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2.3.8 Management for nature conservation
This section addresses the presence
and management requirements of other nature conservation
designations that already occur within the cSAC.
Figure 14. Ceredigion
Marine Heritage Coast Area
The Ceredigion Marine Heritage Coast
(MHC) was established in 1992 following Ceredigion District
Council's resolution to “endorse the conservation
interests of the New Quay to Tresaith coastal zone as
being worthy of special planning treatment”. The
previous year, a petition containing 668 names of New
Quay residents and visitors had called for the Council
to consider extending the low water mark boundary of
the Heritage Coast between New Quay and Tresaith one
mile seaward because of concerns for the local bottlenose
dolphin population. Its’ current status is that
of a voluntary marine protected area.
The aim of the Marine Heritage Coast
[62] is to “manage the defined
area for the conservation of its natural resources -
flora, fauna, geology and landscape aspects”. The
public consultation exercise following the submission
of the petition had revealed that the development of
public awareness and appropriate use of the area relating
to recreation, conservation and economic utilisation
was considered crucial to achieving this aim.
The objectives of MHC management [63]
were therefore agreed as being:
- to protect and enhance marine
habitats and communities.
- to provide interpretation
and educational facilities that will generate interest,
appreciation and commitment for marine conservation.
- to manage recreational activities
in a way compatible with nature conservation interests
- to support sustainable forms
of tourism that recognise the cultural, social and
environmental well-being of the coastline.
- to use the MHC to promote
marine conservation and the concept of coastal zone
management along the wider Ceredigion coastline.
- to provide the administrative
structure to enable effective communication and informed
decision-making with all departments and outside
organisations.
A feature of the MHC is the extent
to which local people are actively involved in the area's
management. The issue of marine mammal disturbance from
local boating activity had been the main concern expressed
by local people during the initial consultation stages,
and it was apparent that it was this issue that needed
to be addressed first. The integration of community knowledge
of natural features into protected area management is
considered by many to be crucial. However, on this issue,
information available locally varied from individual
to individual. Whilst studies on this subject had been
undertaken in the UK and other countries, and guidelines
produced for good boating practice, it was nevertheless
decided to introduce a survey that involved local people
[64] for a number of reasons:
- to build on local community
interest and support for the MHC by actively involving
them in producing their own science;
- to raise public awareness
of the issue and to influence local behaviour whilst
at sea;
- to obtain further information
that would help guide future management.
The MHC has continued to stress the
importance of linking the need for continued research
and monitoring, and for community involvement with management.
Information gleaned has been transferred into best practice
advice and distributed widely. A Boat Users Guide [65]
has been produced offering advice if cetaceans are encountered,
and these are now distributed by the Harbourmasters at
the main launching sites of New Quay, Aberaeron and Aberystwyth.
The Afon Teifi Fairways Committee distribute the Boat
Users Guide to all Cardigan mooring holders. In consultation
with the local fishermen, a speedboat zone was introduced
in 1995 that offers a safe, unrestricted speed area suitable
for speedboats.
In 1997, the commercial
passenger boat operators agreed a Code
of Conduct [66] for their operations.
The operators also participate in the survey and monitoring
programme, and this data is used to guide the Code's
annual review. At this time, some of the operators expressed
an interest in becoming more involved in informing speedboat/motorboat
users of the MHC whilst at sea. Some operators and the
New Quay Harbourmaster in 1998 took part in a warning "yellow
card" scheme [67] to encourage
compliance to the Code of Conduct of those they witnessed
not adhering to the Code.
Within the Ceredigion area
there are also two stretches of Heritage Coast: New Quay
to Tresaith and Pen-peles to Gwbert.
Fisheries
None of the fisheries management measures
currently in place in Cardigan Bay have been implemented
for nature conservation purposes alone. However, the
current regulatory regime places constraints on fishing
activity that may have benefits for dolphins.
The absence of any fisheries measures
to protect nature conservation does not indicate a lack
of commitment or mechanism for introducing such measures.
Indeed, three pieces of legislation would either allow
or support the introduction of such measures:
Sea Fisheries (Wildlife Conservation)
Act 1992
Since 1992 the NW&NWSFC and the
SWSFC, Environment Agency, and MAFF / National Assembly
for Wales have been required to consider the implications
for marine wildlife in the exercise of their fisheries
management powers.
Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.)
Regulations 1994
These require statutory bodies to use
their powers in a way that complies with the aims of
the Habitats Directive. Within the Cardigan Bay cSAC,
this places obligations on the SFCs, Environment Agency
and Welsh Office to ensure that their powers are used
in a way that contributes towards the conservation objectives
of the site.
Environment Act 1995
This Act enables SFCs to make byelaws
to control fishing expressly for the protection of marine
environmental features, including wildlife and also archaeology.
