The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) works on several programs to protect UK seas including fisheries management, reducing marine pollution, and monitoring marine species and habitats. Through their Beachwatch program, over 110,000 volunteers have collected litter data along UK coastlines. This data has helped pass policies like single-use plastic bag bans. MCS also runs a citizen science diving program called Seasearch that collects species and habitat records to help identify and manage marine protected areas. The document describes a case study where MCS used a community engagement method to facilitate stakeholder workshops on managing the Kingmere Marine Conservation Zone off the Sussex coast.

1. www.mcsuk.org

2. Photo: Paul Naylor
Sustainable fisheries, abundant marine life and
clean seas and beaches for the enjoyment of all.

3. Photo: Christine McGuiness
MCS POLLUTION PROGRAMME
“…Clean seas and beaches…”

4. BEACHWATCH

5. 110,000 volunteers have collected and
recorded 6,000,000 pieces of litter along
4,815km of coastline to build a 21-year dataset

6. Life-long learning through participation in MCS projects,
campaigns, volunteering and outreach.

7. Data Evidence Solutions
 Monitor trends, types and sources;
 Inform campaigns;
 Marine Litter Strategies (UK);
 Marine Strategy Framework Directive (EU).

9. 2011
Beachwatch data helps persuade Welsh
Government to introduce a single use bag levy.
Supermarkets report up to a 96% drop in bags
handed out.
2012
Northern Ireland follows suit.
2014
Scotland puts levy into place.
2015
England introduces weaker version next week!
Break
the bag
habit!

10. MCS contracted by Defra to run litter monitoring on 19 beaches
around the UK, 4 times per year for the next three years.
Data feeds into the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)
to monitor UK progress against Descriptor 10 target - ‘a reduction
of visible marine litter on beaches’.

11. MCS FISHERIES & AQUACULTURE PROGRAMME
“Sustainable fisheries…”

12. Photo: Morrisons
CONSUMER & RETAIL
AWARENESS

17. MCS Biodiversity Programme
“…Abundant marine life…”
Photo: Charles Hood

18. Citizen science

19. Photo: Mike Daines

21. Photo: Mike Daines

22. Photo: Colin Speedie
CITIZEN SCIENCE LEADING TO SPECIES PROTECTION

24. Photo: Mark Thomas
MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

27. Photo: Paul Naylor
MULTI-PARTNER APPROACH TO MPA MANAGEMENT
EDDYSTONE SAC MONITORING
• MCS
• Cornwall IFCA
• University of Exeter
• Pigshed Trust

28. 1. What does Seasearch do?
2. Seasearch Data
3. Making Recording RelevantAreas
• Coordinated by MCS, working with
WTs;
• Survey dives all round the coasts of
UK and Ireland;
• Record rare, unusual and climate
change indicator species; non-native
species; human impacts – fishing
and litter.
• Target gaps in current knowledge;
priority species and habitats; existing
and potential MPAs throughout UK
waters.

29. Photo: Chris Wood

30. Photo: Chris Wood
• All data circulated to government
conservation agencies and
Biodiversity Record Centres
• All species data available to use via
the National Biodiversity Network.
• Seasearch dataset comprises:
– 17,000 survey dives
– 505,000 species records
– 59,000 habitat records
Data used in UK MPA processes.

31. THE MANACLES MCZ AND DEAN QUARRY

33. 200m
200m

34. High/Medium Energy Infralittoral Rock -
“maintain in favourable condition”
Seasearch surveys suggest there will be
direct physical impact from harbour works.
Photo: Chris Wood

35. Subtidal sand -
“Maintain in favourable condition”
Seasearch surveys suggest there will be direct
physical impact from harbour works. Photo: Chris Wood

36. Spiny lobster (Palinurus elephas) -
“Recover to favourable condition”
Seasearch surveys suggest there will be
direct physical and sedimentation
impacts.
Photo: Chris Wood
• Seasearch
• University of Exeter
• Porthkerris Dive Centre
• MCS
• Cornwall Wildlife Trust

37. Photo: Chris Wood
SEASEARCH HAS A KEY ROLE IN
ADVOCACY AND MONITORING OF OUR
INSHORE MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

39. Stakeholder engagement

40. Community Voice Method
Photo: Peter Richardson
Supported by
Community Voice Consulting

41. Kingmere MCZ Beachy Head West MCZ

42. KINGMERE MCZ
Photo: Peter Richardson

43. KINGMERE MCZ
Photo: Peter Richardson
Photo: Chris WoodPhoto: Clark & James
Habitat & species features
• Subtidal chalk
• Moderate energy infralittoral (subtidal) rock and thin mixed
sediments
• Spawning black bream (Spondyliosoma cantharus)

45. Photo: www.totallyawesomefishing.com
SIGNIFICANT COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHING INTERESTS

46. Tim Dapling
Chief Fisheries Officer
Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA)
MCZ consultation and management is an
additional draw on already-stretched IFCA
resources.
Photo: Peter Richardson

47. Research documentary Community screenings & Stakeholder workshops
Photo: Peter Richardson
MCS supporting SUSSEX IFCA
through the
COMMUNITY VOICE METHOD

48. Photo: Erin Pettifer Sussex IFCA
Angling Charter
Littlehampton 2
Brighton 1
Angling - Recreational
Hastings 1
Bexhill 2
Brighton 1
Angling - Commercial 1
Commercial fishing - static
Selsey 2
Worthing 1
Littlehampton 1
Shoreham 1
Eastbourne 2
Hastings 1
Commercial fishing - mobile
Shoreham 2
Newhaven 2
Rye 1
Commercial fishing –
static & mobile
1
Fishing related
(Hastings Fishermen’s Protection Society)
1
Supply chain
(fishmonger/restaurant)
2
Academic 1
Regulator
(IFCA, NE, Harbour, EA)
4
Aggregates 1
Marine archeology 1
Environment
(NGOs, National Park, Independent)
3
Sailing 1
Diving 4
TOTAL 41
Filmed interviews

49. Photo: Peter Richardson
41 interviews edited to two 35-minute
Community Voice Method films
Featuring a suite of stakeholder views
“SEEKING BALANCE”

50. Stakeholder workshops - film screening
Photo: Sue Ranger

51. Photo: Amdeep Sanghera/ MCS
Workshops
6 workshops were held in October and November 2014
Shoreham
Brighton
Newhaven
Eastbourne
Hastings
Littlehampton

52. Workshop exercises explored stakeholder views
on proposed management measures through
structured discussions and multi-criteria analysis.

53. Photo: Mark Thomas
Feedback

54. 85 participants with
a variety of
stakeholder interests
completed and
returned a feedback
questionnaire.
50% of
respondents said
they had not
participated in
fisheries
management
consultation before.
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Commercial fishing - mobile
Commercial fishing static
Commercial sea angling
Charter boat angling
Recreational sea angling
Diving
Sailing/boating
Other recreation
Conservation
Local government
Regulator
Other
Kingmere
Beachy Head West

55. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
strongly
disagree
disagree neutral agree strongly
agree
I felt the film reflected the
range of community views

56. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
strongly
disagree
disagree neutral agree strongly
agree
I felt my views were heard
and considered

57. I felt I could give useful input on the
management of the MCZ
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
strongly
disagree
disagree neutral agree strongly
agree

58. Increased my knowledge
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
strongly
disagree
disagree neutral agree strongly
agree
Discussing management of the
MCZ with others:
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
strongly
disagree
disagree neutral agree strongly
agree
Increased my understanding of
others’ points of view
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
strongly
disagree
disagree neutral agree strongly
agree
Was useful for me personally

59. KINGMERE MCZ BYELAW PUBLIC CONSULTATION – CLOSES 7TH OCT

60. NEXT STEPS
Sussex IFCA – formal consultation happening now!
MCS – ongoing liaison with Sussex IFCA; new CVM project
with Eastern IFCA, including business plan and funding
model to scale up CVM.
Photo: Peter Richardson

61. THANK YOU
Photo: Peter Richardson
WE CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE
CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF OUR COAST
AND INSHORE SEAS.
BEYOND ADVOCACY, WHAT IS OUR ROLE OFFSHORE?

62. www.mcsuk.org