The seabed and the associated water mass above it around Lundy are known as a Marine Protected Area. But what does the term ‘protected’ actually mean? The protection of marine areas of nature conservation importance has to be viewed in a completely different light from the protection of nature reserves on land. The protection of terrestrial sites is likely to involve a suite of measures designed to hold back threats such as vegetation succession, unwanted predators or invaders from entering (for instance, the removal of rats from Lundy) and to include other measures such as habitat creation (such as the planting of trees) or the removal of unwanted plant species (for instance, rhododendrons). All such measures could be classed as ‘active management’ or ‘intervention management’.
In the marine sphere, the term ‘protection’ needs to be viewed rather differently. Clearly it is impossible to ‘fence in’ an area of sea as happens with a parcel of land. Protection in the marine environment is more a matter of the management of activities which might take place within the defined area and whether they should or should not be allowed in particular parts of the MPA.
Overall management of the MPA at Lundy relies upon input from two main sources: a variety of ‘tools’ to assist in informing users of the MPA what is permissible and what is not; and a variety of people to oversee the conduct of the users of the MPA.
The ‘tools’ mentioned above include the Marine Management Plan (see below), the MPA Zoning Scheme and the MPA Code of Conduct. These documents are explained in greater detail in the accompanying sections. The people though form the heart of the MPA and include the on-island conservation staff, the members of the Advisory Group and Management Forum and, ultimately, the users of the MPA.
The above chart provides an indication of the links between all groups involved in the management of the MPA. Clear communication channels and role responsibilities (which all understand) are essential for the successful management of the MPA.
A framework for the management of the MPA is included in a Marine Management Plan, the latest edition being published in 2017. Essentially, this sets out a summary of all that is known about the MPA, including a description of the site; the range of habitats and communities present; species of conservation importance, of commercial importance, and those being non-native and/or invasive. There are also sections on the management framework; the historic environment; and promoting and enjoying the MPA.
Besides a Management Plan, the smooth day-to-day running of the MPA relies largely on the island’s Warden, the Assistant Warden, the Island Manager and Managing Director. These positions are assisted by representatives of organisations who make up the MPA’s Advisory Group and also the island’s Management Forum.
