Please follow the links below for information on the marine communities fund case studies from 2008.
UK Wide
England
Wales
Northern Ireland
Scotland
UK-Wide
The Green Blue – BMF/RYA
We have funded the core work of this initiative for the last three years. Funding this year will concentrate on two key elements – volunteering and waste management. Volunteers will be recruited to act as ambassadors for the local marine and inland waterways environment by giving talks at clubs and training centres. A number of recycling solutions will be piloted at harbours and marinas with the aim of rolling out best practice advice.
Biodiversity and Conservation Information Pages – MarLIN
The Biology and Sensitivity Key Information web pages will be revised and expanded to meet the growing need for scientific information tailored to marine environmental decision making. The pages will provide information on fisheries impacts, marine conservation, structure and functioning within major marine habitats. Funding will also contribute to the development of identity guides to support national recording schemes as well as resources to support marine spatial planning and Geographic Information Systems.
UK Marine Protected Areas Centre – Marine Biological Association
Funding will support the development and maintenance of the new UK Marine Protected Areas Centre web resource. Factual information will be included as well as resources to help facilitate the sharing of information, good practice and learning amongst industry, conservationists, users and the interested public. Literature and links to key information sources will be available and a forum will be developed to encourage the exchange of views and ideas.
England
Forton Lake Archaeology Project – Nautical Archaeology Society
This community based heritage initiative is aimed at increasing public understanding of marine stewardship issues within the intertidal zone. The project involves fieldwork at Forton Lake, Gosport, together with desk based historical research, community archaeological fieldwork, an open day event, and several public talks. The results will be disseminated via a local interest publication, an archaeological monograph publication, and a local museum exhibition as well as a permanent interpretation panel on the Millennium footbridge.
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Overfalls Group – Overfalls Group
The Group brings together stakeholders with interests in the Overfalls area – a series of sand and gravel banks to the south-east of the Isle of Wight which form a focus for fishing, angling and aggregate dredging as well as being of biodiversity and ecosystem interest. Representatives from angling groups, commercial fishermen, conservation groups, and Hanson Aggregate Marine Ltd, are all involved and funding enables the group to hold meetings, maintain and update the website, and continue monitoring of the Overfalls environment.
Humber Estuary European Marine Site Signage Project – Humber Management Scheme
A number of signs will be produced at various locations around the Humber Estuary aimed at providing advice on conducting activities with minimal damage to the Humber’s habitat and species and to enhance visitor’s enjoyment of the site by providing interpretative information. Each sign will contain information about the European Marine Site designation including details of how the site is being managed and the legal protection in place to prevent its degradation.
Chesil Beach Centre Redevelopment – Weymouth and Portland Borough Council
Funding will enable the initial research stage of a wider plan to develop the Chesil Beach Centre. The research will focus on education, interpretation and training needs – including volunteer involvement and the results will be used to help inform improvements in the management of the Chesil Beach Centre and its visitor services, and to help plan for the future facilities and successful operation of the centre and its role as conservation educator.
Teign Estuary Local Nature Reserve – Teign Estuary Partnership
This project aims to designate 300ha of the Teign Estuary as a Local Nature Reserve to facilitate better management of the area and increase public awareness and enjoyment. Full public consultation will take place and an ‘Agreement of Management’ for the LNR will be negotiated between stakeholders to help integrate decision-making. Five interpretation panels will also be installed, as well as an information guide and a range of educational materials for use in schools.
Boscombe Artificial Surf Reef – The identification and application of evidence-based operational management measures – Bournemouth University and Bournemouth Borough Council
This project will involve research to underpin the operational management of the new reef through the identification and application of evidence-based lessons from existing artificial surf reefs around the world. A wide range of stakeholders will be involved and the research will then be used to develop a well researched management scheme to ensure the success of the reef.
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Wales
Ceredigion Recreational Boating Management Scheme, Phase 2: Sea Share – Ceredigion County Council
The scheme will cover the whole of the Ceredigion coastline and inshore waters and provide six launch sites with boat booths/kiosks. A water ranger will be employed to patrol and monitor the area, and help deliver the actions from the Recreational Boating Management Plan. Information/educational materials will also be produced with the aim of encouraging involvement of local people in Marine Protected Area management.
North Wales Marine Fauna Records Digitisation Project – Marine Biological Association
This involves digitising and disseminating a dataset which spans over 150 years and contains over 10,000 species records from a wide range of taxonomic groups. The data has been collected from foreshore and inshore waters and includes many difficult to identify groups, priority habitats and Biodiversity Action Plan species, as well as species recorded as key indicators of climate change.
Llandanwg Dunes Protection Project – Llandanwg Dunes Protection Group
This project will create a boulder bed to build up the foreshore which is seriously depleted and the dunes are therefore subject to frequent wave attack. Funding will also help to replenish the dunes with imported sand, and plant marram grass to help stabilise the dunes and encourage a self-sustaining natural system.
Northern Ireland
Strangford Lough Engagement Project – National Trust
Funding will help update the Strangford Lough information booklet and DVD as well as provide educational support equipment such as telescopes, binoculars, field sampling equipment, and web camera facilities within nesting boxes. A wildlife area adjacent to the Wildlife Centre will also be created.
Safeguarding the Marine Environment in Northern Ireland – RSPB NI
This initiative aims to raise awareness of the rich biodiversity found in the marine environment of Northern Ireland through – i) interpretation leaflets for Rathlin Island, Lough Foyle and Belfast, Strangford & Carlingford Loughs and – ii) a Northern Ireland-wide marine education outreach programme aiming to visit 50 schools per year.
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Scotland
The Moray Firth: Preparing the way for sustainable maritime leisure recreation and tourism development – Moray Firth Partnership
An overview of the current resources and uses of the Moray Firth will be provided with a view to better understanding the pressures on specific areas and species, and understanding the cumulative effects. Information will be gleaned from strategic development plans, population data, etc, to identify likely increases in usage within the next 20 years. The impacts of these will be assessed to help identify areas of the Firth where such development could be accommodated or areas which might require further protection.
Clyde SSMEI/Clyde Area Management Group – Firth of Clyde Forum
Funding will concentrate specifically on the Clyde pilot of the Scottish Sustainable Marine Environment Initiative which supports the delivery of integrated and sustainable management of the marine and coastal areas of the Firth of Clyde, as well as the Clyde Area Management Group which supports the implementation of the Water Framework Directive.
St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve – St Abbs and Eyemouth VMR
We have funded this project for the last three years and the next three years will concentrate on three main objectives: conservation, raising awareness and community involvement. Particular emphasis will be on maintaining key habitats and species in favourable conservation status, strategic partnership working, and producing a outputs aimed at raising awareness of marine wildlife and its conservation.
Tern Conservation in Tayside – Scottish Natural Heritage
24 hour wardening will be provided on the foreshore of Montrose Beach to protect a colony of Schedule 1 little terns during May-September 2008. The terns frequently nest at precarious locations and protection from disturbance will be provided by the wardens who will also be able to provide explanation to members of the public. A temporary shelter with information and interpretation panel will also be erected, along with a temporary fence around the nesting site.
Portree Moorings Association: Phase 2 – Portree Moorings Association
This project involves re-organising the mooring system in Portree Bay to create a safer, more orderly system for users and improving the access to the pier and slipway for both local and visiting craft. Eight new trot moorings will be installed and 10 swinging moorings will be lifted and relocated.
Cardingmill Bay – Oban Landing Stage – Cardingmill Bay Mooring Owners Association
CBMOA are aiming to upgrade the previously abandoned landing stage to north of Cardingmill Bay. The approach walkway will be reconstructed and new pontoons will also be installed. A funding system has been proposed to help towards maintenance.
Small Craft Users Guide: Firth of Forth – Forth Estuary Forum
A free guide for small boat and recreational craft users in the Forth to provide basic guidance on safety and good environmental practice, and act as an introduction to the area for new/novice users. The centrepiece map will help direct users to harbours/marinas with facilities, including the promotion of currently under utilised marinas in the upper Forth.
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