Minutes of the King’s Lynn Advisory Group Meeting

Thursday 4 July 2019 at 6 pm

Present:Peter Welberry Smith Chair, King’s Lynn Advisory GroupPat Jary KLCB Harbour MasterJoan Evans Lay MemberAlan Evans Norfolk Association of Local CouncilsElise Quinn EIFCAJohn Butler EIFCAJen Love Natural EnglandDinah Smith Researcher (Fens and The Wash)John Hiskett Norfolk Wildlife TrustCarrie Carey Secretary

Apologies:Jim Scott RSPBEstelle Hook Norfolk Coast PartnershipPeter Catling Chair, Fenland Wildfowlers AssociationJohn Maiden

Welcomes/IntroductionsPWS welcomed attendees and introduced Jen Love on behalf of Natural England

Previous Minutes/Matters Arising

1.  Natural England Report July 19  b. Race Bank OWFWe have had a marine licence application consultation on the cables which have not been sufficiently buried in The Wash. This includes sections that are sub-optimally buried, on the seabed and free spanning where the cable are hanging. There are also trenches that have been created during the cable installation procedure that have created trenches. The suggested solutions include backfilling with material from either just inside The Wash or just outside or rock armouring. We are aware the fishermen have asked that there is no rock armouring landwards of KP17 and that according to Ørsted the harbour authorities would like the whole lot rock armoured. Again having looked at the documentation further evidence/information is required, but over all Natural England believes that the proposals pose a significant risk to interest features of the site. Next steps to comment on the MMO’s Habitats regulations Assessments.

Please note comment received from Pat Jary, KLCB Harbour Master - the section from Natural England (see above) states that the Harbour Authorities would like the sections of unburied cables covered with rock armour – this is not the case and I can confirm that the Harbour Masters from Port of Boston and Nene Ports are in agreement. I have recently spoken to Louise Burton of NE who most certainly knows that the Port Authorities do not consider rock armour to be appropriate.

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Minutes of the King’s Lynn Advisory Group Meeting

Thursday 4 July 2019 at 6 pm

I would suggest an edit to the NE update be made that reflects that the Harbour Authorities in no way support rock armour in the Wash and that negotiations are underway with Orsted to mitigate the dangers caused by unburied cables. Please refer to Appendix (c) photographs of windfarm cable.

2. EQ advised the group that Heidi Richardson no longer works for Natural England and a new appointee should be in place soon.

Agenda Items1. WNNMP (SL)

Wild Seas Recreation Guide Final edition has been produced and is ready for distribution. Please contact John Butler at EIFCA if you can help with this.

PWS – advised that wildfowler groups are disappointed that wildfowling has not been included as an appropriate activity. There may be an opportunity to review this for the next issue.

Wild Seas Wardens and Monitoring ToolTraining has been delivered and the tool is now on the WNNMP website. Peter Welberry-Smith, Alan Evans and Tom Bolderstone are registered users for specific coastal parishes.

PWS – raised concerns that NE voluntary wardens no longer exist and these would have been a useful group of people to use the tool. PWS felt that wildfowlers would make excellent volunteers as they are frequently on site. DS – mentioned that she has been approached to be a warden on the marsh but there is lack of clarity around health and safety/lone working.

WNNMP Project Manager PostCandidates have been shortlisted and the final four will be interviewed on Friday 19 July. Potentially, the new PM could start in post late summer/early autumn. JB advised that although this is a permanent contract, the post is funded from various stakeholder/funding pots.

2. Coastal Site Manager updates (a) A new summer warden has been appointed to work with little terns at Holme (JH)(b) A report on hydraulic suction dredging for cockles in The Wash has been completed and

gone out for public consultation (EQ)

JB - reported that some fishermen are struggling to find dense beds of cockles this year. Overall tonnage has been high but beds are thinly dispersed with lots of juvenile cockles present.

3. EIFCA (EQ)1. Managing Fisheries in Marine Protected Areas

1.1. Hydraulic Suction DredgingSee comments (b) Coastal Site Manager Updates

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1.2. Update on Marine Protected Area Byelaw Informal consultation (targeted at local fishermen) now in process, after which the

proposed updated Marine Protected Area Byelaw will be sent to the Secretary of State. 1.3. Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ)No comments1.4. Inner Dowsing, Race Bank and North Ridge SAC No comments1.5. Circalittoral rock and intertidal Saberllaria in The WashNo comments1.6. Greater Wash SPAPWS – queried extent of the Greater Wash – how is this defined geographically? EQ to distribute map

2. Other Marine Science Workstreams

2.1 Crab and lobster stock assessmentThis has recently gone to public consultation primarily as an information gathering process. We have information on stock levels but not how these are being fished. Most vessels appear to be local ie between Grimsby and Felixstowe but it is difficult to know fishing vessel activity past the 6 nautical mile zone.PJ – requested information on restrictions where pots are laid and potential impact on chalk reefs. Forums seem to indicate that pot lines are a potential shipping hazard around the coast.JB – agreed pots could be marked to indicate which vessel they belong to. JB – EIFCA has received a £600 grant to work with fishermen at Sheringham to look at plastic free pots to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up on shorelines.EQ – will send a copy of the questionnaire to all members of the group

2.2. Slipper limpets in The Wash Remain an ongoing problem and potentially very damaging to the marine environment.

Joe Kenworthy (Norfolk Non-Native Species Initiative Co- ordinator) is helping to develop a bio-security plan to slow spread and impact of invasive species. Two workshops will be

organised in October 2019 and anyone interested in attending one of these or able to site a signpost should contact EQ. 2.3. Operation Blake Update No comments

3. Marine Protected Workstreams3.1. The Wash cockle fishery 2019No comments 3.2 Wash Emergency Byelaw 2018 No comments3.3 Inshore Vessel Monitoring System (I-VMS)No comments

4. Engagement4.1. Formal consultation on two byelawsNo comments 4.2. Crab and lobster fishery sustainability (informal information gathering)No comments

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4.3. Cromer crab and lobster festivalNo comments4.4 Boston College Locally Sourced Seafood ProjectThe seafood recipe book is ready to be printed and will hopefully be launched in the autumn to coincide with National Seafood Week (4th to 11th October 2019). Please see Appendix (a) photographs of locally sourced seafood project Boston College.4.5 General EngagementNo comments

4. Natural England1. Recent highlights/news

Animal rescue exerciseCC – queried how the general public would raise an alarm and who would they contact. The general opinion was that people should telephone the police, fire service or conservation body who should be able to forward incident on to appropriate body.Marine Conservation Zones – DEFRA is currently reviewing highly protected marine areas (potentially further round the Norfolk coast). Local fisherman do not appear to be over trawling area – possibly foreign vessels.Cromer Shoals – a project with University of Essex is currently underway to take 3D imagery of the reef using underwater camera equipment

2. Research and monitoringFunding for a low tide count of wintering birds in The Wash could be either a manual count with volunteers or if funding allowed, digital aerial surveys. The survey of intertidal Sabellaria spinulosa reef will determine if a management plan needs to be implemented.

3. Condition assessmentThe summary to sit alongside the assessment has been completed and is available online.

4. Conservation advice packageNo comments

5. English Coastal PathPWS – asked if any decision has been made on spreading room and salt marsh exclusions. He also reported that the King’s Lynn-Wooton ‘eye brow’ is in construction to prevent the public walking under the turbine and allow construction vehicles access to the bio digester. JH – advised that new cycling and walking routes have been established along some of the old railway linesJL will follow up on query regarding spreading room and send information to group secretary

6. Offshore windfarmsHorizontal directional drilling for cable, boulder clearance and offshore and sand shore levelling is taking place at Triton Knoll.

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Minutes of the King’s Lynn Advisory Group Meeting

Thursday 4 July 2019 at 6 pm

5. AOB 1. Wildfowling Consents

PWS – Jill Fisher has reported no change or updates2. NNR

PWS – raised concerns that this is not being looked after, especially with new housing and population increases. He reported that a lot of people want to go down to the marshes and there is very limited signage/interpretation about flora and fauna. As there is a constant trickle of people that visit the area would this warrant some signage/interpretation at Sutton Bridge Lighthouse? Please refer to Appendix (b) photographs of Wash display boards.JH – suggested an HRA funding application but the group were unsure if this would cover Lincolnshire. JL to look into funding possibilities.

3. Hunstanton Beach CleanKiko Matthews is spearheading a beach clean at Hunstanton on July 23 from 5:30pm as part of an awareness campaign into the issues of plastic waste. This is open to the public and as many people as possible are encouraged to attend.

4. Hanseatic Ski Race – August 24-25 2019PJ – queried if EIFCA would be closing fisheries for this event. JB to follow up

6. Date of next meeting: Thursday 14 November 2019 at 6 pm. King’s Lynn Conservancy Board

Actions for next meeting

From Matters Arising Review comments regarding rock armour at Race Bank OWF

Lou Burton and Jen Love

Wild Seas Recreation Guide Distribution John Butler

EIFCA consultation process Provide links to current initiatives/consultations John Butleractioned

Greater Wash SPA Map defining boundaries of Greater Wash to be sent to group secretary for distribution

Elise Quinnactioned

Crab and lobster stocks Copy of informal consultation on potting fisheries to be sent to group secretary for distribution

Elise Quinnactioned

Non-native invasive species Further information on bio-security workshops and proposed signage to be sent to group secretary for distribution

Elise Quinnactioned

Hanseatic Ski Race Check tide times on days of race to ascertain if cockle fishing can take place

John Butler

English Coastal path Decision on salt marsh exclusion follow up required Jen Love

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Thursday 4 July 2019 at 6 pm

Appendix(a) Photographs locally sourced

seafood project Boston College (courtesy of Elise Quinn)

(b) Photographs of Wash display board (courtesy of Pat Jary)

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(c) Photograph of windfarm cable (courtesy of Peter Welberry-Smith)

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The Norfolk Non-Native Species Initiative (NNNSI) will be delivering workshops relating to biosecurity with the aim to bring organisations and local groups together to produce a biosecurity plan for the Wash and North Norfolk Coasts. We aim to deliver a workshop in two parts – the first will provide information and discussions on the impacts of invasive species, relevant legislation and how to enact simple biosecurity procedures. By the end of this first session those in attendance will be able to write basic site level plans to protect their sites. The second session will expand on the first, answer any follow up questions and bring all ideas together so that an estuary wide plan can be created. By creating a Wash-wide biosecurity plan we can show that all reasonable steps to lower the risk of introducing or spreading invasive non-native species are taking place within the Wash. The workshop will be held in October 2019.

(d) The Wash and North Norfolk bio-security workshops

Invasive non-native species can significantly impact coastal resources and facilities, for example hull fouling, smothering, causing damage boats and equipment, disrupting boating activity and harming local environments. Following biosecurity best practice techniques can help reduce the risk of spread and impact of invasive species.We would also like to place a number of A3 sized “Check Clean Dry” signs at a few key locations around the Wash. These can be permanently fixed to structures using metal ties. Signage like this can be a positive step towards enacting biosecurity measures for sites as it raises awareness of the issues surrounding invasive species and informs water users on how to minimise the spread of invasive species.If you would like to attend workshops or place signs please register your interest with Joe Kenworthy, coordinator of the NNNSI – email NNNSI@norfolk.gov.uk

(e) The Greater Wash SPA (courtesy of Elise Quinn)

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(f) Infographic on the proposed closures to bottom-towed gear in Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds MCZ (courtesy of Elise Quinn)

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(g) Linksi. Informal Consultation on Potting Fisheries, including to copies of the questionnaire,

is here: https://www.eastern-ifca.gov.uk/potting-fisheries-informal-consultation/ii. Eastern IFCA’s Consultation Tracker, which lists and summarises the current

initiatives we’re consulting on, is here: https://www.eastern-ifca.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2019_06_Consultation_Tracker_update.pdf

iii. For more information on the Kik Plastic tour please go to this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kikplastic

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