Requirement R009

Requirement detail

Climate change will alter environmental, social and economic conditions and opportunities within or adjacent to marine areas directly or indirectly. Climate change predictions are usually presented at distant time horizons (eg 2100), but impacts (positive or negative) can occur within the 20 year horizon of a marine plan. Impacts are expected to vary in onset time and magnitude among marine plan areas depending on the environmental, social and economic conditions that currently exist and the projections for a plan area.

The MMO therefore seeks better understanding of shorter time scale predictions (eg to 2040) and finer spatial resolution (plan area or better) to identify the timing and magnitude of different impacts on environmental, social and economic conditions in each plan area. This would highlight opportunities for marine plans to improve resilience to climate change and facilitate more targeted management solutions to address impacts that are predicated to occur within the lifespan of marine plans.

Requirement R007

Requirement detail

Evidence on how birds use the marine and coastal environment is important to understand the potential for impacts from marine activity at different times of year and in different places. Less evidence is available on the seasonal useage by birds outside of protected areas relative to those inside, and for species of lower conservation priority listed e.g. those only listed as UK BAP priority bird species.

To support decision making the MMO seeks information on bird distribution in space and time (at least seasonality, and ideally monthly) and the associated habitat usage including migration through, resting, feeding, rafting, moulting or nesting areas as appropriate to the species. This should include both designated and UK BAP priority bird species.

Requirement R100

Requirement detail

Aquaculture has the potential to be one of the fastest growing English maritime sectors. Marine Management Organisation has developed initial approaches to predicting where aquaculture may occur and applied these within East and South marine plan areas. There is the potential to enhance approaches to improve predictions for the potential for aquaculture development nationally.

The consideration should include an estimate of the economic values of aqualculture at each site. Valuation techniques should incorpporate emerging aquaculture products eg seaweed, pharmaceuticals and techniques like multi-trophic aquaculture or offshore cages.

Details on the activities supported by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) programme. This includes a information on:

• development and delivery of the operational programme
• applicant facing tools including e-systems guidance
• scheme governance and management control systems
• programme monitoring committee
• selection criteria draft and adoption

With an autumnal nip in the air, the Environment Agency is urging anyone with a domestic heating oil tank to check their tank is in a good state of repair before getting heating oil delivered for the winter.

Leaks and spills from a domestic heating tank can be difficult and expensive to clean up; leaked oil can end up in groundwater supplies and drains, many of which lead directly into rivers, streams, lakes and even garden ponds.

If oil does get into drains it could pollute watercourses; harming livestock, wildlife and plants. Our vital drinking water can also come from the same surface and groundwater supplies so protection is important.

Oil is poisonous to fish, other wildlife and smothers plants – just two litres of oil could seriously pollute the volume of fresh water needed to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool.

Steve Brown from the Environment Agency said:

Heating oil can cause serious problems if it gets into the water environment.

The clean-up costs could be tens of thousands of pounds; and these costs fall to the owner of the leaking tank. These costs are not always covered by household insurance policies. A serious case of land contamination from a leaking oil tank could also severely affect the value of property in the area.

This is why it’s vital that oil is only ever stored in tanks that are in good condition. Both the tank and its pipe work should be regularly inspected and people should never buy more oil than they can safely store.

If anyone does find a spill, please contact us straight away so that we can reduce the impact on the environment.

To report an oil spill people should contact the Environment Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.