Seasons Greetings from Devon Maritime Forum

Welcome to this first edition of the Devon Maritimie Forum E-Newsletter.  I am delighted to be able to provide you with this new service, and feel it represents the first step in delivering our primary function of facilitating communication to maritime stakeholders in Devon and the South West.  The E-News will be produced monthly/bi-monthly, containing updates on the work of the Forum, as well as relevant news from each sector. 

Its about you:  I would be delighted if you wanted to contribute articles of your own.  Do you have an exciting project you want to talk about?  Is there a particular issue you wish to raise?  Are there important new developments locally in your sector that you want to share?  Please just email me with any information and I will endeavour to include it in the subsequent issue.

Progress: I am proud to be working as the New Forum Co-ordinator and am looking forward to taking the work of the Forum to the next level. 

Our successes this year have included:

• two Forum Meetings in Torbay and Barnstaple
• publication of publicity material aimed at expanding the membership and sponsoring bodies
• launch of this E-Newsletter
• publication of the Estuary Partnerships Review working document
• development of a Business Plan
• development of a Funding Strategy
• Raising awareness of maritime issues by lobbying Environment Devon, the Local Area Agreement, Rural Devon Network and the World Heritage Site Working Group
  

Next year we aim to:

• increase the membership and financial viability of the Forum
• ensure a broader representation of interests withini the Forum
• produce a new one-stop-shop website for public use
• support awareness-raising events such as the 'Fishstock' seafood festival being planned at present
• Provide a valuable service for members by ensuring an appropriate and up-to-date flow of information from the Forum (without burdening your intrays!)
• support stakeholder engagement processes such as Shorline Management Planning and the Water Framework Directive
• lobby for the proposed Marine Management Organisation to be located in Plymouth
• Continue to champion maritime issues at local, regional and national levels
• Provide a neutral Forum for all sectors to air thier views and reach equitable decisions for our coasts and seas
• Deliver various stakeholder symposia, to include two full Forum Meetings
   

Next Forum Meeting:
The next Forum Meeting will be on the 15th May 2008  and will be held in Plymouth at a venue yet to be decided.  Please put this date in your diaries, a full programme will be produced nearer the time.

Photos: 
I am keen to bring the new website to life with a wide variety of high-quality images of life on our coasts and seas.  Do you have any images that you would be happy for us to use?  Do you know of anyone who might have images we can use?  Please contact me with any information.

FISHERMEN in South Devon and the ports along the English Channel coast will struggle to find anything to celebrate in the annual fish quota settlement that Ministers have today decided in Brussels, South-western Fish Producers' Organisation (SWFPO) chief executive Jim Portus said.
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New trawl design proves success against dumping 

A trial of new equipment off the Yorkshire coast is being hailed as a breakthrough which could see a massive reduction in the waste and help to conserve fish stocks.
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Dutch retailers give 100% backing to MSC standard
In an "incredible" move, the Dutch retail sector has united to work towards selling only sustainable fish and seafood.  From 2011, all wild caught fish and seafood at every retail chain in the Netherlands will come from sustainebl fisheries that are certified to the Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) environmental standard.
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There are several consultations in circulation at the present time.  These include the Recreational Sea Angling Consultation by Defra and the JNCC selection process for Special Areas of Conservation.

JNCC consults on the selection of Special Areas of Conservation

http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-4040

Recreational Sea Angling Consultation

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/sea-angling/index.htm

Consultation on Bathing Water Directive  http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/bathingwaters/index.htm

Consultation responses on access to the English coast

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/coast-access/summary-responses.pdf

MFA give green light to surf reef

EUROPE'S first artificial surf reef at Boscombe, Dorset got the green light today, after The Marine and Fisheries Agency granted Bournemouth Borough Council a special environment licence to begin construction of the project. 

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Finding Sanctuary Newsletter

Finding Sanctuary appoints new Project Liaison Officers

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RSPB voices concerns over Government's announcement to increase offshore wind capacity

THE UK Government's announcement to dramatically increase the energy-generating capacity from offshore wind is welcome evidence of its commitment to embrace green energy and face up to the challenge of climate change, RSPB said today. 

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Ports policy interim review
Over the last year the Department has been undertaking a review of its policies regarding ports. The contribution of ports to sustaining our economy and standard of living is crucial.

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Bunker Convention

Pollution damage from fuel oil carried on ships will be covered in 2008 with entry in to force of international bunkers liability and compensation convetion.   

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SOSRep
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is pleased to announce today the appointment of the new Secretary of State's Representative (SOSREP), after a competitive public recruitment process.
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Water borne Freight
The Department for Transport has today published, in Waterborne Freight in the United Kingdom 2006, National Statistics on freight traffic carried on UK inland waters, around the UK coast, to and from UK offshore installations and sea dredging.
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MSC Napoli Update
The cutting machine, which has been secured to the deck since it listed to approximately 40 degrees in storms last month, has been successfully removed and is now on board the SMITBARGE 2.

Last Napoli containers leave Portland
THE final two containers retrieved from the grounded MSC Napoli left the Dorset port of Portland this morning.
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Underwater power plan for coast off Pembrokeshire
Tidal powers scheme's are also being developed for other parts of Wales. Two energy companies are developing plans to build an underwater tidal power station off Pembrokeshire. Eon UK and Lunar Energy have submitted their proposal for the project near St Davids to the UK government.
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GUIDE TO MARINE HABITAT MAPPING IN EUROPE
The Mapping European Seabed Habitats (MESH) Guide provides a methodological framework for marine habitat mapping so that future mapping studies will produce high quality data and maps that are compatible with other products.
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INTEGRATED MARITIME POLICY FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION
The European Commission has released its vision for an Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union. The vision document - also called the Blue book - is accompanied by a detailed Action Plan and a report on the results of the broad stakeholder consultation.
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Statement by Joe Borg on the Conclusions of the European Council on an Integrated Maritime Policy for the Union

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South Korea to give financial help to oil spill victims

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