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Scottish Coastal Forum: Current ICZM initiatives: Spring 2004

Tay Estuary Forum

The Tay Estuary Forum (TEF) represents over 300 partner members covering the full spectrum of use, management and interest within the Tay coastal area. The Forum helps to facilitate the sustainable development of the Tay and adjacent coastline through partnership working among the key stakeholders and interested parties. Key aims and initiatives of TEF include:

• Improving communication and awareness between all parties.

• Improving information sharing between members.

• Contributing to the progress and successful achievement of projects relating to the Tay and adjacent coastline, e.g. the production of an information audit of Tay Estuary references.

• Implementing the EU principles of ICZM.

• Establishing Theme Groups to enable regular focused discussion on coastal management issues.

The TEF's "Theme Framework" provides a strategic vision for sustainable management of the entire estuary. Before its production the main stakeholders had not discussed the concept in detail. Production of the Framework improved communication between organisations and provided a Forum to discuss management of the estuary and coast. It also enabled a formal commitment from all members of the Steering Group to working towards the vision detailed in the Framework.

Pam Coutts, Angus Council, believes that "the TEF has helped to highlight coastal issues around the estuary and the need for a multi-agency approach in dealing with many of them. It [the Forum] provides an ideal opportunity for wider discussion and co-operation on cross boundary projects and those of mutual interest, which would not have happened so readily if the Forum didn't exist".

TEF has successfully used partnership working to enhance people's knowledge and understanding, for example through the publication of a database of information and resources about the estuary, which is available via the TEF website.

"The Forum has been particularly useful in networking for research purposes, a classic example of this is Andrew Staines a PhD student within the Urban Water Technology Centre at Abertay University. Forum members were key in providing a relevant focus for Andrew's project and identifying the important local issues that needed to be included in his research. The Forum's already established network of communication between members allowed Andrew to access organisations with an interest in the estuary from which key partners for the research work were identified."

David Blackwood, UWTC,
University of Abertay

The Forum aims to develop and strengthen, building on the progress it has made so far, thus generating greater momentum and ensuring that the implementation of current and proposed tasks continues in the future and the Tay estuary and adjacent coastline is managed in a wise and sustainable way. Prof. Rob Duck, University of Dundee is the Forum's (Acting) Chairperson and the Forum is co-ordinated by Katriona Finan, the Forum's part-time project officer.

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