WELCOME TO NORTH SEA MARINE CLUSTER (NSMC)

The North Sea is one of the world's most important commercial and environmental areas. The North Sea Marine Cluster (NSMC) offers the opportunity to capitalise on the wealth of regional marine experience across sectors and represents a geographic concentration of inter-connected interests and expertise. It provides a significant missing component of English regional maritime capacity and capability in this highly important coastal and offshore area.

Cluster development is identified as part of the EU Lisbon Agenda. The European Commission is highly supportive of the cluster approach. It brings together expertise, services, resources, suppliers and skills with the objective of stimulating growth and innovation. Marine clusters can also play a valuable role in marine environmental protection and sustainable development. The importance of cluster development is recognised within the relevant Regional Development Agency's economic strategies and is firmly part of UK Government policy.

The central aim of the NSMC is to develop a collaborative strategy, with emphasis on actions and not just words. The focus will be on activities within the North Sea but application of the collective expertise and skills within the Cluster will also have an EU and international dimension.

The NSMC, created in 2009 by an association between the University of East Anglia in Norwich and the Gardline Group in Great Yarmouth, combines academic excellence with real marine experience acquired in the North Sea and worldwide.

Capabilities are enhanced by the many other organisations that work with Gardline and UEA with expertise in renewables – in particular wind farms, offshore oil and gas, environmental monitoring, planning, surveillance, fabrication and construction.

MARINE PROTECTED AREAS – ASPIRATION OR REALITY?

On 7 April, over 110 delegates representing 80 organisations attended the North Sea Marine Cluster Conference on Marine Protected Areas.

Marine Minister Richard Benyon MP opens the Conference (photo by Katie Anderson)

The conference heard from a range of senior representatives from across sectors on a range of issues associated with Marine Protected Areas. Speakers included:
Richard Benyon MP, Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries
Carla Montesi, Director, DG MARE, European Commission
Jim Smyllie, Executive Director, Natural England
Carolyn Cadman , Director of Networks, MMO
Elizabeth Moore, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Gregory Darling, Chairman of the Gardline Group
Professor Charles Sheppard, University of Warwick
Professor Bela Buck - Alfred-Wegener Institute
Dr Wanfei Qiu, University College, London
Kate Sugar, RSPB
Barry Deas, Chief Executive, NFFO
Daniel Owen, Barrister, Fenners Chambers
Peter Barham, Seabed User and Developers Group
Paul Reynolds, Renewable UK
Conference presentations are available from the following speakers:

2 Wanfei Qiu NSMC April2011.pdf
3 Daniel Owen NSMC April2011.pdf
5 David Mallon NSMC April2011.pdf
6 Jim Smyllie NSMC April2011.pdf
7 Carolyn Cadman NSMC April2011.pdf
8 Elisabeth Moore NSMC April2011.pdf
9 Sheppard NSMC April2011.pdf
10 Kate Sugar NSMC April2011.pdf
11 Gregory Darling NSMC April2011.pdf
12 Peter Barham NSMC April2011.pdf
13 Paul Reynolds NSMC April2011.pdf
14 Barry Deas NSMC April2011.pdf
15 Bela Buck NSMC April2011.pdf

 

Background:

We could be on the brink of the greatest positive set of changes in the way that our seas are managed. Across the broad sweep of marine management, the planned reforms are at that delicate stage between conception and implementation. It would be easy to believe that much of the hard work is done: the long fought argument for reform is won, policies are in place, legislation has been passed and Commissioners and Ministers are firmly committed to the changes happening. But, despite all this, could the reality turn out to be very different from the intention?

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are seen as one of the most important tools for protecting the marine environment. The UK Government and the Devolved Administrations are committed to a massive expansion of MPAs over a short period of years: a process already underway. But, experience elsewhere and the hard lessons of the past suggest that disappointment could be around the corner if insufficient attention is given to the practicalities of implementation.

The aim of the conference was to give further consideration to how these sites should be monitored and managed if the UK is to avoid pitfalls previously experienced, here in the UK and elsewhere, and to gain from the know-how of successful practitioners. We are, therefore, organising a conference aimed at those with a direct interest in the proposed UK network, whether as marine users, those concerned with marine conservation or policy makers and managers (of course, none of these is necessarily exclusive of the others).


Click here for details of the programme

NSMC News

2012-03-29 NSMC publishes case study examining the Chagos Archipelago

The Chagos Archipelago, which forms the British Indian Ocean Territory, has a very special marine environment. It is remarkably rich in biodiversity and has world status ecologically. Because of where it is – in the middle of the Indian Ocean –and its history the Chagos Archipelago has enjoyed relatively little anthropogenic disturbance. The whole marine area was declared a marine protected area (MPA) in April 2010, making it the biggest MPA in the world. The present Coalition Government has since confirmed the UK’s commitment to protecting the highly valued marine habitats and species in and around the Chagos Archipelago. The North Sea Marine Cluster commissioned this report and the underpinning research to help inform consideration of how that goal can best be achieved.

2012-03-23 Marine Management Organization publishes draft for the East marine plan

The MMO have published for public consultation a draft 20- year vision and draft objectives for the East marine plan. The consultation period runs until the 20th of April.

2012-03-14 NSMC visits Oceanology exhibition and conference at ExCel in London

Representatives from the NSMC visited the Oceanology exhibition on the 14th of March for a chance to learn about new opportunities happening in the marine industry as well as to network with other regional clusters.

2012-02-24 NSMC welcomes the appointment of Norfolk County Councillor Philip Hardy as the Council’s Green Advisor

2012-02-14 NSMC welcomes award of Central Government LEP funding to New Anglia LEP

2012-02-09 Coastal Communities Fund Launched

2012-01-26 Rio +20 & Marine “ask”

2011-06-17 29 June 2011 Integrating marine and terrestrial planning - North Sea Marine Cluster, RTPI and Great Yarmouth Borough Council event.

29th June, Great Yarmouth, Imperial Hotel.

2011-03-31 MMO – roles and responsibilities regarding Marine Conservation Zones (March 2010)

The Marine Management Organisation has issued a note that outlines their key roles and responsibilities regarding Marine Conservation Zones.

2010-11-18 18 November 2010 EU Baltic Sea Strategy: One Year On

One year into the implementation phase of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, the Commission is able to note some real achievements and added value from the Strategy in many different areas. New projects addressing identified regional priorities are already making a contribution to reducing high levels of pollution in the sea, improving transport systems and energy networks, and reinforcing protection from major emergencies at sea and on land.

2010-11-16 16 November 2010 NSMC Welcomes Announcement by the Marine Management Organisation

The North Sea Marine Cluster, a local organisation made up of members from the UEA and local offshore data acquisition company Gardline, welcome the announcement by the Marine Management Organisation that the first two marine plan areas to be produced are to be located in a sea area spanning a key part of the North Sea, including the East Anglia region.

2010-10-05 5 Oct Draft UK Marine Policy Statement – Does it do the job?

The UK Government and the Devolved Administrations have jointly consulted on the draft UK Marine Policy Statement (MPS) and various associated documents. It is a huge piece of work with the documents running to well over 200 pages. The MPS is an umbrella paper that sets the framework for marine planning, licensing and other related marine activities and the management of those activities. It builds on a pre-consultation exercise earlier in 2010. Marine Plans and licensing decisions and other marine related authorisations by public bodies are expected to conform to the MPS. If they do not the reasons must be stated.

2010-09-07 7 Sept 2010: Charting Progress 2: The State of UK Seas

Charting Progress 2 is a comprehensive review of the state of our seas and reports on progress since the previous review published in 2005. Arguably Charting Progress 2 is of greater significance than its predecessor, important as that was. It is likely to play a larger part in shaping policy and the future management of UK waters.

2010-08-16 16 Aug 2010: It’s Not Just About Fish

International Conference: Social and Cultural Perspectives of Sustainable Marine Fisheries

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