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“No Take Zone” proposals for Falmouth, Cornwall
Cornwall County Council
22nd October 2003
The “No Take Zone Roadshow” will be visiting Truro, on Monday the 10th November, to discuss potential locations for “No Take Zones” (NTZs) in the Falmouth Bay and Estuary.
No Take Zones are areas closed to all forms of fishing and they have been proven to be effective at protecting vulnerable life stages of commercial fish, therefore enhancing local fish stocks. They can also play a key role in conserving marine wildlife for everyone to enjoy, as demonstrated in Marine Protected Areas throughout the world.
Following on from NTZ workshops last year, Philippa Hoskin, the Marine Development Officer for Cornwall County Council's Environment and Heritage Service, has now organised an event to discuss potential locations for a NTZ area in the Falmouth Bay and Estuary.
The first true Cornish NTZ was established at St. Agnes in 1997, where local shell fishermen agreed to create a 24 hectare voluntary NTZ within their coastal fishing grounds. This trial has now acted as a catalyst for a five-year county-wide project to monitor the effectiveness of the St Agnes NTZ and encourage debate on the potential for NTZ in inshore Cornish waters.
Philippa Hoskin said, “In the last year I have been making my way around the county to find out what people think about the idea of NTZ. So far, over 400 people have attended workshops and there has generally been support for the concept of NTZs. Now comes the more difficult task of trying to choose the actual areas.”
The Cornwall No Take Zone Working Group was set-up in January, with representation from all interested sectors. The Group recently came up with a selection of ideas for NTZs in the Falmouth area to encourage discussion.
David Muirhead, Chairman of the Cornwall Sea Fisheries Committee explained, “We could keep talking about principles forever and a day. By suggesting actual areas we aim to really find out what the issues are and whether a NTZ can be a reality.”
Philippa Hoskin added, 'It is important that we hear ideas from everyone who works, dives, fishes, goes angling, or simply cares about marine wildlife in the Falmouth Bay and Estuary. We need your comments on the suggested areas or remarks on any other ideas that people have.'
The No Take Zone Workshop will be held on Monday 10th November at the Royal Cornwall Museum Café, Truro, starting at 7pm. Entry is free and open to all, with doors opening at 6.45 pm.
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