Home
PRESS RELEASE – 22 AUGUST 2010 - NETGAIN – Nothing to be gained by RSA!
(Re the North Sea Marine Conservation Zones Project)
* Project management pays only ‘lip service’ to stakeholder involvement.
* Lack of transparency in selection criteria & process used to determine who makes decisions
* Scientists lead but are unwilling to accept independent qualified scientific observers.
* Concerns recognised at highest level, but no change to adopted procedures
* RSA withdraw support for further involvement
Members of the ELSAA Executive have been involved in these consultations along with a representative of Anglia Sportscast, individual RSAs and many other stakeholders since the very beginning. It quickly became clear to us at local Hub level that the project was in fact being managed in an entirely different way to that outlined at the full public stakeholder meeting at Hull. The project management team had stressed that this would be a ‘stakeholder led, clear & transparent process’ with the aim of delivering a network of Marine Conservation Zones resulting in minimal adverse impact for all current users.
In the event, the manner in which Hub meetings were driven toward unrealistic time targets by a consultant facilitation team, without any regard for the essential need to assess the impact of all proposals and the arrogant and condescending manner in which this was delivered, raised serious concerns for us right from the outset.
We felt that our request for the Eastern Hub meeting to discuss our concerns openly was not dealt with in a professional manner by the lead facilitator and in fact, seemed to be dismissed out-of-hand. We also had and still have grave concerns regarding the manner in which Stakeholder Advisory Panel (StAP) members were selected.
It became clear to us by then that far from being stakeholder-led, the project was in fact a science-led activity with the project management team paying only lip service to stakeholder involvement.
Because of this all of the ELSAA members who had been invited to sit on the Eastern Hub as individual RSAs, along with the Anglia Sportscast member present, walked out of the June meeting. We made clear that we would not play any further part in the consultation until our concerns were addressed and it was demonstrated that this was indeed a clear & transparent process in which we could all have confidence.
Steve Barnard, for the project management team, promised that he would take our concerns forward to the Project Manager Joanna Redhead. We made absolutely clear that we did wish to play a full part in the consultation, but not at the expense of true stakeholder participation and not without confidence that RSA concerns were being listened to, taken seriously and acted upon where necessary.
We secured a meeting to air these concerns face-to-face at the Orbis Centre in Lowestoft during July. The meeting comprised Tom Pinborough, Keith Mountifield & John Abbott (Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary of ELSAA respectively), David Vicary (Anglia SportsCast) and Joanna Redhead, Steve Barnard and Tammy Sandford for NetGain. Although a frank exchange of views took place we did not feel reassured that our concerns
were misplaced and it was interesting to note that in fact, the team did not seem to have a firm grasp of tried & tested project management principles. For ourselves, we may well all be united by a common bond as anglers, but
the NetGain team were quickly forced to recognise that our collective professional expertise encompassed a wide range of subjects including large scale project management at local government level and beyond.
Joanna left the meeting promising to take our concerns directly to the Project Management Board and we restated our opposition to being involved further for the time being.
Our main concerns being:
i) Time scales – meetings being driven by arrogant & condescending facilitators without proper assessment of issues in order to meet unrealistic time targets
ii) StAP membership – an explanation needed of the selection criteria, assessments and procedures used to determine StAP membership
iii) Transparency – refusal by Chair of SAP to allow independent qualified observers at SAP meetings
It soon became clear that our actions were recognised as a serious issue for the project management and we were quickly made aware that our comments had been passed up to the very highest level. Those informed included
Mr Richard Benyon, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State – Defra, Mr James Marsden, Director of Marine (Chairman) Natural England and many others involved in the decision making process.
The next action was for the non-executive Chairman of the NetGain Project Board Colin Brown to contact our Keith Mountifield (ELSAA / NetGain Liaison Co-Ordinator) and offer to meet to discuss these issues further. Whilst this was on the table, we also took the opportunity to open dialogue face-to-face with the Chairman of Natural England when ELSAA Chairman Mr Pinborough was invited to take part in a meeting with James Marsden and others on a fishing and fact-finding trip off the Essex coast.
On 16th August a conference involving Colin Brown, Joanna Redhead and Keith Mountifield aired our concerns yet again and it was clear that some of our recommendations had been heeded. Colin Brown confirmed that the consultant facilitators had caused him some problems and that NetGain project management would be more involved in running future meetings.
Whilst some of these exchanges have been very frank, it is clear to all of us that NetGain is not a stakeholder led process at all. All of the decisions will be ultimately be made by the scientists and the Project Board have confirmed this. The StAP, was described to stakeholders as an administrative monitoring group only. Now we are told that it was always envisaged that this would be a decision making group and this makes a mockery of the repeated claim that the whole process will be led by stakeholders making decisions at Hub level.
We have consistently demonstrated that there is absolutely no need for the StAP and that the process could be substantially more efficient without it. The Project Management team confirmed that they had questioned the need for the StAP themselves, but in response to our continued concerns have issued an invitation for ELSAA to apply for a position on the StAP. It beggars belief that they should believe that we could accept such a resolution when we had demonstrated so conclusively that there is absolutely no need for that very group and is further evidence of how out of touch with stakeholders the project management seems to be.
Individual RSAs may remain involved at Eastern Hub however, our request to have Nigel Proctor (a Marine Biologist & RSA) sit in as an observer at Scientific Advisory Panel meetings was declined by the SAP Chairman Peter Ryder, who stated that he had needed to spend quite some time reading the subject matter in order to carry out his role and wasn’t prepared to have independent observers sit in at his meetings!
The ELSAA contingent has withdrawn from further participation in this consultation. It is clear that this is a wholly science led project and that the Hub meeting programme is purely a ‘tick box exercise’ whereby the Project Management can say that they have consulted with stakeholders. This makes the lack of need for the StAP clear for all with even a rudimentary grasp of the issues.
Being a scientific matter means that detailed reports will need to be prepared and we remain sceptical about the likelihood of this ever being a truly transparent and fair process. The Project Chair is quoted as saying that the scientists do not wish to be involved directly with the stakeholders as individuals, ‘preferring to hunt in packs’. Scientific reports cost money and lots of it. Whilst there is no independent monitoring, there remains every
likelihood that reports commissioned by vested interests in potentially environmentally damaging multi-billion pound marine based businesses such as the aggregate extraction industry and others, will be relied upon by the decision makers.
It is a fact that the RSA representatives with a seat on the Hubs have found their input substantially diluted in any case as the project team continue to survey stakeholders widely outside the Hub structure, with no form of monitoring of responses for quality nor accuracy.
Once the current Hub meeting programme is completed there remains an opportunity to comment at the full public consultation and we have every intention of pursuing these issues again when that time comes.
For now, we see nothing to be gained by RSA in continuing to assist in this project.
John Abbott
Secretary.
Secretary’s Full Report - ELSAA Show Day & AGM 2010
I’d like to thank everyone who turned out for the ELSAA AGM and especially all those that came on later to support the open event despite the ‘changeable’ weather. A great deal of work put in by a lot of people made for an enjoyable first annual get-together and the Alliance account benefitted from a little cash injection too.
Special thanks to Paul Kerry for opening the event for us and for keeping a very attentative audience interested in his advice & experiences in relation to surfcasting and shore fishing.
A further big thank you must go to Neil Webb for putting on a great display of Kayak equipment and for the super film record that he and others had made of their fishing adventures. Mad-as-a-box-of-frogs the lot of them!!!, but I’m hugely envious that I’m neither brave enough, skillful nor fit enough to give it a go. It looks a fantastic way of exploring so much of our captivating pastime. Chatting with Geoff Gonella was incredibly interesting for me and I am only sorry that I didn’t get around to buying a copy of his super book before he left, but I am rectifying that straight away by visiting his on-line sales.
Thanks too to Jamie Bale for his talk on the capture of his big Bass and conservation of the species. I’m glad you’ve found a home for one of my old fly collections Jamie and hope that they help to get you another fish to dream about soon.Dave Vicary & Mel, The team from ESFJC lead by Matt Manders, Trazar (Stour & Orwell), Tammy & the team from Net Gain and all the others contributed to make it a really good day.
Lastly, I’d like to thank Keith Mountifield for his efforts in helping pull this all together and Anna, his good lady for sharing her skills & knowledge in the world of Knitwear and it’s importance to the fishing communities around our coast and also to my wife Moira, for looking after my daubings for the day.
The AGM went very smoothly and we have to welcome a few new faces to the EC and say a big thank you for their past efforts to those departing. Thanks to everyone for their invaluable support – a report and pictures will be published shortly
ELSAA Annual General Meeting 19th June 2010.
The AGM was reasonably well attended and commenced at 10.00 a.m
The Chairman Mr Pinborough gave a brief resume of the year’s activities and the meeting dealt with the business of the agenda promptly.
ELSAA Annual General Meeting 2010.
A G E N D A
1. Attendance & Apologies for absence.
2. To adopt minutes of previous annual meeting
3. Annual Summary – report by Chairman
4. Financial Report – Treasurer
5. Relevant Correspondence – Secretary
6. NetGain Project – Report by Keith Mountifield (EC member)
7. Election of Officers – all ex-officio posts are two year appointments:
a) Chairman – Mr T Pinborough – term of office ends June 2011
b) Vice-Chairman – Vacancy – Mr K Mountifield (nominated for election), This being the only nomination, Mr Mountifield was duly ELECTED
c) Treasurer – Mr M Lawes – term of office ends June 2011
d) General Secretary – Mr J Abbott – term of office ends June 2011
8. Election of Executive Committee 2010 -11
e) North Lincolnshire – Mr C Fines ( post-holder has nominated for re-election.) RE-ELECTED
f) South Lincolnshire – Mr R Allerton ( post-holder has nominated for re-election.) RE-ELECTED
g) North & West Norfolk – Vacancy – Mr N Webb ( nominated for election.) ELECTED Neil Webb
h) South & East Norfolk – Vacancy – Mr S Smith ( nominated for election.) ELECTED Steve Smith
i) North Suffolk - Mr S Farrow ( post-holder has nominated for re-election.)
Mr A Steel ( nominated for election –North Suffolk.)
Mr S Roberts ( nominated for election – North Suffolk.) ELECTED Simon Roberts
The three nominations for the post of North Suffolk representative necessitated a secret ballot and Mr Roberts was elected by majority vote.
j) South Suffolk – Mr S Reason ( post-holder has nominated for re-election.) RE-ELECTED
9. Amendments to constitution.
9.1 That an addition to the ELSAA constitution should be made as follows : Proposal recommended by the Executive Committee: 7.11. Every member of the Executive Committee must attend at least 50% of all meetings annually. CARRIED BY MAJORITY VOTE
9.2 That an addition to the ELSAA constitution should be made as follows : Proposal by Mr J Abbott Seconded by Mr T Pinborough & Mr B Coulson. 9.3.(1) That each member shall have only one vote at any meeting (including AGM) except in the case of a tie, when the Chair will have a casting vote.
CARRIED BY MAJORITY VOTE
9.3.(2). That any member who is unable to attend the Annual General Meeting and following the published agenda who wishes to vote on any agenda item, may on application to the Secretary, be permitted a postal or, email vote. The completed voting paper must be returned to the General Secretary to arrive not later than 7 days before the time & date of the Annual General Meeting.
CARRIED BY MAJORITY VOTE
John Abbott
20.06.2010
NETGAIN – MARINE CONSERVATION ZONE (MCZ) FOR THE NORTH SEA
The following is an update, regarding the Net Gain project, following our latest Eastern Region Hub meeting on the 17th June 2010.
for full article click here
for more information click here
Nett Gain, Eastern hub workshop, 25-03-10
The first Eastern hub workshop for the “Nett Gain” marine conservation zone took place at the Orbis centre in Lowestoft on the 25th March 2010
For general comments and observations , including discusion papers ( draft terms of reference , principles for successful MCZ’s)
Eels and sea anglers
There currently is a great deal of concern and confusion, relating to the catching of Eels within estuaries and the sea.
for full article click here
The draft Ecological Network Guidance for England that is currently being used by Stakeholders and marine users, within the regional advisory panels and county/local hub groups of the four Marine Conservation Project ( Finding Santuary, Balanced Seas, Nett Gain and Irish Sea) can be found at
for more details click here
Response to Proposal of Special Area of Conservation for Inner Dowsing, Race Bank and North Ridge
The Eastern Leisure Sea Anglers Alliance welcomes the opportunity to formally respond to the
consultation for the proposed Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
for full article click here
Statutory meeting of the ESFJC, Wednesday 27th January 2010
The Statutory meeting of the Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee took place on
Wednesday 27th January 2010, at the office’s of the ESFJC in Kings Lynn
For further details click here
North Sea MCZ “Net Gain” meeting Lowestoft 19th January 2010
A presentation of the North Sea Marine Conservation zone “Nett Gain” was given by the project director Joanna Redhead and mcz liason officers at Lowestoft .
For the full report click here.
Recreational Sea Anglers Meeting – 7.30pm Tuesday 9th March 2010
Felixstowe Sea Anglers Society, Manor Terrace, Felixstowe, Suffolk, IP11 2EJ
Alan Garnham, an ESFJC Fisheries Officer covering Suffolk has arranged this meeting and says: There are several major marine nature conservation projects occurring within Suffolk right now that I believe that you as Recreational Sea Anglers should be aware of. These projects have the potential to impact your activity both in positive and negative ways.
ELSAA members & some, if not all EC Members will be attending.
Net Gain – The North Sea Marine Conservation Zones Project has announced a number of regional presentation dates and venues, I would urge/encourage all ELSAA members and leisure sea anglers to attend.
Members of the ELSAA executive will be attending the presentations within the ESFJC district.
Click here for dates and venues.
CALENDARS for 2010
We have produced a Calendar for 2010 taking a humorous look at our sport and some of the East Coast characters that are well known to many of us. All profits will go to support the work of ELSAA over the coming months and the image above is an example of one of the cartoons depicted
You can order yours by sending £5.00 inc P&P to : ELSAA, 38C Nene Parade, March, Cambridgeshire PE15 8TD
Please don’t forget to include a note of your name and address
Secretary.
Scroll down for more news & information
It’s your voice and your fishing that matters
Confirmed minutes of the ESFJC recreational sea angling sub committee from Wednesday 11th March 2009
Marine Bill
The passing of the Marine Bill through Parliament (now a Marine Act) signals changes to how the UK Marine Environment will be managed in future, some of which will affect sea anglers.
Article 47 , EU Fisheries Control Regulation comes into effect on the 1st January 2010
Wednesday 25th November
Notice is hereby given that there will be a Meeting of the Recreational Sea Angling Sub-Committee of the Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee on Wednesday 25th November
2009, at 11:30 hours or as soon thereafter following the conclusion of an earlier meeting,at the offices of the Joint Committee, 6 North Lynn Business Village, Bergen Way,King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 2JG.
Draft proposals for Special Areas Of Consevation and Special Protection Areas
COVEHITHE – BEACH ACCESS
Some of you may be aware of an attempt to prevent vehicular access to the road way leading to the cliff footpath at Covehithe.
We have loged a formal objection to the Suffolk CC Rights of Way Committee on behalf of all anglers and will keep you advised of updates as further information becomes available.
John Abbott
Secretary
Net Gain – The North Sea Marine Conservation Zones Project
The Marine and Coastal access bill is currently proceeding through parliament, part of this bill is to create four Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ’s) around the UK coast, the Eastern Leisure Sea Anglers Alliance, has registered interest to take part . Click here for full details
The Economic value of recreational sea angling in the East Anglian region
ESFJC Statutory meeting 29th July 2009 Report
Please find below brief report of the STATUTORY MEETING of the Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee held on Wednesday 29th July 2009, at the King’s Lynn office, Click here for full details
for further information click here
.jpg)