The Challenge of Managing Marine Resources Industry's role in managing marine resources Peter Barham. Environmental Consultant.

Associated British Ports Hull Goole Newport Cardiff Port Talbot Barry Swansea Immingham Grimsby Southampton Teignmouth Troon Ayr Silloth Barrow Fleetwood Garston Ipswich Lowestoft Plymouth King’s Lynn UK’s largest ports company 21 operations Handles more than 25% of all UK seaborne trade Competent Harbour Authorities Safety of navigation paramount Environmental management integral to port management

Port Locations and Conservation Designations

Ports and Sustainable Development Ports industry is environmentally responsible Ports industry is essential for global markets Ports industry needs to accommodate changes to shipping and growth in markets Ports industry is a key aspect in sustainable transport

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT objectives to deliver Sustainable Development:- – Achieving a sustainable marine economy – Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society – Living within environmental limits – Promoting good governance; and – Using sound science responsibly So working with nature is critical to SD

The environment: part of the problem or part of the solution? the nature of the location - do we know enough about it the nature of the problem - do we properly understand it or do we have a solution before we understand the problem the options – are we open to the right option rather than just the one we want does the preferred option really acknowledge the environment Or both?

Working with the environment - tried and tested from the outset establish project need and objectives understand the environment make meaningful use of stakeholder engagement to identify possible win-win opportunities prepare initial project proposals/design to benefit navigation and nature discuss with key stakeholders – environment and commercial iterate design as necessary

Working with the environment increasingly focuses on achieving the project objectives in an ecosystem context rather than assessing the consequences of a predefined project design; focuses on identifying win-win solutions rather than simply minimising ecological harm. But can this always be achieved? What do we need to do to make it achievable?

Humber Estuary: Designations

ABP approach SCOPING preparation of EA based on a range of options identification of impacts – on ecology – on favourable conservation status decision on likely significant effect mitigation or compensation or both production of IROPI

ABP approach (continued) Development of options Choice of preferred option Information on wider coastal management issues Agreement on compensation objectives Construction Monitoring

Port Development: Immingham

Immingham Outer Harbour being dredged Where is the win win?

Compensation Objectives need to comply with Habitats Directive need to contribute to long term estuary management need to agree with regulators and NGOs

Legal Agreement Created commitment to compensation Clarified compensation objective Allowed objectors to remove objections Avoided public inquiry Recognised long term dynamic nature of estuary Allows migration of mudflat to saltmarsh Resolved issue of ‘like for like’ habitat requirements

Chowder Ness Foreshore

Chowder Ness

Doig’s Creek

Welwick Foreshore

Welwick – first winter But how much is this working with nature or simply addressing environmental regulations?

Environmental Issues - the need for change by developers and regulatory bodies The need to contribute to sustainable development The need to clarify what the law requires The need to identify and deliver long term targets The need to find better ways of working

Marine Objectives designed to….. Steer administrations and wider public sector towards sustainable marine development Steer, inform and educate Underpin UK approach in developing European policy Underpin development of an integrated marine policy statement

Current situation Little clarity about what we want to achieve in the marine area To achieve sustainable development we must have development, but: – Marine development is expensive – Planning and getting consent for major developments takes a long time – Uncertainty about which developments will be supported increases investor risk Current investment conditions are risk averse Economic objectives will not be achieved (with attendant loss of economic and social benefits) Sustainable development will not be achieved

What Industry Wants Clear commitment to sustainable development – including more environmental protection where it’s needed Clear support for economic development – energy, renewable energy, marine aggregates, ports etc Clear objectives and policies that will facilitate delivery – allowing environmental objectives to be built into sustainable developments Win-win solutions for business and the environment – we have shown that development can also deliver environmental benefits]

Conclusions sustainable development to protect and improve the environment to comply with legislation to work together to identify shared objectives for long term management – conservation needs – regulatory needs