Marine Conservation Zones - The Netgain Project

Following introduction of the new Marine and Coastal Access Bill late last year, an organisation known as 'Netgain' has been created, partnered by Natural England. the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Yorkshire and Humber Seafood Group and the Deep. Working from the Deep Business Centre, Hull Netgain aims to involve Marine Stakeholders in deciding upon the boundaries of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ's) in our area.

Netgain staff have said that they aim to empower 'Stakeholders' in the Marine Environment to make the decisions about the new (MCZ's). This is a 'bottom up process' which is "not the usual consultation" . Two committees will be formed in our area, the larger called 'The Hub' will make decisions which will be passed to a smaller 'filtering committee' and then onto a committee at central government for approval, a process that will take around 12 to 18 months. Netgain's purpose will then be fulfilled and both the Committees and Netgain itself will disband.

Netgain says that the project it is not responsible for introducing any restrictions to back up MCZ's this is a job for someone else, the new the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) via the North East Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) )

We live in interesting times. Watch this space for further comment, as the work towards MCZ's progresses