In April 2012 Welsh Government consulted on a proposal to designate 3 or 4 highly protected MCZs. This met with strong opposition, which resulted in the previous Environment Minister, John Griffiths, suspending the consultation and creating a new MCZ Stakeholder Focus Group. This group was formed to work with a Welsh Government Task & Finish Team on informing a new approach to MCZs in Wales.
Today, 18th July, Alun Davies, the Minister for Natural Resources and Food announced the new approach for the Welsh MCZ project.
He has formally withdrawn the initial 10 sites, and planning on undertaking a full analysis of the gaps in the existing network. Put simply this means the Welsh Government are going to re-look at where sites will be best placed to improve our marine environment.
The RSPB, along with other stakeholders, have been working with Welsh Government to help develop recommendations. You can read the full report from the task and finish team here: http://wales.gov.uk/docs/desh/publications/130717task-and-finish-team-report-on-mczs-in-wales-en.pdf
Whilst it’s great news that the Welsh Government is looking to deliver a real network of protected sites, it does mean further delays. What we need to now is a clear plan of action setting out how the government will deliver the new sites, and how it will fund them.
But in case you thought it was all about MCZs - it isn't. The minister also announced , that later this year Welsh Government will finally begin the process of designating the SPA extensions for seabirds - something we've been calling for since 2008!!
This is in no small part thanks to all our supporters who signed the marine pledge - now we may finally get some of the areas our seabirds need. A place to breed (and steps towards) a place to feed! There is still much more work to be done in truly delivering the sites to protect our seabirds, but this is hopefully a confident step in the right direction.