North Devon Marine Pioneer
The North Devon Marine Pioneer was one of 4 pioneers that was used to test innovative ideas for governance of the environment - to inform the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, using a Natural Capital Approach and other approaches, to enhance the marine environment.
The Marine Pioneer reflected the government’s vision to "be the first generation to leave our environment in a better condition" and through work with the Marine Pioneer Steering Group and Biosphere's Marine Working Group a Marine Natural Capital Plan was developed that used the lessons and demonstration projects from the Marine Pioneer. To find out more visit our Marine Pioneer Library The Marine Pioneer was supported nationally by the Marine Management Organisation but delivered locally by the Marine Pioneer Steering Group. The Biosphere’s marine working group (which is one of 7 working groups) informed the Steering group and helped to deliver the vision of what is needed for North Devon’s marine environment. We worked closely with the Landscape Pioneer to test delivery across the land -sea boundary and the Suffolk Marine Pioneer where we shared ideas and lessons between the two sites. The Marine Pioneer Boundary
The North Devon Marine Pioneer boundary (see map below) was defined through work with the local fishing sector, where the boundary covers the Biosphere marine component and out to 20nm, dipping into Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) waters, and up to the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) at Bridgewater Bay. This was identified as the extent of fishing activity for the inshore fleet that lands in North Devon ports. It extends inland to 1km (to consider social and economic aspects) and up to the tidal limits in the Taw and Torridge rivers to join the boundary of the North Devon Landscape Pioneer. |
Our partners:Marine Management Organisation - Marine Pioneer web page
South West Partnership for Environmental and Economic prosperity (SWEEP) - developed Marine Natural Capital Asset and Risk Register and Sustainability Appraisal that incorporates Natural Capital. WWF - UK SEAS - looking at North Devon's Marine Protected Areas, including working with local communities, communication about the marine environment, sustainable finance and with Natural England, an MPA governance toolkit. Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) are defining innovative Fishery Research and Management Plans Blue Marine Foundation are focussed on North Devon and North Somerset's herring fishery |