INDUSTRY

Marine Protected Areas and Marine Conservation Zones

Increased efforts are being made to protect the health and biodiversity of the marine environment as well as the economic and social benefits which effective management of marine resources brings.

Marine protected areas are areas of the sea that are protected from fishing and other impacts, with the aim of restoring habitats and supporting sustainable fisheries. The Isle of Man currently has ten Marine Protected Areas around our coast, encompassing 10.4% of Manx waters. One of these is the Sea Fisheries Restricted Area at Laxey Bay which was established in 2009 with the intention of enhancing the scallop stock and later seeded with juvenile scallops.

In 2008, Douglas Bay closed to mobile fishing gear. Its current status is as a Marine Conservation Zone, though there is an intention to designate the Bay as a Marine Nature Reserve. Marine Nature Reserves are designated to conserve their flora, fauna and geological or physiographic features, or to provide special opportunities for the study of matters relating to these interests.

This Plan does not propose any specific Proposals at this time.

Areas subject to flooding and erosion

In 2016, the National Strategy on Sea Defences, Flooding and Coastal Erosion Evidence Report was published10. It identified areas at risk of fluvial, surface water and coastal flooding and coastal erosion now and in the future taking into account climate change, economic growth and development and population growth. The Evidence Report included a comprehensive Risk Assessment to assess the impacts of coastal, fluvial and surface water flooding and coastal erosion on key economic, infrastructure, environmental and social receptors. Within the Eastern area, Douglas (comprising Douglas Bay, Douglas Harbour, Glass/Douglas/Dhoo/Middle River Confluence, River Glass and Upper Dhoo) and Laxey were identified as being at high risk both now and in the future and require urgent consideration, further investigation and potential intervention to reduce the evident risk.

Flooding can threaten life and cause damage to property and public infrastructure and it is essential that the Isle of Man builds its economic, environmental and social resilience with regard to flooding. The effects of weather events can be increased by decisions about the location, design, and nature of development, and may be affected by future climate change. Consideration of flood risk has therefore formed an integral part of both the process of allocating land for development in the Area Plan for East, with flood risk acting as a 'critical constraint' in the Site Assessment Framework used to assess proposed sites.

Flood Risk Maps have been produced by the MUA and the data contained therein has been used to identify Flood Risk Areas in the plan area. The risk areas shown relate to tidal flooding and fluvial flooding. The fluvial flooding maps illustrate a 100 year return period and for tidal a 200 year return period. Land outside of these areas is considered to be at low risk of flooding from main rivers and the sea, although it may be at risk from other sources such as surface water and groundwater flooding.

10 National Strategy on Sea Defences, Flooding and Coastal Erosion 2016, GD No. 2016/0044

Natural Environment Recommendation 3

The Department supports further consideration and investigation of the impacts of coastal, fluvial and surface water flooding and coastal erosion.