Solent Forum Members Meeting Minutes
Westgate Hall, Southampton
Wednesday 15th March 2017
1 Chairman’s welcome and opening remarks
Peter Barham (PB) welcomed Members to the meeting. The minutes of the last
meeting have been updated and are on the Forum's website, where all papers will be
found from now on.
PB spoke of the sad death of Maldwin Drummond, the first Chair of the Solent Forum,
who died peacefully on 18th February. He chaired the Forum for its first sixteen years
and helped to establish it in 1992 and grow it to the organisation we have today. He
was a leading protagonist for the conservation of historic ships including the SS Great
Britain, Cutty Sark and HMS Warrior. He was an environmentalist and author and
made a significant contribution to many organisations around the Solent.
PB welcomed Liz Inwards who has just been appointed as the Forum's summer
placement student. Liz is on the Coastal and Marine Management MSc course at the
University of Portsmouth; she will be with us between 24th April and 21st August.
PB reminded Members of the forthcoming 25th Anniversary Conference on 10th May,
and other events through the week 8th – 14th May. Members are invited to hold their
own events that week and the Forum will help to publicise them.
The list of delegates and apologies received can be found at the end of these minutes.
Details of the presentations and dates of future meetings can be found on the Solent
Forum website at http://www.solentforum.org/networking/meeting/.
2 Solent Forum Update Karen McHugh, Solent Forum
Karen McHugh (KM) gave an update on the Forum’s progress on core activities, subgroups and projects.
The Forum’s website continues to be developed and improved, and the Solent
Information Database has had a major overhaul – it contains summaries of, and links
to, a wide range of material of interest to coastal and marine communities around the
Solent.
KM also updated Members on the Forum’s work with the MMO, Marine Protected
Areas around the Solent, projects including ‘The Beneficial use of Dredgings in the
Solent’ (BUDS), Horizon Scanning and the Blue Economy; further details were given
on each of these. In addition, the online Coastal Consents Guide will be updated this
summer.
The Solent Forum is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2017 and we are planning a
week of events in the week beginning 8th May 2017. Key Solent Forum events
include:
‘Solent Matters: Shaping up for another 25 years’ conference will be held on 10th May
at the SPARK conference suite at Southampton Solent University. Bookings are still
open; the capacity is 78 and bookings are over fifty percent full1. Solent Matters has
four sponsors: FugroEMU, BMAPA, Southern Water and the University of Portsmouth.
A celebratory evening meal will take place on board HMS Warrior on Thursday 11th
May.
Presentation on the Forum website
3 South Coast Marine Plan and Defra 25 Year Plan - Peter Barham
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) apologised for being unable to
attend the meeting; they sent an update on the South Coast Marine Plan which
is on the Forum website.
PB summarised the progress that has been made with the South Coast Marine
Plan, saying that is a very important document and that the Forum will take
every opportunity to work with the MMO in order to have an impact and make
sure it goes forward.
The responses to the consultation on the South Coast Marine Plan are not
being published.
Presentation on the Forum website
A discussion followed. Angela Leadsom had said the government wants to be first to
leave the environment in a better state than when they came into power. We should be
optimistic about Defra’s 25 year plan; however Brexit is now impinging on Defra and it
is particularly important that the Forum works with our local partners on coastal issues.
It was disappointing that the MMO had been unable to attend, but PB pointed out that
they have lost around forty percent of their budget; they were most apologetic and
undertook to attend the next Forum meeting
4 Solent MCZs - an Update on Tranche 3 - Hilary Crane, Natural England
Hilary Crane (HC) reminded Members that the Marine Protected Area (MPA) network is
a valuable tool to conserve marine biodiversity and functionality of marine ecosystems,
and that government is committed to completing the ‘Blue Belt’ to deliver this in the UK.
Two Tranches of sites have been designated as Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs)
and Tranche 3 (the final tranche) is considering the remaining recommended MCZs
from the regional projects. Fareham Creek is not being considered in Tranche 3
however, due to a lack of evidence for the proposed features (apart from the native
oyster, which has adequate representation within the Isle of Wight sites). HC
1
Further bookings have been taken since the SF Members meeting and there are now only two
places left for the Conference
-2-
described the outstanding features of the three local sites in Tranche 3: Yarmouth to
Cowes, Norris to Ryde and Bembridge.
Asked by Defra to extend their stakeholder consultation, Natural England (NE) met with
the Isle of Wight Council and Harbour Authorities and developed alternative boundary
options for two sites. A number of stakeholder ‘drop in’ events are also being held for
various sectors and the general community and HC gave details of some of these.
HC outlined the timescales for Tranche 3 MCZs. The date for formal consultation has
not been announced but is expected to be late summer or early autumn. HC stressed
that this will be the public’s opportunity to express their views to Defra.
Data and contact information for the sites were available at the meeting and are also
included in the presentation and accessible online.
Presentation on the Forum website. MCZ Infographics available at
http://www.solentems.org.uk/sems/Conservation_advice_workshop/
Asked about the meaning of the blue belt network connecting sites, HC referred to
guidance on 'ecological networks'2; it does not mean there will be blanket exclusions or
'no go' areas. HC will report back to NE on the concerns expressed at the meeting.
It was pointed out that there is evidence of a recent increase in the number of seahorse
sightings and also of swings in their population numbers. HC and PB requested
Members to submit such information in response to the consultation when it opens.
Solent Forum Professor Mike Clark Award Winners 2017
5 A critical evaluation of stakeholder engagement in adaptive management: a
case study of East Head, Chichester Harbour, UK - Rebecca Creed, University of
Portsmouth
Rebecca Creed's (RC) project critically evaluated the perceptions of the East Head
Coastal Issues Advisory Group (EHCIAG) towards the adaptive management policy. It
also put forward a series of recommendations for effective stakeholder engagement in
adaptive management at East Head, to develop a model of best practice for future
coastal management.
East Head, at the entrance to Chichester Harbour, has been retreating and rotating for
hundreds of years and the 'hinge' is very narrow, shallow and at risk of breaching. In
2007 a group of stakeholders (EHCIAG) was formed to develop a strategy for this area.
They decided that adaptive management was the best policy, as it was a proactive,
flexible decision making process that considered the needs of all stakeholders.
Using an online survey and phone calls, RC found the consensus was that sufficient
information was provided, but it needed to be interpreted for all to understand.
Conflicts of interest and of values were reduced through face to face meetings and by
reference to the evidence base, and acceptance and agreement were achieved.
Adaptive management is a leap into the unknown as it reacts to monitoring and
evidence rather than predicting. Whilst adaptive management cannot offer certainty, it
is considered to be the sensible and pragmatic approach. The decision making
process was considered effective and EHCIAG was found to be a model of best
2
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/natural-environment#local-ecological-networks
-3-
practice for effective stakeholder and community engagement for this coastal adaptive
management process. Further recommendations were also made, including finding an
agreed definition of adaptive management.
Presentation on the Forum website
A Member pointed out that only a small number of stakeholders are responsible for any
capital work that may be needed at East Head. RC acknowledged that there had not
yet been a breach, but said that conflict resolution has been successful so far. She
added that the management policy does not focus solely on coastal processes;
recreation is also part of it.
6 Solent Oyster Restoration Project - an Overview and Update – Luke Helmer,
University of Portsmouth
Luke Helmer's (LH) MSc thesis formed part of a larger management plan overseen by
the Blue Marine Foundation with a number of other stakeholders, and has led into his
current PhD thesis. The overall aim is to restore the native oyster Ostrea edulis
population in the Solent.
Oysters have many socio-economic benefits as a food source, for filtering water and as
a habitat for other species, and O edulis are found across and beyond Europe. The
Solent once had one of the largest fisheries of O edulis in Europe but this has declined
dramatically since the industrialisation of the fishing fleet. A number of factors have
impacted on O edulis including predation, parasites and water quality and these are
being investigated.
LH's work focused on suspended brood stock cages using two different densities of
oysters in two locations, Portsmouth and Langstone Harbours, and working closely with
MDL to develop an experimental process. The oysters and other parameters were
measured frequently, the water quality was sampled every 15 minutes. Temperature
and salinity fluctuate much more widely in Langstone than in Portsmouth. The
Portsmouth site is known to have had poor water quality as it is opposite the Isle of
Wight Ferry Terminal. Any oysters which died during the experiment were replaced by
live ones, to maintain numbers for comparison of other parameters.
Brood stock at both locations grew well until July when the Langstone Harbour samples
suffered mass mortality following storm conditions. Dead oysters were replaced by live
ones, and these subsequently underwent mass mortality. Data analysis showed that
this correlated with large peaks of chorophyll and blue green algae in Langstone
Harbour, so they suspect a toxic algal bloom killed the oysters. Although spawning
was successful, juveniles did not settle and recruitment was low.
Only two adult O edulis were found in 90 grabs taken in Langstone Harbour. Numbers
and density of slipper limpets in Langstone Harbour were extremely high. The Solent
Oyster Restoration Project continues, and LH is now doing a PhD as part of it, looking
into some of the questions that have been raised and placing brood stock in cages in
other Solent harbours and estuaries.
Presentation on the Forum website
Asked how the oysters could open to feed when stacked, LH explained the cages were
made to measure and they could also stretch. Questioned as to why the toxic algae
bloomed in Langstone Harbour and not in Portsmouth, LH said preliminary
-4-
observations showed a correlation with a ten hour discharge of untreated sewage from
Budd's Farm during heavy rainfall, followed by three days of warm sunny conditions.
Further investigations will be made to establish the cause/s.
Kate Ansell noted the quality and value of student research projects and asked
Members to let the Forum know of any work they would like to see investigated in the
Solent; the Forum can then pass these suggestions to university staff.
7 Evidence and Management for Marine Recreational Activities - Caroline
Roberts, ABPmer
Caroline Roberts (CR) introduced the work she has been doing, which follows on from
Natural England's IPENS Public Access and Disturbance Theme Plan. Building on
information collated by that NE Plan, ABPmer's work had three objectives: to update
and collate the evidence base of impacts, review the effectiveness of management
measures and to make recommendations to develop national best practice messaging.
Numerous specific recreational activities were included in the study, both shore and
water based. A few activities were excluded such as recreational angling, mooring and
anchoring and dog walking.
A general call for evidence was made and 84 stakeholders were asked which activities
and impacts were of greatest concern to them, what management measures were in
place and how effective these were.
A range of management measures were in place. Most of these were voluntary,
including codes of conduct, zoning and wardens. Statutory measures included zoning
and licensing.
Key success factors were found to be partnership working, positive messaging, face-toface messaging, tools such as guides and apps and locally relevant information; these
all helped to get 'buy-in' for preventing environmental impacts. The key issues were
resources to promote or enforce measures, the growth in shore and sea-based leisure,
novel activities and activities with no governing bodies or organising clubs.
Best practice messaging was found to be variable and more work is needed on
monitoring the uptake of measures and reviewing their effectiveness. CR's work
recommends that this could be done along the lines used in environmental
management systems.
Final outputs of the work will be available by the end of March 2017. There will be
information notes for each activity reviewing the evidence and explaining the likely
impact/s. A Recommendations Report will also be publicly available. Through the
Marine Protected Areas National Steering Group, which includes Defra, options will be
discussed for how best to promote messaging in the future.
Presentation on the Forum website
In answer to a question, CR said that use of social media is helping a lot with
messaging and will be mentioned in the outputs, and greater use of it could be
beneficial in the future. Asked whether management of recreational activities was likely
to be voluntary, or whether a statutory suite of measures might be introduced, CR said
that would be a question for Natural England. She also clarified that anchoring and
one or two other activities were not covered in this study as they are being dealt with
separately.
-5-
8 Seaview 2027 Update - Actions to make Southampton Water healthier and more
sustainable - Peter Taylor, Environment Agency
Peter Taylor (PT) opened by saying that Seaview 2027 covers an extensive area of
Transitional and Coastal Waters (TRaCs). It provides a framework to capture all the
evidence and actions the TRaCs and has been broken down into more manageable
units, one of which is the Southampton Water Users Group (SWUG). Through
partnership, SWUG identifies the main issues affecting the health indicators and
captures all the initiatives that are improving these indicators in Southampton Water.
Many catchment partnerships are working well on land but the marine water
environment is under-represented. Seaview and SWUG aim to represent all
stakeholders so that management is from source to sea. This collaboration will ensure
actions are durable and effective in improving the water environment.
A priority scoring process was developed using four indicators or themes: physical
environment, ecological health indicators, water quality and additional factors such as
invasive non-native species and marine litter. A workshop in 2016 identified 50
actions; these were reviewed and rationalised into a final list of thirty four actions which
were then scored at a further recent workshop, resulting in twelve priority actions.
Some of the themes were looked at in more detail at four workshops. Ecological health
indicator parameters included several actions for Shellfish Waters, mapping and
understanding populations in the shellfish fishery and SAC3 condition assessments
which are due later this year. Actions to define, monitor and reduce marine litter were
also considered. The results of these workshops are still being analysed.
PT mentioned some of projects proposed for work on TRaCs on 2017-18.
Presentation on the Forum website
Luke Helmer mentioned the water quality monitoring being done by the Solent Oyster
Restoration Project and PT acknowledged this. Carolyn Francis pointed out the
importance of links being maintained between Seaview (SWUG) and the Solent
European Marine Sites Management Group due to potential overlap of interests and
actions; PT agreed. PB said the Forum could help with communications through our
news channels.
Asked about valuation and natural capital, and the relationship between SWUG and
AMP (Ofwat Asset Management Plans), PT said that to get on to AMP there needs to
be cost benefit evidence, and this is a priority action. Rob Clark said that natural
capital is important, especially as we await Defra's twenty five year plan.
PB mentioned the North Devon Marine Pioneer Project which was set up to test
methods for delivering Defra's 25 year plan. Also VALMER in North Devon which aims
to put some economic values on the seabed for various ecosystem services. These
projects should have outputs on valuation.
3
Special Area of Conservation
-6-
9 Hot Topics Updates on current issues around the Solent
9.1 River Hamble Soft Sediment Habitat Retention Feasibility Study – Alison
Fowler, River Hamble Harbour Authority
Alison Fowler presented an update on a study that the River Hamble Harbour Authority
(RHHA) has undertaken on saltmarsh and sediment retention on the River Hamble
Quite a lot of maintenance dredging takes place in the River Hamble and RHHA looks
for beneficial ways to use the dredgings. This ensures that RHHA complies with
Regulations, and it is also a condition of dredging licences. In some cases land owners
seek to protect their shoreline.
The study used LiDAR and aerial imaging and showed that the River Hamble is not
ideal for large scale beneficial use of dredgings, however it identified several suitable
small scale sites. The study will also help inform the current study on Beneficial Use of
Dredgings in the Solent (BUDS) on which the Solent Forum is leading. A longer
presentation on the study, with links to the Report, can be found on the Forum website
9.2 New Green Wildlife Guide for Boaters - Emma Barton, Royal Yachting
Association
Emma Barton introduced two new leaflets produced by The Green Blue. The RYA and
Green Blue had found a plethora of Codes of Conduct which all gave different advice,
so they decided to produce one guide for boat users that is simple, clear and uses a
positive rather than negative approach.
A New Green Wildlife Guide for Boaters was launched in March, together with a leaflet
giving advice for others who are writing guidance of their own; copies of both were
available at the meeting.
PB welcomed this move towards consistency.
Presentation on the Forum website.
9.3 Access to the English Coast - Gemma Marchant, Natural England
Gemma Marchant gave an update on six stretches of the England Coastal Path around
the Solent, including the present stage and next steps for each.
The England Coastal Path is a long-distance walking route around the English coastal
margin. At 2,700km overall it is longest national trail, providing an opportunity for
managing and safeguarding sensitive areas while making the coast accessible to the
public on foot.
Presentation on the Forum website.
In response to questions, Gemma said that all existing rights remain on stretches being
incorporated in the England Coastal Path, including cycling. Stage 4 of the process will
include an eight week consultation from the date of publication; those on the
stakeholders' database will informed, including the Solent Forum, and there will be a
press release.
-7-
9.4 Bird Aware Solent – Anna Parry, Bird Aware Solent
Anna Parry (AP) introduced Bird Aware Solent, the new public orientated brand of the
Solent Recreation and Mitigation Partnership (SRMP). The SRMP maintains its status
and role and Bird Aware Solent is the more public facing brand, for rangers and others
to use to get the message across. The new branding also gives a call to action and to
all to become aware.
The new revolutionary website has been well received and AP would welcome
feedback from Forum Members. Leaflets were handed out at the meeting.
Stuart Roberts, from whom Anna has recently taken over as Partnership Manager for
the SRMP and Bird Aware Solent, still works from home on the definitive SRMP
Strategy which is due for publication and consultation in the summer.
Presentation on the Forum website
9.5 Selsey Haven project – Jane Cunningham, Chichester District Council and
Manhood Peninsula Partnership
Jane Cunningham gave Members an update on the Selsey Haven project.
Initial feasibility work on the project was completed a year ago; it looked at the
possibility of building a small harbour at East Beach to provide protection for the town's
vital fishing industry and to improve flood defences. One year on, a partnership of
Chichester District Council, Selsey Town Council and the Selsey Fishermen's
Association is now investing a further £50,000 to complete the next round of more
detailed technical work by the end of June 2017. This will involve completing a
technical and financial report which will include possible operational models and a fiveyear business case. An economic study will also be produced which will assess the
wider benefits of a haven to the whole town.
If the project progresses further, then a variety of other funding opportunities would be
sought including lottery funding.
Drawing the meeting to a close, PB remarked on the amount of ground covered in the
meeting, and thanked Kate Ansell for organising it. He praised the two speakers who
had won Professor Mike Clark Awards for their presentations and finally reminded
Members of the Forum’s 25th Anniversary celebrations which will take place throughout
the week commencing 8th May 2017.
10 Date of Next Meeting
The next Solent Forum Members Meeting will take place on 11th October in
Portsmouth, at a venue to be announced. Topics for the next meeting could include an
update on the 'BUDS' project and a paper on dredging.
The meeting concluded with a networking lunch.
-8-
Delegates
Name
Caroline
Kate
Keven
David
Justyn
Richard
Derek
Gideon
Lucy
Peter
Kate
Tom
Tim
David
Alan
Sue
Nigel
Jane
Jane
Hilary
Gemma
Dr Richard
Poppy
Ian
Alison
Gideon
Dora
Emma
Gerard
Bob
Kate
Peter
Carolyn
Karen
Paul
Bill
Michael
Anna
Alice
Rebecca
Luke
Jonathan
Roberts
Mills
Hall
Roberts
Willsmore
Austin
Russell
Sherwood
Sheffield
Taylor
Buckle
Bell
Ferrero
Rumble
Deeming
Hawley
Jardine
Cunningham
Alpine
Crane
Marchant
Morgan
Mylroie
Barker
Fowler
Sherwood
Querido
Barton
Downes
Russell
Ansell
Barham
Francis
McHugh
King
Pimlott
Rainey
Parry
Tebb
Creed
Helmer
Potts
Organisation
ABPmer
Beaulieu River
BP Hamble
BP Hamble
BP Hamble
Chichester Harbour Conservancy
Chichester Harbour Conservancy
Deputy Queen’s Harbour Master
Eastern Solent Coastal Partnership
Environment Agency
FugroEMU
Gosport Borough Council
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
IOW Angling Trust
IOW Estuaries Project
Langstone Harbour Board
Manhood Peninsula Partnership
Natural England
Natural England
Natural England
Natural England
New Forest District Council
New Forest National Park Authority
River Hamble Harbour Authority
QHM Portsmouth
RSPB
RYA
RYA
RYA
Solent Forum
Solent Forum
Solent Forum
Solent Forum
Solent Protection Society
Solent Protection Society
Solent Protection Society
Solent Recreation Mitigation Partnership
Sussex IFCA
University of Portsmouth
University of Portsmouth
University of Portsmouth
-9-
Apologies
Alan
Sue
Wendy
Malcolm
Tom
Sarah
Duncan
Jackie
Kerry
Katherine
Karen
Claire
Adam
Cllr Trevor
Amanda
Stuart
Sarah
Cllr David
Louise
Graham
Williams
Simmonite
Stowe
Thorpe
Day
Hughes
Kier
Mellan
Sims
Robinson
Brett
Terry
Collier
Cartwright MBE
Beable
Jarvis
Hains
Guest
McCallum
Johnstone
Peter
Kelly
Tony
Anthony
Paul
Gordon
David
Dr David
Tim
Ferguson
Scott
Morris
Gallagher
Linwood
Watson
Hutchinson
Hutchinson
Adams
ABP Southampton
Beaulieu River
Bembridge Harbour Authority
Chichester District Council
Chichester District Council
Chichester District Council
Environment Agency
Environment Agency
Environment Agency
Fareham and Gosport
Fareham and Gosport
Fareham Borough Council
Fareham Borough Council
Hampshire County Council
Hampshire County Council
Havant Borough Council
Havant Borough Council
Langstone Harbour Board
Natural England
Marine Management Organisation
New Forest District Council
Southampton City Council
Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University
Southern Water
University of Portsmouth
University of Portsmouth
University of Portsmouth
Yarmouth Harbour
- 10 -