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Examples of local liaison groups managing recreation
1.
Solway mSAC: Windsurfing
The West Cumbria
windsurfing club is affiliated to the RYA and was formed in
1989 from a group of windsurfers who got to know each other
while sailing on the Westwater. The principle reason for inauguration
was to fight a blanket ban on windsurfing in the Westwater imposed
by the National Trust. The club aims to be a focal point for
windsurfers to put forward their ideas and concerns about development
affecting them in the area and to act as a recognised contact
point for local authorities.
The group has
a place on a forum set up by the Lake District National Park
Authority and a close relationship with local authorities caring
for the Solway Coast.
2.
The Ontario Marina Operators Association (OMOA), Canada
This association
is comprised of over 500 marinas, marine dealers, yacht clubs,
and associate companies who have been working together since
1967 to promote sustainable recreational boating in Ontario.
Recently OMOA has
developed a programme which promotes an interactive hands on
approach to protecting the marine environment. In association
with a number of Clean Marine partners, the Clean
Marine Practices programme has been developed.
The programme allows
all involved in recreational boating to participate in, promote
and enforce good environmental practices. The partners in the
programme encourage marina operators to sell and install Y-valve
seals which ensure that all sewage generated on board is distributed
to the waste holding tanks and not pumped out directly into
the water.
In the future,
the partners are also looking to work with individual marinas
to develop safe and environmentally protected sites. In addition,
the programme offers a clean marine practice handbook which
is accompanies by a day long seminar.
3.
St. Abbs Voluntary Marine Reserve, North Northumberland and
Berwickshire mSAC
The main attraction
of these waters to divers is the quality of the marine environment
which contains spectacular underwater scenery, exceptionally
clear water conditions of up to ten meters and a wide variety
of species where arctic and gulf stream waters meet. These conditions
regularly attract divers from Northern and Middle England who
can dive from the shore as well as from boats. As a result the
area can become very congested at popular times. In response,
the Berwickshire divers have produced a guide to diving in the
reserve which includes a code of practice with advice on conservation.
Following a history
of poor relations between recreational scuba divers, local residents
and in-shore fishermen, divers imposed a voluntary ban on collecting
around St Abbs Head in 1976. In 1984, local fishermen, divers
and conservationists co-operatively created the St Abbs and
Eymouth Voluntary Marine Reserve to safeguard the marine environment
of a 9 km stretch of the Berwickshire coast.
The establishment
of the reserve through local liaison has helped reduce collection
by divers in the area, although the voluntary arrangements have
little effective control over the longer term threats from pollution
and in-shore fishing.
4.
Southampton Water Recreational User Group
The Southampton
Water Recreational User Group comprises the organisations and
representatives of:
The liaison group is comprised
of all sectors of the local water recreational community in
addition to relevant authorities. The development of the group
provides a forum for debate and open discussion. Such groups
are essential for taking the management process.
5.
Port of Plymouth Marine Liaison Committee
The liaison committee
allows for communication between users, the Queens Harbour Masters,
who chair this group and the management group, and English Nature.
The committee has several sub groups that allow for more specific
issues to be addressed. It comprises representatives from:
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