Decision details

Resolved:

That the Council pledges to:

1.    Review within twelve months the actions and projects that have been undertaken to promote ocean recovery for the coast of Torridge District.

2.    Consider ocean recovery in our strategic decisions, plans, budgets and

approaches to decisions by the Council (particularly in planning, regeneration,

skills and economic policy), aligning with climate change mitigation and

adaptation requirements, and considering ocean-based solutions in our journey towards a carbon neutral and climate resilient future.

3.    Ensure that the Local Nature Recovery Strategy strives to support ocean

            recovery.

4.    Work with partners locally to deliver increased sustainability in marine industries and develop a sustainable and equitable blue economy that delivers ocean recovery and local prosperity.

5.    Communication through our social media of actions which are being taken to aid ocean recovery progress, signpost ocean literacy development opportunities, and marine citizenship pledges.

6.    Write to the Government asking them to put the ocean into net recovery by 203 by:

a) Ensuring Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities and Natural

England have the resources they need to effectively research and

monitor our growing number of marine protected areas, and to set and

enforce appropriate fishing levels that support local economies and

deliver environmental sustainability.

b) Ensuring coastal communities have a meaningful say in the development

of marine policy to ensure it delivers equitable and sustainable

outcomes.

c) Appoint a dedicated Minister for Coastal Communities.

d) And by listening to marine scientific advice, including marine social

science, to update the Marine Policy Statement and produce a national

Ocean Recovery Strategy which will:

i) Enable the recovery of marine ecosystems rather than managing

degraded or altered habitats in their reduced state.

ii). Consider levelling up, marine conservation, energy, industrial growth,

flood and coastal erosion risk management, climate adaptation and

fisheries policy holistically rather than as competing interests.

iii). Develop a smarter approach to managing the health of the entire

ocean that moves beyond Marine Protected Areas and enables links to

be made across sectors towards sustainability.

iv). Establish improved processes for understanding the benefits of ocean

recovery, leaving no doubt the links between this and human lives,

livelihoods, and wellbeing.

v). Stop plastic pollution at source by strengthening the regulations

around single-use plastics and set standards for microfibre-catching

filters to ensure that all new domestic and commercial washing machines

are fitted with a filter that captures a high percentage of microfibres

produced in the wash cycle.