Response to statements by Roger Covey, Natural England
by Roger Hollingsworth, RCYC and PoFSA 28 Oct 2011 13:51 BST
St Mawes Bank Proposed Marine Reference Conservation Zone
I write in response to, as I find them, the misleading statements made by Natural England spokesman Roger Covey in Helen Dale’s article in the West Briton.
Contrary to Mr Covey’s assertions, the Finding Sanctuary regional stakeholder group, as I suspect he knows full well, was neither made up of local “yachtsmen” nor all “fishermen” representatives because as I understand it, the Newlyn fishermen had withdrawn from Finding Sanctuary in protest and no one from the Falmouth sailing clubs had been invited to attend. As I see it, this is one of the key issues in the public misrepresentation I believe to be taking place. If one wanted proper stakeholder representation, surely the major stakeholder, Falmouth Docks should have been invited? For me, this perceived lack of clarity of the truth is one of the reasons why I find the Finding Sanctuary report and its recommendations fundamentally flawed.
The Harbour Commissioners had to press hard to get their representative accepted, and then only at a late stage. Cornwall Marine Network was not invited to replace their representative when he withdrew because of other commitments. As a nominated RYA liaison person I never was informed of any of the working group meetings; I heard nothing! I was not invited! Was this because I had previously provided Finding Sanctuary with ample proof of the Fal estuary’s intense recreational activity and they knew I would oppose the St Mawes Bank reference zone? Did they choose not to ask for a Docks representative for similar reasons?
Let’s make it clear, neither the RCYC nor PoFSA oppose reasonable conservation. St Mawes Bank is already a protected site being in a “Special Area of Conservation” (SAC). We do not oppose Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ). It is the Reference MCZ we oppose and the draconian conservation controls that Natural England publically advises should be enforced for such reference zoning. I feel Roger Covey fails to explain this point fairly.
Let’s for once be honest, presently, if the St Mawes Bank Reference MCZ proceeds, the conservationists through the Marine Management Organisation will have the legal powers to stop any activity they consider damaging such as anchoring, large ship movements or even beachcombing. The chart produced by the Joint Nature Conservation Council (JNCC) makes this completely clear. This is why the Reference MCZ is opposed by:
- Falmouth Docks
- Cornwall Council
- Falmouth Town Council
- Falmouth Harbour Commissioners
- Cornwall Marine Network
- The Royal Yachting Association
- Port of Falmouth sailing association and all the Falmouth sailing clubs
All oppose the proposed St Mawes Bank Reference zone because it will either restrict, or stop activities or damage their interests. The Fal estuary is already a well-managed conservation zone. Why should Falmouth allow itself to be pressurised by Natural England and a minority of conservationist into accepting something which is going to lose jobs and damage Cornwall’s economy for no gain?
Roger Hollingsworth
RYA SW, Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, and Port of Falmouth Sailing Association