Plans for Marine Conservation Zones agreed

Recommendations for 167 marine conservation zones have been agreed and submitted to Government. The recommendations have been produced by four regional projects:-

• Irish Sea Conservation Zones-Irish Sea: www.irishseaconservation.org.uk
• Balanced Seas-South East: www.balancedseas.org
• Finding Sanctuary-South West: www.finding-sanctuary.org
• Net Gain - North Sea: www.netgainmcz.org

The recommendations identify sites which require conservation and set out conservation objectives for each of them. The reports are long and detailed. Each project adopted a model of 'stakeholder engagement' which in some cases included the RYA and in others individual yachtsmen. At this stage it is unclear if, and to what extent recreational yachting, and in particular the traditional right to anchor while on passage will be affected.