The introduction to the weekend was given by Tom Appleby, lecturer in law at the University of the West of England and Howard Wood, chair of C.O.A.S.T. co-hosts of the event. Tom Appleby set out the foucs for the weekend explaining that it was an opportunity for a flow of information and perspectives. Marine Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage could inform community stakeholders of future marine policy. Presentations from community representatives would be heard by Government organisations, so that both sides would better understand the other’s point of view. Howard Wood’s presentation provided a concise history of C.O.A.S.T. from its community beginnings to more recent events. Some of his slides contained a few tongue in cheek images to provoke further debate throughout the weekend. He thanked the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation for their financial support which had funded early meetings in Stirling and Penrith, which helped to raise the profile and aims of C.O.A.S.T. Despite some setbacks COAST gathered political support to establish Scotland's first No Take Zone in part of Lamlash Bay in September 2008.  In 2009 C.O.A.S.T.'s argument that fishing is a public right was recognised by the Government law advisors. Click below for their presentation.

Howard Wood, C.O.A.S.T., Tom Appleby, University of West England
Stakeholder Engagment in Marine Management

Melanie Gomes, a graduate student of the University of Ulster, addressed the meeting about the experience of the Northern Ireland Marine Protection programme, which she felt was a few years behind the U.K. The Northern Ireland Marine Bill is scheduled for 2012. In her opinion scallop dredging was destroying some of the rare species unique to the Irish Sea. Click below for her presentation.

Melanie Gomes, Phd Student, Coastal and Marine Research School of Environmental Services, University of Ulster
Northern Ireland’s Marine Environment: Wildlife, Marine Protected Areas and Policy

Lewis Winks representing The Friends of Cardigan Bay, a charitable group which was founded in 1989, spoke of the unique terrain of the Bay formed by the last ice age. The area was famous as one of only two areas in the UK to have resident bottle-nosed dolphins. What attracts them to the area has never been established. A one-mile exclusion area has been put in place and a proposal to have a marine conservation zone has been implemented. The group continue with the task in the hope that one day the marine environment will be properly protected. Click below the presentation.

Lewis Winks, Friends of Cardigan Bay
Marine Conservation in Wales