1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background
The Medina Estuary is an important natural and heritage resource supporting a wide range of uses and interests. Due to the resulting variety of demands being placed on the estuarine resource, this plan has been developed to explore the future of the estuary. The preparation of the plan has involved collaboration between the range of organisations responsible for activities on the Medina and has involved partnership with the local community.
Following extensive consultation, discussion and research, this plan draws together a framework of management for the estuary. It offers a mechanism to help secure widely acceptable sustainable use of the estuary, with the aim of maintaining both its conservation value, commercial productivity and importance for local people.
The plan makes no attempt to prescribe the outcome of the issues. Rather a framework is offered for their resolution through collaboration within a vision of sustainable management. It is not an attempt to override existing responsibilities but rather, through joint management, to use existing powers and influences to secure agreed objectives, so to improve the value of the estuary to the local community. It is a non-statutory document and success will only be achieved if users and managers work together to implement the plan.
1.2 Coastal and Estuarine Management in Britain
Formal recognition by the UK Government of the need to adopt a strategic approach to estuary and coastal management occurred in 1992, following the publication of a report by the House of Commons Environment Select Committee on coastal planning. The report stated the need for coastal users and managers to work together to produce coastal and estuary management plans. Consequently, estuary management plans are being produced for 39 estuaries in England.
1.3 Medina Estuary Management Plan (MEMP)
The Medina Estuary Management Plan (MEMP) has been developed in response to the House of Commons Select Committee Report on Coastal Planning, the recognition of the importance of European Union (EU) Directives and a recommendation for its development by the Ports Industry. The plan is an informal document which complements and informs the Isle of Wight Unitary Development Plan, the Isle of Wight Local Environment Agency Plan and the Isle of Wight Shoreline Management Plan to provide supplementary advice and guidance for the Medina Estuary. It will also, along with other estuarine and coastal initiatives around the Solent, deliver some of the objectives to the Single Scheme of Management for the Solent Special Area of Conservation. Integration between the MEMP and other plans is important to ensure an understanding between the different bodies managing the coastal zone and to prevent conflict occurring between the policies and objectives in place. An overall integrated management framework is necessary for action and decision making since many activities have wider implications. In addition, it is intended that other organisations will use the ideas set out in the MEMP to inform their policy development and work plans. It has been developed within the confines of the existing legislative framework and aims to build upon it to achieve successful management.
The principal benefits of the plan are:
1.1 Background
The Medina Estuary is an important natural and heritage resource supporting a wide range of uses and interests. Due to the resulting variety of demands being placed on the estuarine resource, this plan has been developed to explore the future of the estuary. The preparation of the plan has involved collaboration between the range of organisations responsible for activities on the Medina and has involved partnership with the local community.
Following extensive consultation, discussion and research, this plan draws together a framework of management for the estuary. It offers a mechanism to help secure widely acceptable sustainable use of the estuary, with the aim of maintaining both its conservation value, commercial productivity and importance for local people.
The plan makes no attempt to prescribe the outcome of the issues. Rather a framework is offered for their resolution through collaboration within a vision of sustainable management. It is not an attempt to override existing responsibilities but rather, through joint management, to use existing powers and influences to secure agreed objectives, so to improve the value of the estuary to the local community. It is a non-statutory document and success will only be achieved if users and managers work together to implement the plan.
1.2 Coastal and Estuarine Management in Britain
Formal recognition by the UK Government of the need to adopt a strategic approach to estuary and coastal management occurred in 1992, following the publication of a report by the House of Commons Environment Select Committee on coastal planning. The report stated the need for coastal users and managers to work together to produce coastal and estuary management plans. Consequently, estuary management plans are being produced for 39 estuaries in England.
1.3 Medina Estuary Management Plan (MEMP)
The Medina Estuary Management Plan (MEMP) has been developed in response to the House of Commons Select Committee Report on Coastal Planning, the recognition of the importance of European Union (EU) Directives and a recommendation for its development by the Ports Industry. The plan is an informal document which complements and informs the Isle of Wight Unitary Development Plan, the Isle of Wight Local Environment Agency Plan and the Isle of Wight Shoreline Management Plan to provide supplementary advice and guidance for the Medina Estuary. It will also, along with other estuarine and coastal initiatives around the Solent, deliver some of the objectives to the Single Scheme of Management for the Solent Special Area of Conservation. Integration between the MEMP and other plans is important to ensure an understanding between the different bodies managing the coastal zone and to prevent conflict occurring between the policies and objectives in place. An overall integrated management framework is necessary for action and decision making since many activities have wider implications. In addition, it is intended that other organisations will use the ideas set out in the MEMP to inform their policy development and work plans. It has been developed within the confines of the existing legislative framework and aims to build upon it to achieve successful management.
The principal benefits of the plan are:
- the collation of existing information relevant to the estuary and the identification of gaps in knowledge;
- the co-ordination of interest groups and agencies with responsibility for the management and regulation of the different aspects relating to the use of the estuary, to form an integrated management structure and an increase in cross-issue understanding;
- the development of a framework which addresses issues relating to the estuary as a whole;
- the development of agreed management
objectives and recommendations ; and
- the provision of a clear statement about the sustainable use of the estuary to provide a bench mark for its future management.
1.4 Area to be included in the Management Plan
The area to be included in the MEMP is shown on Map 1 . The boundary was determined by environmental and use factors established during initial consultation. In order to tackle issues which directly affect the estuary a more flexible consideration of this boundary may be required.
1.5 Format
The MEMP is geared towards stimulating action on the variety of issues which have been identified during the process of plan preparation.
- Section 2.0 of the plan outlines the key areas which require management and identifies: issues which require management; management objectives; and recommendations to address the issue. It also identifies the action required to address the recommendations and the responsible lead body.
- Section 3.0 provides a framework for implementing the action plan.
Page last updated on: 04/09/2001
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