Marine conservationist Rob Spray

Leading marine conservationist says Norfolk no-go areas could boost tourism

by Alex Hurrell , Reporter Tuesday, November 1, 2011
6:30 AM

A leading marine conservationist has staunchly defended proposed ‘no-go’ conservation areas along the Norfolk coastline claiming they are tiny and likely to boost tourism.

Blakeney, looking eastwards. Picture: MIKE PAGE

Rob Spray has dismissed as “absurd” claims that the stretches, known as Reference Areas (RAs), could have a devastating impact on the local economy because human activity would either be banned or strictly controlled within them so that they could return to a natural state.

Diver and photographer Mr Spray, a volunteer with the Marine Conservation Society, says the six RAs recommended for Norfolk are “ridiculously small” and would definitely not interfere with activities such as seal boat-trips.

He believes that if the RAs were established, they would actually boost the tourism economy by enhancing Norfolk’s reputation as an unspoilt place of natural beauty.

Mr Spray voiced his views ahead of an invitees-only meeting tomorrow evening called by Blakeney Parish Council to discuss two of the RAs which affect Blakeney and neighbouring Morston.

Representatives from coastline user groups and other interested parties have been asked to attend, along with officers from Natural England, one of the key organisations involved in the government Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) Project.

The project aims to enhance and conserve the UK’s marine environment through the creation of MCZs and smaller RAs.

Mr Spray has been involved in two years of detailed talks among many interested bodies which have resulted in final RA recommendations being made, through a regional sea-users’ group called Net Gain, to Natural England, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and an independent science advisory panel, who will advise the government.

The other Norfolk recommended RAs are close to the Seahenge site at Holme-next-the-Sea, off the Cromer coast and two sites at Cley.

Speaking to the EDP last month, Blakeney Parish Council chairman Tony Faulkner said a recommended Blakeney Seagrass RA, including a surrounding 10m buffer zone, could potentially see seal-boat trips banned while the many users of the popular Agar Creek could also be barred.

And fellow Blakeney parish councillor, fisherman Willie Weston said he feared visitors would be put off coming to north Norfolk because of the restrictions.

But Mr Spray said their worries were “completely unfounded.” He added: “The areas are small. They are not where people arrange commercial trips from and they are not where people go to watch seals.”

Mr Spray, 44, who lives between Framlingham and Bungay in Suffolk, has been diving off the north Norfolk coast for 13 years. He and his partner Dawn Watson co-ordinate the marine wildlife survey project Seasearch East and are mapping the 20-mile chalk reef off the north Norfolk coastline.

He considers the recommended RAs to be disappointingly small - ranging from 0.04sq km within Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Cley Marshes Reserve to one sq km of salt marsh between Morston and Blakeney - but said they were the “first real step into conservation”.

He added: “They allow nature to re-establish itself and show how habitats would appear if there was no human influence.”

“One of the key attractions is the coastline and its wildlife and these areas will enhance that. I would hope that people would appreciate that these areas are special and want them saved.

“Humans don’t have a great track record in looking after natural resources - witness the collapse of the North Sea fisheries.”

For the past two or three years Mr Spray said the income of New Zealand’s Goat Island marine reserve had been measured at $1 million per km and restrictions there were seen as a tourism benefit.

He added; “Across the world, conservation makes people money.”

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15 comments

Silly me - I did of course mean MCZs talked about are underwater not RAs!

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Adrian Barker

Monday, November 7, 2011
I think some other commenters have become confused about RAs and believe them to be on land rather than at sea (TheWashMonster?). @Chris Booty - Rob is trying to protect wildlife in North Norfolk not our hobby - with seven tenths of the world covered in water we've got loads of other places to dive, North Norfolk wildlife is worth protecting however, not just for display in visitors centres either (although every time I emerge from the sea in North Norfolk people on the beach want to see the photos I've taken underwater so maybe that's not such a bad idea) - get qualified and I'll happily dive with you to show you some stunning underwater scenery first hand and unsanitised... @Cathedge - that's a lot of guessing and assumptions about payments and by whom - they key word here is VOLUNTEER. @Robotsthatcare - another baseless assumption about running businesses, that word again VOLUNTEER. @ncfc - the EDP is taking nothing as Gospel here - no opinion is offered by then - they are merely reporting Rob's opinion.

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Adrian Barker

Monday, November 7, 2011
Re ncfc,I am afraid furthur protection is required and that is to ban all dredging so close to the Norfolk Coastline.Millions of pounds in royalties are collected from the dredging companies but very little put back in the way of coastal protection.

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john kendall

Monday, November 7, 2011
so mr spray you have witnessed the collapse of the north sea fisheries have you?.Yet again you open your pie-hole without any evidence other than your personal views.For your information and everyone elses the north sea off norfolk is one off the most substainable fisheries in the country,has been for years and always will be due to the no trawling zone.Further protection is not required.

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ncfc

Thursday, November 3, 2011
How many more meetings will be held to be attended by invitees only?These proposals affect the whole of Norfolk.Spineless quangos like the Broads Authority should be disbanded and run by a fully elected group of people.How the RSPB are going to love Mr.Sprays comments.They would love to see Norfolk Coastline disappear under the sea.Aseter Waller says navigation rights should be protected.All part of the Broads Authority remit but are they defending those navigation rights?

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john kendall

Thursday, November 3, 2011
Yet again the EDP takes everything that comes out of Mr spray's mouth as gospel,how about a few hard facts for a change?

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ncfc

Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Do any of these proposed exclusion areas include navigable waters, even if only for small boats? Any threat to restrict navigation has to be fought tooth and nail.

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peter waller

Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Blatant self interest and I hope this goes no further. If Mr Spray actually knew anything about Norfolk at all, he would realise there are plenty of areas that are completely unspoilt and have little disturbance from humans. Of course, he may not be able to operate businesses elsewhere though...............

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robotsthatcare

Tuesday, November 1, 2011
conservation makes money for whom? mr spray i am guessing who has clearly been paid for the last 2 years to research this area, no doubt by tax payers money. it would seem to me that this whole idea is nonsense being that the area is already protected 3 or 4 times by various different bodies. why does it need another one? the joy of the north norfolk coast is that there is access for all sorts of activities, and that blakeney pit is free harbour, and there are not too many signs, rules and regulations all over the place, although they seem do to be appearing more and more often. the future of our home depends entirely on the people who live and work here now, regardless of where they come from or how long they have been here, i just ask very simply that we as local people have our wishes listened to. after all apparently we live in a democracy?

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cathedge

Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Yet another example of the countryside being locked down and reserved for the elite few. I'm sure Mr Spray will still be able to access these areas? I assume that the land near Holme Henge is in fact the NWT area at Thornham? I wonder how the businesses in Thornham including the Hotels will feel about that.

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The Wash Monster

Tuesday, November 1, 2011
No disrespect - but when I see a headline referring to a "leading conservationist" you might expect someone of the stature of David Attenborough. What we actually have here is someone with a vested interest in protecting followers of his own hobby regardless of the effect these measures might have on the livelihood of others. Presumably their vision is that visitors will come along to some sort of sanitised interpretation centre, at some distance from the actual areas where they can park, have a cup of tea and see some sort of exhibition about that which they are not allowed to experience first hand. Presumably some of our dwindling number of fisher folk could be stuffed and mounted as a curiosity and a warning to future generations not to interfere with the "keep it to ourselves" selfishness of supposed conservation bodies.

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Chris Booty

Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Conservation by exclusion, just what we fear on The Broads. Once started where would it stop? Above Potter Bridge if some folk had their way. Norfolk coastline first, calls for similar on the Broads would soon follow.

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peter waller

Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Yet another example of the countryside being locked down and reserved for the elite few. I'm sure Mr Spray will still be able to access these areas? I assume that the land near Holme Henge is in fact the NWT area at Thornham? I wonder how the businesses in Thornham including the Hotels will feel about that.

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The Wash Monster

Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Yet more knee-jerk reactions from a blinkered and parochial Parish Council. having looked on the maps, the reference areas are tiny and I can't see how they will prevent the seal trips from running.

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xxxx

Tuesday, November 1, 2011
No-go areas could boost tourism, now that's a new one that is.

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John L Norton

Tuesday, November 1, 2011