive, with its remit for the coastal zone, will require local co-ordination of agencies and communities. In 2006 we are also going to see the publication of the national strategies for Integrated Coastal Zone Management. In the Solway Firth we will have a meeting of the Whitehall and Scottish Executive approaches to these issues, requiring good communication between the different authorities on both sides of the border to ensure that we achieve totally integrated management of our coastline and marine resources.
"Involvement has made my colleagues and I much more aware of wider coastal management issues and given us an appreciation of the 'bigger picture' within which our work sits."
Quote from members' questionnaire
As well as issues arising from national and international agendas, the Solway Firth Partnership is about to begin consultation on the new Strategy, to cover our work over the next 10 years.
Solway Firth Partnership,
Carmont House, The Crichton, Dumfries DG1 4ZF.
Tel: (01387) 247010
E-mail:sfp@snh.gov.uk
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