N ew s
CoastNet regeneration activity in
Devonport, Plymouth takes another
step forward
Children at Mount Wise Primary School,
Devonport, clamour for attention.
Devonport is a deprived area in
Plymouth, Devon which is the
subject of a 10 year Neighbourhood
Renewal programme. CoastNet have
been working there for the past year
to support the work of the Devonport
Regeneration Community
Partnership and others. Successes so
far include securing an in principle
award from Big Lottery Community
Assets programme to refurbish
Devonport Guildhall as a community
arts and education centre, which will
open in 2010. Attention has now
Delegates at Coastal Access conference recognise
urgent need for integrated resource management
The recent CoastNet Coastal Access
conference, delivered in partnership
with Durham Heritage Coast
Partnership considered coastal access
in the wider context of access to coastal
resources, and the consequent need
for an integrated and holistic
management approach to coastal areas.
The characteristics of rural economies
were also considered, as the context for
considering the potential benefits of
coastal access. Three broad conclusions
came out of the event:
• the need for integrated resource
management
• the need to capture benefits for
4 The edge Summer 2008
turned to secure the future of the
Devonport Guildhall and the
OddFellows Hall.
All three buildings formed the original
civic core of Devonport when it
became a town in its own right in
1824 on the back of its dockyard and
naval base. The varying fortunes of the
naval base over the years has had a
huge impact on the community.
CoastNet priorities are to engage the
community in the civic future of
Devonport, by understanding its past
and developing a new sense of place.
Civic buildings seek a new role
in Devonport
rural communities and economies
• the imperative to understand the
needs of the individual user,
which range from group activities
to enjoyment of solitude.
The day following the conference saw
participants experience the issues at
first hand with a trip to the Durham
heritage coast (pictured). The physical
improvements to the coast achieved
through the ‘Turning the tide’ project,
which saw the removal of millions of
tonnes of coal waste from the cliffs
and beaches, had a lasting impact on
all present.
New body proposed
to lobby the EC on
coastal policy and
funding
At the Encora project steering
group meeting in Copenhagen in
February, EUCC proposed the
formation of a new body to
coordinate the activities of coastal
management networks across
Europe. Since then CoastNet have
moderated a debate among Encora
partners and reached agreement
on an initial proposal. It is planned
now to circulate this widely among
other networks in Europe, prior to
the launch of the new body at the
Littoral conference in Venice in
November.
CoastNet sees the primary role of
the body as a means to lobby the
European Commission and
Parliament regarding coastal policy
and funding, so as to create a
better environment for the
activities of networks and coastal
professionals across Europe.

All Party Parliamentary Group
considers Marine Bill
On 4th June the APPG Coastal and
Marine met to consider the issue of
integration within the draft Marine Bill.
Four speakers gave their views and a
general debate followed, chaired by
Norman Lamb MP. Rhoda Ballinger, of
Cardiff University, called for a ‘zip’ to
mesh marine and terrestrial policy,
and ‘Velcro’ to provide a close and
secure fit where plans overlap.
Jim Claydon, of Terence O’Rourke
Associates and RTPI, proposed a UK
level Intergovernmental Committee to
ensure consistency in policy and its
application between the devolved
administrations. Rhona Fairgrieve of
the Scottish Coastal Forum drew
attention to the artificiality of offshore
News in brief
Fisheries and seafood
● Report says supermarkets failing to
adopt sustainable seafood buying
practices in US
According to a new report by
Greenpeace (Carting away the oceans:
how grocery stores are emptying the
seas) US grocery stores are failing to
develop sustainable purchasing
strategies with all 20 of the country’s top
supermarket chains continuing to sell
fish from the Red List. The report
graded supermarket chains on seafood
procurement policies, labelling and
transparency and support for
sustainability initiatives.
● Bluefin tuna fishing ban in the
Mediterranean
The European Commission has banned
Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic
fishers from trawling for bluefin tuna, a
species overfished for years. EU
Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg
rejected calls by some of the countries to
suspend the ban, citing numerous
“failures of implementation and control”
that made it impossible for national tuna
catches to be accurately monitored.
boundaries between devolved
administrations, and Mary Lewis of
Countryside Council for Wales warned
of the potential for policy vacuums
when different administrations
developed policies at a different pace.
Finally, CoastNet raised a question
regarding the unclear relationship
between terrestrial and marine
planning in the proposed Bill, and the
need to understand how the systems
would work together before the Bill can
be considered for fitness of purpose.
The meeting closed with agreement to
submit a report of the meeting as
evidence to the Joint Scrutiny
Committee for the draft Marine Bill.
● Wildlife Foundation say hake could
disappear from Argentina’s seas
Fundación Vida Silvestre, Argentina’s
Wildlife Foundation has called for an
urgent government plan to save the
common hake, Argentina’s largest fish
export, according to ipsnews. An
immediate reduction in capture rates
as well as more equitably distributed
fishing quotas and stricter monitoring
are needed say the group.
Energy
● Britain misses renewable energy
targets
A parliamentary report published in
June outlined how Britain is set to
miss its own renewable energy
targets and fail to meet European
Union requirements unless it steps up
action substantially. Currently less
than five per cent of British electricity
comes from renewables.
● End the offshore oil drill ban
says Bush
President Bush has urged Congress to
end a ban on offshore oil drilling,
seeking to address rising consumer
N ew s
Word up
June 2008
“Every second week when
we get the high tides, there's
always reports of erosion. To
plan for the day when you
no longer have a country is
indeed painful but I think we
have to do that.”
Grim prediction of President
Anote Tong of the South Pacific
nation of Kiribati, in his appeal
on World Environment Day for
countries to provide a home for
his people in the event of global
warming rendering his island
uninhabitable.
worry over record high petrol prices,
according to news agency, Planet Ark.
According to a Reuters/Zogby poll,
about 60 per cent of Americans support
government moves to encourage more
oil drilling and refinery construction as a
way to combat soaring energy prices.
However, the same number also claim
to be in favour of conservation.
Environmental groups have long
opposed expanded offshore oil drilling,
raising concerns about the dangers to
fragile ecosystems as well potential for
oilspills that could mar the US coastline.
Flooding
● New guidance for local councils for
local planning influence on flooding
The UK government has published new
guidance aimed at ensuring local
councils maximise planning rules to
better manage flood risks in their area.
The guide calls on planners to identify
inadequate drainage and surface run-off
or sewer problems and avoid risk by
prioritising non-flood areas for
development.
The edge Summer 2008 5