The Challenge of Managing Marine Resources

Industry's role in managing marine resources

Peter Barham. Environmental Consultant. peterjbarham@googlemail.com

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