Thanks to the Marine and Coastal Access Act, new Marine Conservation Zones could be set-up in your area soon to protect nationally important wildlife and habitats. Four projects have now been set up around England to help all sea users and interest groups have a voice in deciding where these zones should go, and what activities should be restricted in them.

If you windsurf or kitesurf in the northwest of England then, Irish Sea Conservation Zones is inviting you to have your say. A Regional Stakeholder Group (consisting of individuals representing all sectors using the Irish Sea) will be set-up to make recommendations about where MCZs should be placed and this group needs accurate and up to date information both on the ecology and human use of the region they are working within. Many wind/kitesurfers have an in-depth knowledge of the sea and its wildlife in our region and we would like to draw on this knowledge; we also need to know what areas are most important to you. This is the information that the watersports representative on the Stakeholder Group will put forward during the negotiations to identify the best location for MCZs.

If you’d like to find out more about the Project then please see our website for further information: www.irishseaconservation.org.uk or contact the relevant Liaison Officer:
Holly (Cumbria): 07772 550 127 or H.Deary@irishseaconservation.org.uk
Laura (Lancashire): 07891 842 228 or L.Bates@irishseaconservation.org.uk
Emily (Merseyside & Cheshire): 07891 842 282 or E.Hardman@irishseaconservation.org.uk

If you windsurf in other parts of the country then get in touch with your nearest project:

South-west
Finding Sanctuary
http://www.finding-sanctuary.org /> Email: info@finding-sanctuary.org
Tel: 01392 878 340

South-east
Balanced Seas
http://www.balancedseas.org /> Email: balancedseas@kent.ac.uk
Tel: 01227 827 839

North Sea
Net Gain
http://www.netgainmcz.org/ /> Email: info@yhsg.co.uk
Tel: 01482 382 007