Identifying Significant Areas in Cornwall's Seas

CORNWALL

Identifying Significant Areas in Cornwall's Seas

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Mullet

If you can answer yes to any of these questions then the Cornwall Wildlife Trust needs to hear from you……

Are you interested in marine wildlife?
Are you interested in marine archaeology?
Are you concerned about the marine environment?
Do you use the seas for recreation or business?
Do you fish?
Do you dive?

Then we need your help!

Eelgrass

Identifying Significant Areas is a project to collect information from people who use the seas for livelihood or leisure, or are simply interested in looking after what we have. We want to find out about the places locals regard as significant or important in Cornish inshore waters - whether that be for wildlife, for recreation and/or economic reasons. It can be because there are important species in the area, because it's a great fishing ground, an important nursery area or dive site... Whatever your reasons we want to know.

The information collected will be mapped to give a detailed picture of significant areas within Cornwall's waters. In future this will provide an invaluable evidence base on which other data can be added to help in the site selection process when implementing Marine Protected Areas.

If you would like to get involved by contributing your local knowledge please return the form below, which is available either on-line or by post, we can then send you a short questionnaire.

Register your interest

Identifying Significant Areas (ISA) - Frequently asked questions

What is ‘Identifying Significant Areas’?

ISA is a project that draws together anecdotal information about marine wildlife in Cornwall. The objective is to identify and map inshore areas which local people think are important for fish and other animals. The project is funded by Cornwall County Council, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

Why is the project being carried out?

It is widely accepted that a considerable amount of knowledge is held by locals who use the seas, both on a commercial and/or recreational basis. Currently their wealth of experience remains largely untapped. ISA is a means of addressing the absence of pooled information and will improve our understanding of inshore waters.

What area does ISA cover?

The project is Cornwall-wide, extending from extreme high water out to the 6-mile limit.

Who does ISA want to hear from?

The project involves people (referred to as ‘stakeholders’) who use inshore waters for livelihood or leisure purposes. Sea anglers, commercial fishermen, divers and spear fishermen are invited to take part, along with boat operators, archaeologists and naturalists.

What information will the project collect?

ISA collects anecdotal information about the places locals think are important in inshore waters. These could be areas where rare or abundant animals are found, they could be sites that are known to be spawning grounds or wrecks and so on. The project will NOT request catch information or specific details about fishing activity.

How will the information be collected?

Information will be gathered using a questionnaire and will not be traceable to source. The interview will take approximately 1 hour and is usually carried out, in person, on a one-to-one basis. Individuals can choose when and where they wish to be ‘interviewed’ to ensure minimal disruption to work or family commitments.

What will happen to the information?

At the end of the ISA project, the anecdotal information collected from different stakeholders will be digitally mapped using a geographic information system (GIS). This will create a picture of ‘significant’ areas in Cornwall, and will be used to identify places that locals believe are important for marine wildlife.

The data collected may also have wider-reaching implications. Earlier this year Defra announced the UK government’s commitment to establishing ‘a network of Marine Protected Areas’ (MPAs). At this stage no-one can be sure about where these MPAs will be situated, how they will be enforced and so forth, but it is widely recognised that MPAs are firmly on the political agenda. It is therefore vital that local people are involved in the process at the earliest opportunity and, through ISA, areas of overlapping interests will begin to emerge. Used alongside formal ‘scientific’ data sets, information collected from the project will be one way in which local voices can be heard.

Why should people get involved?

In order for ISA to be truly representative, the project needs to hear from as many individuals from the different stakeholder groups as possible. It is important that local experience and understanding is heard alongside scientific details in order to gain a better understanding of Cornish waters.

How do people find out more?

The project is being publicised throughout Cornwall in the local press, through organisations and clubs, informal meetings, and by posters and leaflets. Anybody interested in the project or who wishes to find out further information should contact the Project Co-ordinator, Jenny Christie (Phone; 01872 322188).