Newcastle University is conducting a study to gather stakeholder opinions on the Highly Protected Marine Area that has been proposed for Allonby Bay. HPMAs by their design prohibit all extractive, depositional and damaging activities – this will include commercial and recreational fishing.
Over the summer, DEFRA led a public consultation, which included a 2-day stakeholder workshop in Maryport in early September. The online consultation is now closed, however, details about HPMAs and the proposal for Allonby Bay are still available on the DEFRA website Consultation on Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) – Defra – Citizen Space.
This study is to follow up in more detail, stakeholder views that were raised at the DEFRA public stakeholder meeting.
Newcastle University researchers will be based in the Harbourside Café, South Quay, Maryport CA158AB on Thursday 20th October and Friday 21st October (11-5pm on both days).
They would like anyone who is likely to be affected by the proposed HPMA at Allonby Bay to come and talk to them. They will document your views and integrate them into a report, which will be submitted to DEFRA in November 2022 to further inform the selection process for HPMAs.
If you cannot attend this drop in session but would like your views to be documented, please email the research lead Dr Sarah Coulthard ([email protected]) with your views, or you can also request a phone call interview (via the same email).