ABPmer to Advise Defra on Socio-economic Factors in the Planning of Marine Protected Area Networks

ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd (ABPmer) has recently been contracted by Defra to lead a project that will identify how socio-economic factors might be considered in the planning of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

The UK Government is committed (through OSPAR and the World Summit on Sustainable Development) to setting up a network of MPAs that will contribute to the protection of marine ecosystems and biodiversity.  Draft guidance (Defra, 2008) accompanying the draft Marine Bill provides for decision makers to have regard to the economic and social consequences of designating particular areas.  The selection of sites will be undertaken at a regional level with the establishment of a number of Regional MPA Projects (which are being led by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Natural England).

Stephen Hull, Project Director, ABPmer says he is excited by the prospect of a project that will start to take forward the consideration of the socio-economic information requirements to inform MPA identification, designation and management. 

“ Having been fortunate to be involved in a considerable number of marine spatial planning and socio-economic studies, we have significant experience of the use of marine datasets and marine socio-economic data, its limitations and its application in decision making .”

ABPmer, working with Eftec, will identify and present options for taking socio-economic factors into account when developing potential networks of MPAs.  This work will include details on data layers that may be considered key in helping to inform site selection and for use in stakeholder engagement activities.

ABPmer’s established GIS and Data Team are currently leading a project to provide Government with UK-wide Digital Mapping of the distribution of important biological, geological and geomorphological conservation features to support Marine Protected Area Planning.  Later this month, ABPmer will also complete spatial information layers on the location and economic value of commercial fishing activities in UK waters.  This work was funded by COWRIE (Collaborative Offshore Wind Research Into The Environment) to support strategic siting assessments for Round 3 Offshore Wind Farms but will also be of relevance for other marine projects.

Enquiries:
Dr Stephen Hull 
Director, ABPmer
Tel: 02380 711840

Tracey Hewett
ABPmer Communications
Tel: 02380 711840

Defra Project Reference:
MB0104: Determining how and what to take into account in the planning of marine protected area networks – socio-economic data

Defra Project Manager:
Jo Myers
R&D Programme Manager
Tel: 0117 372 8166