Guidance

Marine pioneer projects

Updated 17 January 2019

A steering group of government marine representatives led by Defra marine policy and evidence identified the two project areas and engaged the host organisations, providing short term funding for a project officer in each area. They liaised with the SWEEP marine team and WWF to agree their contribution to the North Devon pioneer and worked with CECAN to develop a PhD on evaluation and the marine pioneer.

The core project team (programme lead and local project officers are in place since June 2017) and local steering groups (in place since March 2017) are established and work streams and initial demonstration projects (more below) are agreed. The programme lead and two project officers are wholly focused on delivering the programme. Practitioners from government and non-government organisations are providing expertise, knowledge, time and resources within their current roles to carry out demonstration projects.
In North Devon stakeholders were invited to define their long term goals and aspirations for North Devon’s marine area (March 2017). While in Suffolk the marine pioneer steering group have listed their desires and goals for the local area (March 2017).

The steering groups have agreed to carry out the following demonstration projects. We hope that more people, groups and sectors will get involved so we can accumulate as many quality demonstration projects as possible to combine into a lessons learned package.

The demonstration projects agreed so far are:

1. North Devon

North Devon
Development of a natural capital decision support tool including geodatabase with values and risk register – SWEEP – Plymouth Marine Laboratory, University of Plymouth
Essence – provide information and practical tools (adapted from existing if possible) to support decision making that accounts for the importance of natural capital to people’s health and prosperity as well as to nature’s healthy biodiverse seas
Measure of success/outcome/impact – A tool that has been tested in situ by local decision makers and is being shared widely for further implementation
Done – Local stakeholders workshop to set goals, South West Natural Capital workshop, Decision support tool workshop and draft report
Doing – geodatabase development, analysis for development of decision support tool
To do – Complete geodatabase, benefits mapping and decision support tool

North Devon
Integrated marine spatial plan with options for local decision making – Marine Pioneer project officer led with MMO and pioneer steering group
Essence – Develop and test a local spatially specific evidence base that can be used to support discussions of opportunities and risks for activities, developments and management approaches
Measure of success/outcome/impact – A spatially explicit North Devon local marine plan that is integrated with the South West Marine Plan
Done – Project description document prepared for discussion, MMO planners discussion
Doing – Preparing discussion points for next meeting, exploring funding opportunities
To do – Meeting between pioneer project officer and marine planners to discuss details and develop project specification, funding application, project delivery

North Devon
Better management of Marine Protected Areas – UKSeas - WWF
Essence – To develop a sustainable and long term approach to management of MPAs that considers and balances different interests.
Measure of success/outcome/impact – Adopted approaches for management of MPAs in North Devon that help nature and people to thrive.
Done – North Devon stakeholder analysis, MPAs governance report
Doing – Ecosystem services and benefits for MPAs, Report on sustainable finance for MPAs, engagement of MPA related stakeholders
To do – Test MPA governance options, sustainable MPAs finance options analysis and new tools for engagement with local communities to inspire stewardship

North Devon
Development of locally tailored fisheries research and management plans to support a sustainably caught fish marketing project and an exploration of regional management options – Devon and Severn IFCA leading with industry, Blue Marine Foundation, Defra and Cefas input
Essence – To develop marketing initiatives based on improving the sustainability of locally caught fish by assessing specific stocks and trialling management options through a partnership group.
Measure of success/outcome/impact – Options to implement a sustainably caught market for some North Devon fisheries
Done – Agreement to use of fisheries data, meetings with fishermen, inclusion of Blue Marine Foundation on the steering group, development of project specifications
Doing – Meeting with Defra to agree project details, discussing with scientists to explore evidence, data and analysis options
To do - Development of market for local sustainably caught fish, fisheries assessment and plan, develop project on herring

North Devon
Investment plan for coastal habitat and biodiversity restoration – Biosphere Director leading
Essence – Develop and implement a strategy for investment in restoration of coastal natural capital
Measure of success/outcome/impact – Investment in projects to restore habitat and biodiversity
Done – Funding secured
Doing – application or funding to collate satellite data to prepare natural capital asset and risk registers
To do – Identify environmental priorities, develop a medium to long term investment and action plan

North Devon
Joint work with the landscape pioneer on governance across the land – sea interface – Landscape and Marine pioneer leads and steering groups
Essence – Integrate planning and delivery of the natural capital approach across land, coast and sea for environmental net gain
Measure of success/outcome/impact – New and tested ways of working that integrate management, planning and delivery across the land and sea interface
Done – Exploration begun into public service boards,
Doing – Discussing how to incorporate environmental net gain in decision making using a natural capital approach (including via coastal concordat) in areas that overlap between land and sea, discussing coastal habitat restoration possibilities
To do – investigate the potential of a source to coast fly through to highlight connections and integrations

2. Suffolk

Suffolk
Create a Natural capital account for saltmarsh – Suffolk saltmarsh group and pioneer officer
Essence – To create a local natural capital account for saltmarsh habitats
Measure of success/outcome/impact – A completed account
Done – Natural Capital Accounting initial baselining from ‘stock’ evidence (NCC stage 2)
Doing – Developing baseline to suitable detail for NCC approach facilitated in part by potential collaboration with UEA Cranfield and Cambridge Universities (ARISE). Unlocking barriers to (desirable) delivery.
To do – Collate maps of saltmarsh assets. Developing financing solutions to fund saltmarsh restoration/creation through public and private investment

Suffolk
Exploration of investment options for Kessingland and Benacre flood resilience – Water Management Alliance
Essence – Explore solutions to local delivery of government policy in the absence of central funding
Measure of success/outcome/impact – Funding secured for flood resilience and lessons learned for investment in restoration of natural capital
Done – Identification of exemplar scenario that garners public, community and private support and investment for net benefit and improved natural capital
Doing – Compiling investment rationale and expectation from investors
To do – Rationalise learning and lessons. Producing toolkit to inform future application of natural capital approach

Suffolk
Demonstrate application of the natural capital approach in offshore environments through the current licensing and planning systems – MMO, SUDG, Defra, JNCC, EA and NE
Essence – Explore how a natural capital approach could be applied in the coastal and offshore areas in the current planning and licensing regime
Measure of success/outcome/impact – A toolkit for applying the natural capital approach in the current regulatory system and options for future adjustments with lessons learned and best practice
Done – Agreement to explore setting up this project with SUDG, EA, JNCC and MMO.
Doing – Writing a short specification for the work and organising an initial ideas meeting.
To do – establish a working group to carry out this demonstration project, complete a project plan, resource the plan, deliver the work