The Challenge of Managing Marine Resources
Industry's role in managing marine resources
Peter Barham. Environmental Consultant. [email protected]
Associated British Ports
HullGoole
NewportCardiff
Port TalbotBarry
Swansea
Immingham Grimsby
Southampton
Teignmouth
TroonAyr
Silloth
Barrow
Fleetwood
Garston
Ipswich
Lowestoft
Plymouth
King’s Lynn
• UK’s largest ports company
• 21 operations• Handles more than 25% of
all UK seaborne trade• Competent Harbour
Authorities• Safety of navigation
paramount• Environmental
management integral to port management
Port Locations and Conservation Designations
Ports and Sustainable Development
• Ports industry is environmentally responsible• Ports industry is essential for global markets • Ports industry needs to accommodate
changes to shipping and growth in markets• Ports industry is a key aspect in sustainable
transport
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
objectives to deliver Sustainable Development:-
– Achieving a sustainable marine economy– Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society– Living within environmental limits– Promoting good governance; and– Using sound science responsibly
So working with nature is critical to SD
The environment: part of the problem or part of the solution?
• the nature of the location - do we know enough about it
• the nature of the problem - do we properly understand it or do we have a solution before we understand the problem
• the options – are we open to the right option rather than just the one we want
• does the preferred option really acknowledge the environment
Or both?
Working with the environment - tried and tested
• from the outset • establish project need and objectives• understand the environment • make meaningful use of stakeholder engagement
to identify possible win-win opportunities• prepare initial project proposals/design to benefit
navigation and nature• discuss with key stakeholders – environment and
commercial• iterate design as necessary
Working with the environment increasingly
• focuses on achieving the project objectives in an ecosystem context rather than assessing the consequences of a predefined project design;
• focuses on identifying win-win solutions rather than simply minimising ecological harm.
But can this always be achieved?What do we need to do to make it
achievable?
Humber Estuary: Designations
ABP approach
• SCOPING• preparation of EA based on a range of options• identification of impacts
– on ecology– on favourable conservation status
• decision on likely significant effect• mitigation or compensation or both• production of IROPI
ABP approach (continued)
• Development of options• Choice of preferred option• Information on wider coastal management
issues• Agreement on compensation objectives• Construction • Monitoring
Port Development: Immingham
Immingham Outer Harbour being dredged
Where is the win win?
Compensation Objectives
• need to comply with Habitats Directive• need to contribute to long term estuary management• need to agree with regulators and NGOs
Legal Agreement
• Created commitment to compensation• Clarified compensation objective• Allowed objectors to remove objections• Avoided public inquiry• Recognised long term dynamic nature of estuary• Allows migration of mudflat to saltmarsh• Resolved issue of ‘like for like’ habitat
requirements
Chowder Ness ForeshoreChowder Ness Foreshore
Chowder Ness
Doig’s Creek
Welwick ForeshoreWelwick Foreshore
Welwick – first winter
But how much is this working with nature or simply addressing environmental regulations?
Environmental Issues - the need for change by developers and regulatory bodies
• The need to contribute to sustainable development
• The need to clarify what the law requires• The need to identify and deliver long term
targets• The need to find better ways of working
Marine Objectives designed to…..
• Steer administrations and wider public sector towards sustainable marine development
• Steer, inform and educate• Underpin UK approach in developing
European policy• Underpin development of an integrated
marine policy statement
Current situation
• Little clarity about what we want to achieve in the marine area• To achieve sustainable development we must have
development, but:– Marine development is expensive– Planning and getting consent for major developments takes a long time– Uncertainty about which developments will be supported increases
investor risk
• Current investment conditions are risk averse• Economic objectives will not be achieved (with attendant loss
of economic and social benefits)• Sustainable development will not be achieved
What Industry Wants
• Clear commitment to sustainable development – including more environmental protection where it’s
needed• Clear support for economic development
– energy, renewable energy, marine aggregates, ports etc
• Clear objectives and policies that will facilitate delivery– allowing environmental objectives to be built into
sustainable developments• Win-win solutions for business and the environment
– we have shown that development can also deliver environmental benefits]
Conclusions
• sustainable development• to protect and improve the environment• to comply with legislation• to work together• to identify shared objectives for long term management
– conservation needs– regulatory needs