Ecological Issues in the Marine Environment

Thursday 21 October 2010
St Andrews University, Fife KY16 9AL

BACKGROUND

This first Marine Conference to be run by IEEM will look at the benefits, challenges and opportunities of the new EC Marine Strategy Framework Directive and launch IEEM's Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment in Britain and Ireland: Marine and Coastal.

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive constitutes the vital environmental component of the Union's future maritime policy, designed to achieve the full economic potential of oceans and sea in harmony with the marine environment. It aims to achieve good environmental condition of the EU's marine waters by 2020 and to protect the resource base upon which marine-related economic and social activities depend.

Each country in the UK and Ireland is transposing, or has transposed, the Marine Directive according to the circumstances of the country, but the ambitions are the same: to provide greater protection for the marine environment.

Conference aim

To advance the future protection of the marine environment through the sharing of information and enhanced understanding of the impacts of the policy framework, disseminating ongoing research and highlighting good practice by ecologists and other professionals.

Conference topics include:

  • the current state of the marine environment;
  • a range of current marine ecological issues using case studies: fish, marine mammals and seabirds;
  • the Marine Directive;
  • the potential and implementation of Marine Protected Area Networks
  • ecological impacts of climate change;
  • the development of renewables using case studies of offshore windfarms, wave and tidal energy; and
  • an overview by the largest statkeholder of the seas, The Crown Estate.

PROGRAMME

09:00 Coffee and Conference Registration

09:20 Welcome and Introduction

KEYNOTE SPEECH

09:20 The State of the Marine Environment - Challenges and Opportunities
Prof. Colin Moffat, Programme Director Aquatic Environment, Marine Scotland

SESSION 1: PROTECTING MARINE BIODIVERSITY

09:50 Fish Stocks: Current Issues and Sustainability
Bertie Armstrong, Chief Executive Scottish Fishermen's Federation

10:15 Marine Mammals
Dr. Bernie McConnell, Senior Research Fellow, SMRU

10:40 Seabirds
Prof. Sarah Wanless, CEH

11:05 Coffee Break

SESSION 2: REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

11:35 Marine Directive
Dr. Ian Davies, Marine Scotland

12:00 MPA Networks
Mary Lewis, Maritime Policy Officer, CCW

12:25 The Ecological Impact Assessment Guidelines
Roger Morris

12:50 Lunch and Scottish Section AGM

SESSION 3: IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND MARINE RENEWABLES

14:05 Impacts of Climate Change in the Marine Environment
Dr. Janet Kharn-Marnie, SEPA

14:30 Crown Estate Overview
Tom Mallows, of The Crown Estate

14:55 Offshore Wind Farm Case Study
Stuart Szylak, Senoir Consultant for the Beatrice Project

14:20 Wave/Tidal Power Case Study
Frank Fortune / Alistair Davidson

15:45 Conference Summary and Closing Remarks

15:55 Optional Trip to Sea Life Centre or Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU)

BOOKING

To book a place on this conference, please click here >>.

PRICES

IEEM members: £95

Non-IEEM-member: £130

IEEM Student members: £50 (limited number of places at this rate)

IEEM members (Abeyance/Deferred/Retired): £50 (limited number of places at this rate)

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS

When booking please advise us of any special dietary requirements.

CONFIRMATION OF BOOKINGS

Bookings will be confirmed by email.

ACCOMMODATION

As this is just a one day conference no accommodation arrangements have been made but if you would like to stay overnight then the following websites will help you find appropriate accommodation:

http://www.stayinstandrews.com

http://www.visitscotland.com/shop/accommodation/book-st-andrews

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

This programme may be subject to change without notice. The most up to date programme will be available on the IEEM website.

CANCELLATION

In the event of cancellation, a 50% refund will be made if advised before 15 October 2010; no refunds after 15 October 2010. All cancellations must be received in writing. Substitutions can be made at any time.

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Attendance at this conference counts towards the CPD requirements for IEEM members. Attending the whole conference will give IEEM members 8 hours of structured CPD.

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