Integrated Coastal Management for the Severn Estuary “Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea”

1. Integrated Coastal Management for the Severn Estuary“Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” Peter Burbridge Professor Emeritus for Coastal Management University of Newcastle upon Tyne

2. Integrated Coastal Management • Background -CRM to ICM • Coastal Management Issues • Coastal Partnerships • ICM a Process- not an end in itself • Where are we in the ICM Process • How will the ICM Process develop • Conclusions

3. Background -CRM to ICM • Coastal Resources Management (CRM) • Late 1960s California Coastal Management Act (CM) • USA Federal Coastal Zone Management Act- an enabling mechanism (CZM) • Integrated Coastal Zone Management- (ICZM) • UK House of Commons Select Committee • EU Recommendation on ICZM • Integrated Coastal Management-(ICM) focus on adaptive management and problem solving

4. LGA- Issues • Climate Change- increasing natural and man-induced hazards • 5% of the UK population and 1.5% (2,200 km2) are at risk from flooding from the sea (lands below 5 m OD) 50% of all grade agricultural land is below this level. • Shoreline Management • Agricultural Select Committee (1998) “We are of the opinion that flood and coastal defence policy cannot be sustained if it continues to be founded on substantial human intervention in the normal processes of flooding and erosion.” • Special needs of peripheral coastal areas: • Changing nature of tourism and recreation-decline of the “seaside” resort, high unemployment. • High proportion of residents above pensionable age, out-migration of young and economically active groups.

5. Issues • Changing structure of the coastal economy • Decline of fisheries • Role of ports and harbours changing • ? Of future of oil and gas- growth in windfarms • Reduction in employment in defense related jobs and land uses • Coast is attractive to newer forms of high-tech industry and services • Land Sea Interface and sectoral approaches • Planning competence stops at low water mark • LAs have broad range of statutory and non-statutory responsibilities for managing coastal activities • -e.g Beach cleaning-costs £100,000 per year for Western-super-Mare. England and Wales= cost of £14 million per annum. • By default Local Government and Coastal Partnerships are taking the lead in planning for sustainable use of coastal areas. Innovative coastal management relies mainly on voluntary efforts-Severn Estuary Forum • LGA Coastal Strategy Calls upon Central Government to provide policy guidance, technical support and adequate funding to support ICM

6. UK COASTAL MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIPS Primary objective- to bring together key agencies and stakeholders from different economic sectors to address issues affecting the sustainable use of coastal areas • Lessons Learned: • Strong public involvement is essential • Strategy and projects designed to tackle issues at a local level that produce positive results quickly are important in boosting confidence and trust • An active and enthusiastic chairperson essential

7. Lessons learned • Effective information dissemination and consultation are very important • Significant advances towards more integrated planning and management of coastal areas and resources have been achieved through Partnerships. • Maintaining continuity of core funding remains a major issue in all of the Partnerships. • Lack of Statutory authority limits implementation

8. ICM a Process- not an end in itself • There is no Golden Rule or universal framework for promoting ICM. • Basic stages- • Awareness • Dialogue between interested and affected parties • Cooperation • Coordination • Integrated policies,complementary sectoral agency mandates, supporting legal instruments, appropriate financial support

9. ICZM: An Iterative Process Review and Adaptation 6 Inception 1 Implementation 2 5 2 Design 5 3 Funding Approval 3 4 4

10. Two lessons that need to be understood by Policy Makers, Planners, Managers and stakeholders: • First, that the establishment of a coastal management process takes a considerable amount of time and commitment; • Second, that it is sometimes better to build upon a modest but sound foundation than to risk failure or loss of confidence through being over-ambitious.

11. Where are we in the ICM Process • EU Recommendation • UK Stocktake • LGA Strategy • Lessons learned from Coastal Partnerships • The UK Policy Framework or Vacuum • Between the devil and the Deep Blue Sea • Reliance on Land Use Planning • Marine Bill- • Continuing Sectoral approaches • No Strategic Vision

12. How will the ICM Process develop • EU Recommendation • Water Framework Directive • How will Coastal Management fit between Marine Bill and revised Town and Country Planning system ? • Move towards Integrated River Basin, Coastal and Marine management

13. Conclusions • Developing ICM for the Severn Estuary will take time and determination • It remains to be seen how effective EU or Central Government Policies and Technical support will be in helping to sustain the Severn Estuary Partnership • In the absence of a “Joined up Policy Framework” the Severn Estuary initiative will need to drive the ICM process from River Basin to the Sea. • ICM is a creative planning tool for working towards Sustainable Development- The Devil is in the Detail!