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LIFE ReMEDIES project bid update

ReMEDIES is a 4-year partnership project aimed at finding solutions to recreational pressures in marine Special Areas of Conservation. The focus is on improving the condition of seagrass beds and mudflats in 5 SACs through the implementation of reasonable solutions. The project aims to protect, restore, engage, and monitor these habitats to bring them into a favorable condition.

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LIFE ReMEDIES project bid update

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  1. NRW NRW LIFE ReMEDIES project bid update Gavin Black

  2. LIFE Recreation ReMEDIES • ReMEDIES = Reducing and Mitigating Erosion and Disturbance Impacts Effecting the Seabed • 4 year partnership project that aims to find solutions to recreational pressures, such as anchoring and mooring, and trampling from walkers and bait diggers, in marine Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). • Focus is on improving the condition of subfeatures of Annex 1 habitats (e.g. subtidal sandbanks, intertidal mud and sand flats) i.e. intertidal and subtidal seagrass beds and mudflats, in 5 SACs: • Isles of Scilly Complex; • Fal and Helford; • Plymouth Sound & Estuaries; • Solent Maritime; • Essex Estuaries

  3. Partners • Project main partners: • NE (Lead partner); RYA; NMA; Swansea University; TECF • Interested partners inc: • MMO; Harbour Authorities; Local Wildlife Trusts; Seaflex and Sealite (EFM manufacturers); Portsmouth University; Marine Conservation Society and others. • If successful, 60% of costs will covered by EU contribution and 40% financed by beneficiaries' contributions.

  4. Project aim • The five SACs were selected because: • The SACs and Annex 1 habitats are all currently Unfavourable due to the poor state of their seagrass beds • There is a high concentration of mooring areas (258) and anchoring areas (183) across the 5 SACs demonstrating the intensity of recreational activity in these sites. • Seagrass is particularly important e.g. Isles of Scilly has the most extensive subtidal seagrass beds in England. • Project aim: Implement reasonable solutions to resolve conflicts between recreational marine users and the marine environment by delivering the conservation required to bring the Annex 1 habitats into Favourable condition.

  5. Why seagrass? • Seagrass is not the only habitat being considered but it is a key focus • Subfeature of Annex 1 habitats protected under national and European law. • Only marine flowering plant in English waters • Often vital habitat for a wide range of species including • Nursery for many commercially fished species • Protected species such as seahorses, stalked jellyfish • Provides myriad of ecosystem goods and services to society inc. • Slows erosion (by slowing waves and binding sediment) • Locks carbon away in sediment (2t C/Ha/yr) • Produces oxygen • Only ca. 10% of beds remain (c.f 100 yrs ago) from wasting disease and other impacts

  6. Pressures • Seagrass beds are very sensitive and continue to be exposed to anthropogenic pressures including physical disturbance from anchoring, mooring and trampling among others. • Some of the key pressures/threats to these habitats are currently being addressed: • Fishing activity (fisheries management projects); • Pollution (Water Framework Directive initiatives); • Industry (licensing controls) & Invasive species (RAPID - LIFE16 NAT/UK/000582). However, tackling recreational pressures is a key gap.

  7. Objectives Objectives: • Protect: Reduce and remove recreational pressures to ‘at risk’ seagrass beds using best practice management techniques for reducing recreational pressure such as: • environmentally friendly moorings (eco-moorings), codes of conduct, training, behavioural change, managing access and habitat restoration. • Restore: Demonstrate large scale successful restoration and management techniques to a wide audience. • Engage: Promote awareness and inspire better care of the Annex 1 habitats by recreational users. • Monitor: Assess changes resulting from the various actions e.g. ecological monitoring, social science Each site will tailor what is implemented depending on its needs. Therefore much has yet to be decided and agreed.

  8. Isles of Scilly SAC Isles of Scilly SAC

  9. Fal and Helford SAC • Map!!

  10. Plymouth Sound and Estuaries SAC

  11. Solent Maritime SAC

  12. Essex Estuaries SAC

  13. Timeline Discussions/ costs (a-c) LIFE EoI Apr - June 2018 (c-f) Full Application Oct 2018- Jan 2019 (c-f) Revisions Mar- Jun 2019 (f) Project starts Jul- Sep?

  14. Thank you Any questions? Gavin.black@naturalengland.org.uk

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