Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2011 - 2016

Rivers, Coast & Marine

Visions

• Healthy, productive and sustainable river, estuarine, coast and marine environments with appropriate levels of protection.

• Integrated and well communicated management of AONB river catchments, estuaries, coast and marine environments.

• Excellent levels of water and soil quality with the role of AONB catchments recognised and valued.

• High quality coastline, beaches and bathing water; free from contaminants and litter.

• A locally distinctive and enhanced coast and seascape, protected from inappropriate development and activity

Background

The Cornwall AONB is entirely influenced by the sea, from distant shimmering views over Roughtor, to the crashing waves on white shores at Porthcurno. A significant proportion of the AONB is either coastal or estuarine in character and its high cliffs, sandy beaches and hidden creeks, for many people, are the very essence of Cornwall. The Fal, Helford, Fowey and Camel are Cornwall’s major estuaries; of particular importance for their biodiversity as well as being popular for water based recreation and all are contained within the AONB. Aside from the main estuaries, a number of other rivers flow into the AONB such as the Red River and the White River, so named because of their water colours arising from mining sediments. All along the coast but particularly to the north, narrow stream valleys incise the coastal plateau and fast flowing streams tumble to the sea.

In order to manage river and marine water quality adequately, appropriate land management within river catchments is essential. Poor management of soils and the removal of trees, woodlands and Cornish hedges can result in faster run-off into rivers, increasing the likelihood of flooding events. Soil erosion, input of chemical fertiliser, slurry run-off and the associated build up of river sediments can have a huge impact on water quality, flow rates and habitat condition.

Adjacent to and on top of the water, the estuaries, coastline, beaches and sea come under competing pressures from recreation and development to meet the needs and demands of tourism and local communities.

Although a land based designation, the management of the marine environment is integral to the conservation and enhancement of the unique character and local distinctiveness of the AONB coast from the vibrancy and viability of traditional AONB fishing harbours to the levels
of litter that are washed up on AONB beaches. Maritime recreational, commercial and operational activities such as power boating, shellfisheries and dredging all create impacts and require sustainable management.

Management Framework

• The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) has been designed to improve and integrate the way water bodies are managed throughout Europe. As part of the WFD, River Basin Management Plans have been prepared

• The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 gives the Environment Agency an overview of all flood and coastal erosion risk management and gives Unitary and County Councils the lead in managing the risk of all local floods.

• ‘Safeguarding our Soils: A Strategy for England’ recognises the value of soil and the importance to economies and societies of protecting it

• The Catchment Sensitive Farming Delivery Initiative has been developed to improve agricultural run-off issues through cooperation with farmers working in problem catchments

• Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) seek to reduce water and soil pollution from agriculture via fertiliser and slurry management

• Flood Catchment Management Plans have been prepared by the Environment Agency for West Cornwall, East Cornwall and the Tamar

• The Cycleau Project (now completed) worked on the Fal, Helford, Fowey and Red River catchments and developed a catchment profile and a significant amount of data for each

• A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) is being prepared that will identify and evaluate the flood risk in Cornwall and ways to manage it

• Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is an EU initiative designed to encourage good coastal zone management

• Voluntary management of important estuary landscapes, such as the Helford and Fowey
Voluntary Marine Conservation Areas have proved to be highly successful

• There are a number of management bodies and forums around the coast of Cornwall which seek to achieve improved sustainable management of the coast and estuaries such as the Fowey Estuary Partnership, The Tamar Estuaries Consultative Forum, The Fal and Helford SAC Management Forum

• The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Coastal Advisory Group (CISCAG) have produced an
updated Shoreline Management Plan that details arrangements for coastal areas at risk from tidal flooding, coastal erosion and climate change effects. An action plan for its implementation will also be produced (see also Climate Change and Energy)

• The Local Development Framework should identify Coastal Change Management Areas
which outlines the approach to development within Cornwall’s coast

• Cornwall Council has produced a Beach Management Plan which sets out the management for all Council owned beaches

• Clean Cornwall is a partnership initiative which aims to tackle litter within Cornwall, including beach and marine litter. Other associated Cornwall initiatives include ‘Beach Care’ and ‘Fishing for Litter’

• The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008) aims to achieve good environmental status of the EU’s marine waters by 2020

• The Bathing Water Directive seeks to protect public health and the environment from faecal
pollution at bathing waters, requiring beach signage with a description of the bathing water and water quality and pollution incident information

• The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 will provide for the creation of a new suite of national Marine Protected Areas called Marine Conservation Zones (see also Biodiversity and Geodiversity) and a new system of marine planning

• The Marine Policy Statement (MPS) will set out policies for the sustainable development of the UK marine area. It will act as a guide to decision making for the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the development of Marine Plans

• The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform Green Paper in December 2009 sets out a vision for the sustainable future of the fishing industry. The new CFP will be in place in 2013

• Two new Special Areas of Conservation have recently been proposed at Lands End and Cape Bank and at Lizard Point, both for their reef systems.

Rivers, Coast & Marine Policies

RCM1	Promote an understanding and awareness of terrestrial water and soil management in order to ensure that an integrated approach is taken to water resources and water quality within the AONB, utilising the Camel, Fal, Helford and Fowey as priority catchments
RCM2	Encourage the restoration of the natural physical form of drainage systems, wetlands, rivers and coastline where they have previously been modified. Where appropriate within the landscape seek to re-instate or improve the management of woodland, wetland and Cornish hedges to improve water quality and storage
RCM3	Support the sustainable management of recreational, commercial and operational activities such as boating, shellfisheries and dredging in AONB estuaries and at the coast. Seek to understand the capacity of the landscape to accommodate these activities and seek to minimise their landscape character, visual and environmental impacts
RCM4	Encourage the sensitive management and planning of infrastructure at AONB beaches and support measures to conserve and enhance the AONB coast, including safeguarding currently undeveloped coastal stretches
RCM5	Seek a reduction in the levels of litter on beaches, within harbours and in the sea itself, through collection initiatives, the provision of appropriate and sensitively designed waste and recycling facilities and a focus on behaviour change
RCM6	Take a long term, strategic partnership approach to the management of maritime issues affecting the AONB that actively seeks to conserve and enhance maritime character and involve AONB communities and local interest groups
RCM7	Ensure effective and integrated terrestrial and marine based planning policies and processes which meet the requirements of the protected coastal landscape
RCM8	Support AONB harbours as focal points for sensitive and sustainable fishing and maritime activity that enhances coastal character, ensuring the sustainable management of fish stocks for the long term benefit of the inshore fisheries

Rivers, Coast & Marine Actions

A/RCM1	Building on the work of the Cycleau project, undertake an audit of the condition, management and multi-use benefits of the Fal, Helford, Camel and Fowey catchments, making recommendations for improved integrated management, including guidance to farmers – The Environment Agency and Natural England
A/RCM2	Audit and monitor recreational boating and moorings, aquaculture and other operations such as dredging within AONB estuaries – Cornwall AONB Unit
A/RCM3	Develop a pilot project as a case study for Integrated Coastal Zone Management and ensure ICZM is embedded within the Local Development Framework - Cornwall Council Environment Service, The Environment Agency and Cornwall Council Planning and Regeneration
A/RCM4	Develop a pilot project for the rationalisation of beach infrastructure and signage within the AONB and produce associated design guidance, linked to the Cornwall Beach Management Plan – Cornwall Council Environment Service and The Environment Agency
A/RCM5	Continue to support the work of Clean Cornwall and initiatives to reduce beach and marine litter – Cornwall Council Environment Service
A/RCM6	Identify opportunities through the management of Marine Conservation Zones to enhance coastal character and tranquillity via the management of recreational boating and other activities – Natural England and Cornwall Council Environment Service
A/RCM7	Establish a Maritime Forum to promote collaborative working between groups and forums with an interest in the coast and marine issues – Cornwall Council Environment Service
A/RCM8	Produce a Cornwall Maritime Strategy in Partnership with stakeholders and communities which recognises the role of the AONB designation – Cornwall Council Environment Service
A/RCM9	Identify the priorities for the AONB for the Marine Plan and feed into its policy preparation in liaison with the Marine Management Organisation Cornwall AONB Unit – Cornwall Council Environment Service and Cornwall Council Planning and Regeneration

Further Information

Further information on condition, predicted trends, management framework and monitoring can be found in the web based appendices to this chapter http://www.cornwall-aonb.gov.uk/management-plan/further-rivers-coast-and-marine.html