Plymouth conserving oceans forum
Senior marine policy experts from across Europe will be gathering in Plymouth this month for a major conference examining the future management of the world’s oceans.
The second Marine and Coastal Policy Forum, taking place at Plymouth University from June 18-20, will see policy makers and influencers, regulators and researchers, discuss contemporary issues in marine management, policy and conservation.
The Forum will open with a keynote address from marine ecologist, broadcaster and Plymouth University graduate Maya Plass, who will speak about our relationship with the sea and how to engage a broader audience in marine policy.
There will also be presentations and workshops led by respected national organisations, including the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and English Heritage, and internationally respected academics from across the UK and Europe.
Dr Steve Fletcher, Director of the Centre for Marine and Coastal Policy Research (MarCoPol) at Plymouth University, said: “Marine and coastal policy is a very broad area, but one which has a direct impact on all of us. In the UK, we are reliant on the seas as a focal point of trade and commerce, leisure activities, wildlife conservation and, increasingly, renewable energy. Managing all of those competing demands presents difficult challenges, which the Forum will explore, while also discussing new and enhanced approaches to their resolution.”
Organised by the MarCoPol in collaboration with the University of Brest and the Royal Geographical Society’s Marine and Coastal Research Group, the Forum is supported by The Wildlife Trusts, Plymouth University’s Marine Institute, the Celtic Seas Partnership and Bond Dickinson.
Each day of the Forum will have a distinctive theme and in total there will be 55 presentations covering areas including marine conservation, marine protected areas, public engagement with the sea, fisheries management, marine ecosystem services, and our underwater maritime heritage.
Maya Plass said: “Plymouth University was where my passion for our seas really took hold, and I was delighted to be asked back as a keynote speaker for the 2nd Marine & Coastal Policy Forum. Through our own close affiliation, and our historical ties, I believe we have the capacity to truly enhance our society’s relationship with our seas and our desire to protect them. We have a fantastic opportunity through the conference to share our experiences and knowledge and generate new support for our seas and marine policy. I very much look forward to being part of those conversations."
As well as the address from Maya Plass, other keynote speakers include Dr Paul Gilliland, Head of Marine Planning at the MMO – whose presentation will be titled Marine Planning around England: Past, present, future? – and Dr Peter Jones, from University College London, who will speak on Progress, challenges and prospects for MPAs in the UK.
There will also be 11 workshops, led by organisations including The Wildlife Trusts, the RSPB, Marine Biological Association, and educational and research institutes from across Europe.
Joan Edwards, The Wildlife Trusts’ Head of Living Seas, said: “At a time when we’re championing the importance of a network of protected areas around the UK coast, we’re delighted that experts and students are gathering in Plymouth to discuss the many issues involved. The forum offers a vital opportunity for experts to share their knowledge and ideas.”
