Marine Protected Areas
Biodiversity in the UKOTs is recognised as of global
significance,, supporting unique ecosystems and a large number of
rare and threatened species. Effective conservation of biodiversity
in the OTs is essential if the UK is to meet the 2020 Biodiversity
Targets, as well as commitments under other relevant Multilateral
Environmental Agreements (MEAs).
One of the strategic priorities of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories
Biodiversity strategy is 'developing ecosystem-based
initiatives for the conservation and sustainable use of the marine
environment'
JNCC is responsible for identifying and providing conservation advice on
MPAs
in UK offshore waters (beyond 12 nautical miles) and has also
co-ordinated technical workshops
on Marine Protected Areas for Overseas Territories experts and
practitioners, and worked in collaboration with in territory
partners on baseline survey to gather evidence for inshore marine
management.
Mapping St. Helena's marine biodiversity to create a marine
management plan 2012-2014
This JNCC-led 2 year Darwin
Initiative project was delivered through the main project
partner - the Environmental
Management Division of the St. Helena Government. The project
aimed to build capacity for local personnel to implement
marine monitoring and management strategies resulting in the
protection and sustainable use of their marine resources in the
long-term. To raise local and international awareness of St.
Helena’s unique marine life.
During the life of the project, 14 new species were
discovered !
The project is now complete. St. Helena Marine Mapping
Darwin Project
completion announcement
August 2014: South Atlantic OT Regional technical
workshop - includes MPA focus.
In June 2014 JNCC collaborated with the Ascension Island
Government to run a regional workshop. The workshop brought
together international and regional technical experts to look at 4
work areas: Marine Protected Areas, Sustainable Fisheries, Seabird
Monitoring and Biodiversity/Environmental Action Planning. The
workshop report and presentations are available here>>
November 2013 Overseas Territories MPA technical workshop
Peterborough
During the last UKOT Biodiversity
Strategy Review Meeting, held at KEW, March 2013, OT
gover
nment participants expressed a desire for
broader based contacts with UK Government experts, particularly
within DEFRA and its family of agencies. Specific issues in need to
be addressed related to current or anticipated marine conservation
and/or management actions were identified at this time and through
subsequent consultation with OT and Crown Dependencies governments.
Technical assistance, capacity building, resources, and an improved
network with UK expertise were identified as critical components
for progress in careful planning and implementation of necessary
conservation actions.
In an attempt to address some of the areas of marine
conservation/management of interest to UKOT governments, and
strengthen the link between available expertise in the UK and its
OTs and Crown Dependencies, a series of technical workshops was
proposed by JNCC, dependent on interest and funding.
An MPA workshop was the first of the proposed series.
It was held in Peterborough at the end of November 2013. A report
on the workshop is available here>>