The Finding Sanctuary Project
Monday 14th December 2009

The Finding Sanctuary project is encouraging you to tell them which areas of sea around the south-west are important to you. In November 2009, the new Marine and Coastal Access Act became law. Amongst other things, the Act will introduce new protected areas called Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). These MCZs will aim to protect marine animals, plants, and habitats around the coasts and seas of England, by managing how we use particular parts of the sea. Boating is one of the activities that could be restricted within MCZs in certain ways, which may in turn affect some activities. Therefore it’s important you have the opportunity to have your say on where MCZs should be located around the south-west region. Exeter-based project, Finding Sanctuary, has been set up to help you to do just this. Through working with local sea users to understand how different groups use the sea, the project will ensure MCZs in the south-west are planned in a way that minimises conflicts with human uses, and at the same time that they meet the conservation goals.

Finding Sanctuary staff are conducting face to face mapping interviews with sea users throughout the region to record your knowledge of your local area, information on which areas of sea you use, and any concerns you may have. By sharing your knowledge and information with Finding Sanctuary, you are ensuring that your interests can be taken into account.
If you would like to have a voice in this process, please get in touch with Beth Henshall. Beth will be happy to meet with you to discuss the project in more detail and conduct a short face to face interview. To arrange an interview please call Beth on:

07709 495629

or email her at:

beth.henshall@southwestfoodanddrink.com

For more information about Finding Sanctuary, visit www.finding-sanctuary.org. Alternatively, you can share your information online using our Interactive Map:

For more information please visit http://www.finding-sanctuary.org/page/webGIS..