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QUARTERLY STEERING COMMITTEE REPORT (October to December 2015, 2015:Q3)

Marine Spatial Planning for the Falkland Islands

Dr Amélie Augé, project officer, SAERI Email: AAuge@env.institute.ac.fk

4 January 2016

The purpose of this report is to describe the activities conducted during the last quarter as part of the Darwin Plus-funded Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) project, the state of activities against the expected outputs in the work plan and an update on the project budget with spent and expected expenses. The quarterly steering committee reports are produced for the steering committee to monitor and assess progresses. Edited versions of the reports are posted on the project webpage.

1. Summary of activities in the second quarter (2015:Q3, Oct-Dec 2015)

Presentations given at the FIG Environmental Committee and the FIG Fisheries Committee

Report submitted to the Executive Council to seek support for implementation of proposed MSP framework

Public outreach campaign: Series of 4 articles published in the local newspaper, 5 blog posts on the SAERI website, radio interviews

Numerous meetings with Government staff to explain MSP implementation framework and get feedbacks and support

Submitted bi-annual Darwin report

Shipping data analysed

Continued to analyse data to create new datasets needed for MSP

Created a range of maps for the upcoming webGIS

Set dates for next workshop (5-8 April 2016) and organised overseas attendance

Completed metadata catalogue and organised data in a MSP spatial database

Fieldwork for historical whale sightings and cultural values completed and analyses finalised and data under analyses

2. Progress against work plan

The work plan for the life of the project is shown in the table below with the detailed expected outputs. The years are Darwin finance years (that are from April to March each year, not calendar years). The outputs relevant to the period 2015 Q3 (Oct-Dec 2015) are highlighted in yellow.

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All activities progressed successfully. The metadata catalogue and database is complete with all essential original data needs for MSP. New data will be added in the future as they become available. The GIS database is built as a QGIS project and maps extracted from that project and will be used for the webGIS. This makes it easily accessible to all potential users, even those with a no or minimal background in GIS. The data analyses of marine megafauna are underway as are data analyses of oceanographic data (e.g. sea surface temperature, geomorphology) to assess the feasibility of bioregionalisation and its use for MSP. Extra activities related to MSP took place during this quarter:

Finalisation of a paper on distribution of stranding cetaceans in the Falkland Islands with submission expected in January. This relates to the potential use of this kind of data to enhance knowledge for MSP.

A study on plastic ingestion by vultures as a proxy to detect a potential issue of human waste management that may lead to marine pollution in coastal areas, and in turn in the marine environment; an important consideration for next phases of MSP. This was conducted outside of work-time as a personal interest/added value.

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3. Budget update

The Darwin budget to report against is (with Darwin expenses categories):

The expenses and revenues for 2015:Q1 are as follow: Description Revenues Expenses*

* Balance

Balance at end June 2015 £6,991.99 Darwin Plus grant 2015:Q2 18060 £25,051.99 Project officer's Salaries 8584.50 £16,467.49 Project officer's Retirement Pension Contributions 188.50 £16,278.99 Project officer's Medical Services Levy 128.76 £16,150.23 Project officer’s mid-contract travel allowance 1600.00 £14,550.23 Maria Dias (BirdLife International) flights for January visit 1784.00 £12,766.23 IMS-GIS Centre – webGIS set up and hardware 3500 £9,266.23 Research assistant’s wages 2042 £6,924.23 Research assistant’s Retirement Pension Contributions 80 £6,544.23 Research assistant’s Medical Services Levy 40 £6,504.23 Cultural value fieldwork transport and accommodation 180.40 £6,323.83 Logistics officer assistance for 2 days 200 £6,123.83 Balance end September 2015 £6,123.83

The non-committed funds from this quarter will be spent in the next quarter for workshop expenses and final research assistant commitment. Expenses planned in the next quarter are:

Expense description Expected costs

Project officer’s salaries and on-costs £8,902

Contributions to BirdLife staff salary £6,000

Accommodation, ground-transport and subsistence for Maria Dias visit £690

Research assistant contribution £1,500

Research assistant print and fieldtrip costs to present results in camp £800

Flights and accommodation for workshop participants £12,500

Room booking for workshop £600

Workshop material £300

Workshop logistic and note-taking assistant £1000

Workshop fieldtrips £1,000

Public outreach material (cultural and whale studies) £300

Total £33,592

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4. MSP GIS database

The MSP GIS database is a simple organised filing system of GIS files. All files have been produced with the same coordinate system (WG84 UTM21S) that is the most acceptable and accurate for the area; however minimal geographic error (in the order of 1 m) occur in the Western-most areas of the Falkland Islands’ EEZ as this projection system was developed for the zone between longitudes 54⁰W and 60⁰W. However, for the scale required for MSP, the location accuracy issue is insignificant. Each file name is coded with a data category (BIO: biological, ANT: anthropogenic, ENV: environmental, SO: social/cultural, GEO: geographic, MGT: management, MSP: results from MSP analyses) and a short description of data type. The database is composed of a Microsoft excel document called Metadata_MSP_GIS_DATA (describing each spatial file, see Appendix 1 for example), a folder called MSP_GIS_DATA (containing all data files) and a QGIS project called ALL_DATASETS_working (see Appendix 2 for visual example). It currently comprises 57 GIS layers; new layers will be added when they become available. Some layers are static and do not need updating (e.g. datasets of animal tracking) but others will require updates (e.g. fishery closures zones or aquaculture) to ensure they are up-to-date. The QGIS project can easily be copied in the FIG intranet system so that all potential users can visualise the layers and simply save the layers that they require from this. QGIS is the GIS software being developed as the standard GIS or use within FIG.

5. MSP webGIS prototype

In complement to the GIS database, a webGIS is being developed to ensure all stakeholders have access to visualising the maps. The webGIS prototype development has been delayed due to some logistical constraints with setting up the necessary hardware and agreements with Sure. The IM-GIS Data Centre manager in charge of setting up the infrastructure needed has been working on sorting the issue. The option of having a Falklands-based webGIS that would be free for local users is no longer sought for the prototype version due to logistical issues. Instead, the webGIS will be cloud-based only (this will require a small monthly fee for cloud housing, https://www.digitalocean.com/ to be used). The prototype will be completed by early February and be online soon after.

6. Cultural values sub-project Denise Herrera interviewed 47 people throughout the Falkland Islands and has mapped coastal cultural values. The maps are being analysed and a final overall layer will be added in the MSP metadata catalogue and database. Denise will also send results to all participants as part of the public outreach for MSP. A scientific paper will be written.

7. Whale sightings sub-project Veronica Frans interviewed 58 people and gathered an extensive database of historical and contemporary whale sightings in Falklands’ waters (including whaling records, fishery observer sightings, FIGAS pilots) and has created GIS files. Mapping is underway to

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produce the final map of hotspots of whale sightings for inclusion in the MSP database. A scientific paper will be prepared to publish the results.

8. Response to submitted Executive Council report The Executive Council (ExCo) report (attached in Appendix 3) was submitted to the ExCo for the 16th December meeting. The ExCo report and recommendations were favourably received and the ExCo agreed to the needs and support for MSP in the Falkland Islands. The next step is a submission to the Budget Select Committee to detail budget requirements and request the financial commitments to implement MSP and create an initial Marine Spatial Plan for the Islands. The ExCo Memorandum for the MSP Report submitted to this meeting stated: “Executive Council: • acknowledged the importance of implementing an MSP process for the long-term sustainable and safe management of the coastal and marine environments of the Falkland Islands and that such a process is grounded in objective and sound science; • agreed to support and the creation of an MSP Plan, according to the framework and details provided in this paper and with the addition of a finer scale delivery and financial plan; • referred the request for funding to the 2016/17 Budget Select Committee; and • agreed to make this paper and all appendices public.” The public report on the meeting of ExCo stated: “Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) was the subject of the next paper. Members agree that a MSP should be considered for the Islands as it would benefit many sectors and enhance the international reputation of the Falklands with regard to care of the marine environment. However, members did not go so far as to agree implementation of a MSP framework at this stage and want to consider the cost of preparing a plan and the FIG resources that may be required to support the preparation at Budget Select Committee.”

9. Work plan for the next quarter

Submit detail budget and expected outputs of an MSP framework implementation to the Budget Select Committee

Complete analyses for the cultural values to create a new spatial dataset for MSP and present results to the community

Complete analyses for the whale sighting distribution to create a new spatial dataset for MSP and present results to the community

Creation of webGIS tool by the IMS-GIS Data Centre including acquisition of a sever to host the data (Dr iLaria Marengo is the lead on the setting up)

Organise all logistics and material for the April MSP workshop

Employ a short-term research assistant to complete the kelp bed mapping and help with workshop

Publish the second series of local newspaper articles and blog posts for public outreach

Finalise marine megafauna analyses to identify key areas for this group as input for MSP

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Appendix 1: Selected examples of entries in the metadata catalogue, Metadata_MSP_GIS_DATA

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Appendix 2: MSP database as a QGIS project (displaying selected layers as examples)

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Appendix 3: Report submitted to the FIG Executive Committee - Starts next page -

Appendix 3

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EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

PUBLIC

Title of Report:

Marine Spatial Planning Framework

Paper No:

235/15

Date:

16th

December 2015

Report of:

Director of SAERI/Head of Policy

1.0 Purpose

1.1 To demonstrate the importance, benefits and cost-saving of establishing now a Marine

Spatial Planning (MSP) process in the Falkland Islands (with regard to a sustainable

economy, marine safety and environmental management) that will fulfil one of the

Islands Plan actions.

1.2 To update Executive Council about MSP as initiated by the 2-year Darwin Plus-funded

project led by the South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute (SAERI), and the

stakeholder engagement and support for MSP.

1.3 To inform members about the recommended framework and indicative resources needed

to implement MSP in the Falkland Islands in the long-term, developed as part of the

Darwin-Plus project.

2.0 Recommendations

2.1 Executive Council is recommended to acknowledge the importance of implementing an

MSP process for the long-term sustainable and safe management of the coastal and

marine environments of the Falkland Islands and that such a process is grounded in

objective and sound science.

2.2 Executive Council is recommended to agree to support, in principle, the implementation

of an MSP framework in the Falkland Islands, and the creation of an MSP Plan,

according to the framework and details provided in this paper and with the addition of a

finer scale delivery and financial plan.

2.3 Executive Council is recommended to refer the request for funding to the 2016/17

Budget Select Committee.

2.4 Executive Council is recommended to make this paper and all appendices attached

public.

3.0 Additional Budgetary Implications

2016/17 2017/18 Annual recurring

afterwards

Operating budget £50,000 £45,000 TBA

Appendix 3

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4.0 Background

4.1. The Members of the Legislative Assembly stated in their Islands Plan 2014-2018 that

they will “implement appropriate […] marine spatial planning frameworks to ensure the

preservation and management of […] marine environments of the Falkland Islands”.

4.2. A Marine Spatial Plan (Plan) is a strategic coordinated plan for regulating, managing and

protecting the marine environment that addresses the multiple, cumulative and

potentially conflicting uses of the sea, current and future, typically with a 20-25 year

vision. Marine Spatial Planning is the science-grounded process needed to produce and

maintain an efficient Plan in the long-term. The process involves understanding and

mapping wildlife and human activities, spatial analyses of risks, and stakeholder

engagement. The process is stakeholder-driven. MSP implementation will demonstrate

governmental commitment to ensure safety at sea and to establish environmental

stewardship, which is important in the current geopolitical context.

4.3. The GDP of the Falkland Islands is highly dependent on the marine environment,

currently via commercial fisheries and tourism. Ensuring this environment is sustainably

managed will be critical to the economic future of the Islands. Many cultural values of

Falkland Islanders are also dependent on the marine and coastal environments (see figure

below). Non-commitment to MSP will increase risks of damage to the environment and

to economic and cultural values. MSP will demonstrate that FIG has followed best-

practice to limit risks and protect the environment, in case a disaster occurs.

4.4. MSP is a forward-looking process that will ensure long-term sustainable economic

development while protecting the core marine values (economic, cultural and

environmental) of the Falkland Islands. It produces recommendations that are evidence-

based and grounded in scientific data.

4.5. MSP, in concept, is not new to the Falklands, where the Fisheries Department has lead

the way in establishing various levels of spatial protection for commercially-important

Appendix 3

3

species, including zoning implemented through fishing licenses. The Mineral Resources

Department has also led the way in establishing spatial management measures by

creating license blocks to contain oil exploration. Implementing MSP will now give FIG

the overarching framework to coordinately manage all marine activities, current and

future.

4.6. Darwin Plus (a UK-Government grant scheme for environmental scientific research in

the UKOTs) has funded a research project called ‘Marine Spatial Planning for the

Falkland Islands’ for 2 years (July 2014-2016). The grant was awarded to SAERI with

the aim to provide the initial sets of tools and recommendations for implementation of an

MSP framework in the Falklands. More details on the project can be found on the

webpage: http://south-atlantic-research.org/research/current-research/marine-spatial-

planning. FIG now has the opportunity to use the momentum provided by this external

funding to facilitate the implementation of MSP and ensure a coordinated approach to

sustainable management of the marine activities in the Falklands.

4.7. The MSP benefits and framework paper was submitted to the Environment Committee in

August 2015 and a presentation given in October 2015. A further draft of this report was

circulated via e-mail in November with the addition of budget implications as requested.

In response to this draft report, two members indicated broad support for the Marine

Spatial Planning process and one member (FIFCA) raised concerns (as at 04/12/15).

FIFCA’s comments included concerns over budget and human resources needed to

service MSP, that that our marine environment does not contain the complexity of

conflicts that other nations may face and that current marine management practices

within the Falkland Islands are sufficient. The Environment Planning Department (EPD)

indicated strong support for the project but, noting that the Environment Committee had

not voted on the matter by the time this report was submitted, they therefore requested

that the report be modified. The recommendations have been amended accordingly.

5.0 Benefits provided by the Darwin-Plus Marine Spatial Planning Project

5.1. An important part of MSP is mapping how humans and wildlife use and value the marine

environment to identify areas of overlap indicating potential conflicts and opportunities,

now and in the future (see examples of mapping in Appendix 3). Mapping also requires

the production of new critical datasets previously inexistent such as shipping data (see

Appendix 4a). Analyses of the data have already provided important tools for FIG and

stakeholders (Appendix 4c) and will provide many more benefits in the future, for

example a Berkeley Sound marine zoning scheme (Appendix 5a) and shipping exclusion

zones to reduce the risks of catastrophic oil spills in vulnerable areas (Appendix 5b).

5.2. The MSP project has led to the formation of a steering committee containing 7 local

stakeholder representatives. This committee has met 9 times since August 2014 (see

Appendix 2). The steering committee supports the implementation of MSP, at the

exception of one stakeholder group. This committee has provided a platform for novel

discussions and learning such as on overseas examples (e.g. Shetland Islands), maritime

accidents, risks from general shipping traffic, importance of cultural values etc. There

were also 4 workshops organised that all or some of the stakeholders attended, and 39

meetings with individual stakeholder representatives during the same period.

5.3. Stakeholder engagement has already led to some voluntary uptake of MSP

recommendations (e.g. by the Royal Navy, see Appendix 4b) and gave the opportunity for

data sharing within the Islands (the MSP project provided new data to other FIG

Departments) and between the Islands and international experts.

Appendix 3

4

5.4. By the end of the 2-year initial Darwin Plus funded project, a preliminary Geographic

Information system (GIS) database and maps will be available to FIG and stakeholders,

along with recommendations for priority management to inform future steps in the form

of a ‘Policy paper’. A prototype public webGIS will also be available online to display

and overlay these maps as a new innovative MSP tool.

6.0 Marine Spatial Planning framework for the Falkland Islands

6.1. In order to undertake such an MSP process in the Falklands, an implementation

framework is proposed as below. This implementation framework is based on a

successful example of MSP process in the Shetland Islands that has been developed there

since 2004 (see Appendix 1 and consult the webpage for more details:

http://www.nafc.uhi.ac.uk/research/msp/simsp/simsp).

This is the suggested structure for MSP implementation in the Falkland Islands:

The MSP Forum will be made of local stakeholder representatives, including those from

the community and the government. It will lead the design of the Plan. The MSP Science

team should be made of a managing scientist to coordinate the MSP Forum, report on its

meetings, update the MSP website and prepare the Plan (as designed and approved by the

Forum) and other scientists and research assistants to help fill data gaps or conduct

focused analyses. The Plan is a document containing details of marine activities and areas

Appendix 3

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of values and recommendations for management, and is accompanied by a public webGIS

for ease of display and overlay of maps. The MSP Officer manages the Plan within FIG

and its uptake, voluntary and official, by coordinating actions with stakeholders for the

former, and by submitting policies for the later. The Marine Officer (or one of their staff)

is the logical lead on MSP for FIG.

6.2. The Plan will provide a long-term overarching policy framework to guide marine

management in the Falkland Islands in the next 25 years. The first Falkland Islands

Marine Spatial Plan could be produced within 2 years, but management decisions, based

on the results of the MSP project and further research and analyses, can be taken in the

meantime. The Plan will require monitoring and updating at regular intervals.

6.3. There are 2 ways that the recommendations from the Plan can be implemented: voluntary

and official. Voluntary implementation provides the opportunity for stakeholders to

change their practices or design new rules (for instance in licenses) quickly and without

administrative burden. The MSP Officer assists them in that step, and the MSP Science

Team can provide further advice. Official implementation provides the opportunity to

legislate recommendations, if particular management types require legislation or

international recognition (for instance shipping exclusion zones or marine protected

areas).

6.4. MSP will also provide a useful framework to help all marine users, investors and

managers make informed decisions or plan more suitable proposals by having access to

the Plan and the webGIS, including emergency services (for instance during events

similar to the recent Le Boréal incident).

7.0.Financial Implications

7.1. The long-term implementation of the MSP framework in the Falkland Islands will

require financial commitments from FIG. It is estimated that this commitment should

start for 2 years with approximately £50,000 (2016/17) and £45,000 (2017/18). However,

this is subject to consultation and refinement. The costs may be reduced in later years

once MSP is established within FIG, but this needs to be examined in greater details

during the establishment phase.

7.2. It is recommended that there is a full-time MSP Managing Scientist (continuation of the

current MSP Project Manager post), coordinating the MSP Forum, managing the

research needed for MSP, and preparing the Plan.

7.3. The Managing Scientist would also coordinate, write and apply for external grants and

funding, in collaboration with international collaborators, to employ scientists and

research assistants and conduct scientific research needed for MSP. This will be added

value to the MSP process and bring money for needed science in the Falkland Islands.

8.0.Legal Implications

8.1. None

9.0.Human Resources Implications

9.1. Non-currently. The implementation of the MSP framework in the Falkland Islands as

recommended in this paper may not require any new post. The Managing Scientist

should ideally be working outside of FIG (as favoured by the MSP steering committee)

or follow-on from an existing post within FIG. The Marine Officer, subject to

Appendix 3

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agreements, would logically be in charge of the MSP Plan and of its application and

delivery. Therefore there will be time required for this new duty. It is assumed that the

existing post of Assistant Marine Officer in the Fisheries Department will be filled early

in 2016. There is therefore scope to recruit someone with a background on the marine

environment to be the MSP Officer for FIG as part of this new position. This option was

discussed with the Director of Fisheries and the Marine Officer. Whether an individual

with the technical marine industry competencies and some environmental experience and

qualifications can be recruited remains to be seen (training in MSP could also be

provided for a motivated individual).

10.0. Concluding remarks

10.1. The implementation of a long-term stakeholder-led MSP process and the production of

a 25-year Falkland Islands Marine Spatial Plan will allow:

Coordinated and sustainable long-term marine economic development

Increased safety at sea

Improved management of maritime and coastal accidents

Design of effective protection measures to safeguard important marine

resources, places and wildlife

International recognition of FIG’s environmental stewardship

10.2. It is, now, the perfect timing for FIG to commit to a long-term Marine Spatial Plan

because there are still currently limited pressures and risks, but marine activities are

increasing, including in the context of preparedness for oil development and potential

inshore oil transfers. Many other countries are implementing MSP only once

environmental damages have already occurred or conflicts between activities already

exist. It is then a much more costly and complicated task. FIG has now the opportunity

to implement efficient MSP, currently in a simple and cost-saving way.

10.3. In conclusion, a governmental commitment to MSP in the Falkland Islands will, for

minimal investments:

Save money in the long-term by preventing issues, protecting important

resources and sites, and responding more efficiently to accidents

Reduce risks to the marine environment, on which the two main economic

activities bringing money to the islands rely (fisheries and tourism)

Resolve or avoid conflicts amongst marine users

Provide a platform for coordinated stakeholders’ engagement and applied

scientific research .

Appendix 3

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Appendix 1 – Example of the Marine Spatial Plan for the Shetland Islands

This is an extract from the website http://www.nafc.uhi.ac.uk/research/msp/simsp/simsp,

flowed by maps extracted from the Plan.

Appendix 3

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Appendix 2 – Stakeholder engagement

List of members of the MSP project steering committee (meets every three months and in

regular contact outside of these meetings): Current:

- Alexander Arkhipkin (FIG Fisheries

Department)

- Jon Boot (FIPLA)

- Paul Brewin (SMSG, SGSSIG)

- Bill Dawson (Royal Navy)

- Ben Lascelles (BirdLife International)

- Chris Locke (FIG Fisheries Department)

- Tim Martin (FIPLA)

- Stephanie Middleton (Falkland Islands Tourism

Board)

- Andy Pollard (FIFCA)

- Nick Rendell (FIG Environmental Department)

- Andy Stanworth (Falklands Conservation)

- Phil Trathan (British Antarctic Survey)

Past (due to employee changes):

- Paul Brewin (FIG Fisheries Department)

- Ken Humphrey (FIPLA)

- Malcolm Jamieson (FIG Fisheries Department)

Extracts from statements made by members of the steering committee:

“Participation in the MSP process development has been a revelation from the outset. A very

early indication of some of the powerful benefits available was when we identified that some

of the military exercise areas overlapped a major penguin and seal foraging area. […] The

beauty of the MSP system is that the more you add to it, the better it gets and the more

opportunities start to reveal themselves.”

Bill Dawson

“I have been involved in both the MSP project Steering Group and MSP workshop hosted in

Cambridge. Both, but particularly the workshop, have provided for engaging with experts in a

range of MSP related topics. […].It has also been useful, through the project, to develop

understanding of stakeholder concerns with regard to MSP.”

Andy Stanworth

“The MSP project has highlighted aspects of our managed areas where improvements can be

made In particular, illustrating some not well understood vessel movements […].New data

has come to been introduced through the workshops […] which have already aided in better

management […]. With the growing needs of a rapidly developing hydrocarbon industry in

the Falklands, a robust marine spatial management plan will benefit all marine users,

mitigating risk as well as protecting our marine resources.”

Paul Brewin

List of stakeholder workshops on MSP process

Event Location Date and time Number of

attendees

Public consultation #1: MSP

for the Falkland Islands

Chamber of Commerce

meeting room, Stanley,

Falkland Islands

4/11/14 from

5pm to 8pm 18

Workshop #1: MSP for the

Falkland Islands "Setting

the scene"

FIG Fisheries Department

meeting room, Stanley,

Falkland Islands

24/11/14 from

8.30am to

12.30am

17

Workshop #2: MSP for the

Falkland Islands

"Developing the tools"

Homerton Conference

Centre, Cambridge, UK

16-17/04/15 9am

to 5pm 22

Appendix 3

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Appendix 3 – Examples of mapping for MSP

Locations of breeding colonies of seabirds (albatross, giant petrels, penguins) and seals (yellow stars)

and hotspots of breeding from analyses of colony locations (red areas). Data source: Falklands

Conservation, Alistair Baylis and authors’ additions.

Identification of areas used and favoured for pleasure boating (sailing and small motor boat) from

manual mapping by stakeholder consultation (including the Falkland Islands Yacht Club and

individual sailors)

Appendix 3

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Appendix 4 – Benefits of MSP to date

a) New critical data. For instance: First shipping dataset for the Falkland Islands (over one year of

full hourly AIS locations of all boats and ships, top map) that allows mapping shipping patterns

(such as paths of cargo all around the Islands, bottom map).

Appendix 3

11

Appendix 4 – Benefits of MSP to date (continued)

b) Voluntary practice changes from maps produced and given to stakeholders. For instance:

Dangerous military exercise areas to avoid safety and environmental risks with fishing boats

and penguin foraging grounds where they used to overlap (as shown in maps below provided

to the Royal Navy). Fishing activity data came from AIS system; penguin data were provided

by the GAP project.

Appendix 3

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Appendix 4 – Benefits of MSP to date (continued)

c) Preliminary analyses to advise government. For instance, analyses of cetacean strandings to provide

monitoring opportunities (important for MSP to determine potential impacts to manage; top map), or

analyses of biosecurity risk areas due to international shipping (important for MSP to determine

sensitive areas; bottom map).

Appendix 3

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Appendix 5 – MSP future benefits

a) Berkeley Sound Marine Zoning. The map above presents the human use of Berkeley Sound

with the locations of all vessels (fishing, cargo, reefers, tankers, launches, yachts, and others)

that have used the Sound over one year (May 2014-May 2015) and locations of environmental

features (Land nature reserves and sites of penguin and seal colonies). The only mooring is

found next to Kidney Island. Cochon and Kidney Islands are nature reserves.

This map demonstrates that the Sound is already extensively used for human activities (commercial

fishing vessels being the principal users) and that the potential for inshore oil transfers in the Sound

will lead to competition for space. MSP, by providing all the scientific evidence and a platform for

discussion via the MSP Forum and workshops, can help resolve issues while also considering

protection of environmental and cultural values within the area. A marine zoning for Berkeley Sound

through MSP will offer a risk-minimising solution to ensure all activities can take place in a safety-

first environment.

Appendix 3

14

Appendix 5 – MSP future benefits (continued)

b) Protection of vulnerable areas. Shipping traffic poses navigational hazard areas when ships

pass by shallow or dangerous areas; ships may ground and oil spills may occur. By identifying

navigational risk areas, vulnerable areas can be protected by creating shipping exclusion zones or

shipping lanes. This will minimise the risks of oil spills (that may affect important areas for

tourism, but also fishing grounds for extended periods; e.g. the container ship Rena in 2011 in

New Zealand).

Left: Cargo traffic near Kidney Island and Volunteer

Point, important sites for the tourism industry

Below: Example of the Rena oil spill (similar size to many

cargo ships around the Falkland Islands)