News & Events

June Team news
Posted : August 9, 2019

DCF NEWS
• Sophie has been attending the public drop in sessions at the Salt House in West Bay to answer queries about the coastal defence works, cycle path and welcome hub projects that are all currently under construction in West Bay. Please do check our website for updates on the coastal defence works.
• Sophie coordinated the second Seaweed Feasibility Study workshop which took place last month, during which Elisa Capuzzo, Elena Mengo and Ian Tew from Cefas updated the stakeholders on the progress of the report and discussed any areas that need to be developed in future work.
• The fourth and final Coastal Stories film has now been completed! The film focusses on several areas of aquaculture that are taking place in Dorset, with particular focus on career paths and opportunities. A premier event is currently being planned, watch this space for more information. In the meantime, the other three films are available to view here.
• The development of the Aquaculture Virtual Hub is now underway. The Aquaculture Mapping Team at Cefas are also working closely with the web developers to bring the mapping outputs to as many stakeholders as possible.
• High Potential Opportunity; A first overseas investor visited Dorset in early May 2019 to investigate potential on-shore sites for recirculation aquaculture systems.  Initial indications are positive that this visit may result in a new aquaculture operation being established.
• Martin Syvret attended the last Seafish Aquaculture Common Issues Group Meeting and, together with Cefas, highlighted the aquaculture work that is ongoing in Dorset and East Devon through DCF and the FLAG.
• A shellfish purification training course is being planned for the Dorset and wider south west region. This course will be run by the Southern Shellfish Training Centre, an Approved Training Provider for the Sea Fish Industry Authority.  If anyone is interested in attending this course, then please contact Martin Syvret on 07966 461810 for further details.
• Martin Syvret attended the SAGB’s 50th Annual Conference. The Keynote Speaker on Day 1 was Alison Austin OBE who is the Chair of Seafood 2040.  Alison’s presentation highlighted and praised the work that Dorset Council, the FLAG, DCF and the LEP are doing in promoting aquaculture.  This work was highlighted as being a pathfinder approach that could well have national relevance and significance.
• Martin Syvret attended a meeting at Exeter University to discuss a potential new project aimed at investigating mitigation approaches for shellfish producers to Harmful Algal Blooms and algal biotoxins.  An Innovate UK approach is being considered.
• After just over two years with the team, Sophie is moving on from DCF. We are aiming to recruit a replacement Support Officer as soon as possible. In the meantime, the Dorset.coast@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk account will be monitored by Natalie.

Dorset Coastal Connections (DoCC)
• Highcliffe Zig Zag Path was officially opened by HRH the Duke of Gloucester in May- a well-deserved celebration of a really good result for the community in re-establishing this important access link between the clifftop and beach.
• The “Art of Litter Free Food and Drink” project has appointed Jack Raisey as artist for the project. Jack will be working closely with the project team to develop his vision which draws attention to the issues around single-use food and drink packaging, and the simple, positive things users and businesses can do to reduce its harmful environmental impact.

Dorset and East Devon Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG)
• Martin and Natalie were up in the far North East of England in May at the North of Tyne English FLAG networking event. Two of the Scottish FLAGs also joined us there. The MMO gave an update on the national replacement for EMFF and Martin has been invited to a FLAG stakeholder consultation event later this month at the DEFRA offices in London.
• Claims are progressing well and over £130,000 has now been paid back to completed projects
• The FLAG was successful in a bid for a further £154,000 worth of funding and this will support three more projects across the FLAG area. Keep an eye on the website for details as the projects progress. There will be a FLAG board meeting on June 11th to appraise the three projects.
• You may have seen the marketing campaign through social media and local press highlighting low cost loans for applicants to the EMFF programme. If you know anyone who wants to start a project but is having trouble finding the funds to do so, please ask them to call Martin on 01305 224766.
• Martin attended the first All Party Parliament Group (APPG) on Fisheries meeting in London in May. This meeting focused on the problems with recruitment into the sector and was a great opportunity to highlight the fishing careers films that were funded through the FLAG. If you’ve not seen the films they are available on the Dorset Coast Forum website here: https://www.dorsetcoast.com/resources/dorset-coastal-stories/ check them out! The second event is coming up on June 12th and will focus on the seafood sector. Places are very limited but if you wish to attend please contact the APPG secretary via e-mail secretariat@fisheriesappg.org

Litter Free Coast and Sea (LFCS)
• It’s has been a busy few weeks for the Litter Free Coast & Sea team. The Great Dorset Beach Clean rubbed shoulders with #Storm Hannah over the weekend of the 27 & 28 April, but it didn’t stop 725 volunteers removing more than 214 bags of rubbish from Dorset beaches. Amazing! This year saw us partnering with Purbeck Ice Cream who gave away FREE scoops to the beach clean volunteers at Holes Bay, rewarding the use of reusable containers for more generous portions! We even ‘re-purposed’ a stash of Purbeck Ice Cream’s blue plastic bags for litter picking, supplied by them to give the recycled packaging a second-life. Nice one guys! If you missed out and want to get involved in a beach clean near you, then take a look at the beach clean calendar on our website.
• We busted oodles of FOG (fats, oils & grease) myths at our Clean Seas Weeks event in Swanage. We delivered a fun filled fortnight of events, activities, walks, talks and displays, celebrating the life and love of our seas and how we keep them clean and safe for people and wildlife.
• Dates for your diary. The Great British Beach Clean 2019.  20 – 23 September. Find out more about the biggest beach clean and survey in the UK here.
• Our NEW FOG (Fats, Oils and Greases) fridge magnets are going down well with holiday rental businesses in Swanage.  If you’d like some for your holiday cottage, hotel or caravan site then please get in touch
LitterFreeCoastSea@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk These informative eye-catching postcard sized reminders are great for gently reminding guests to do their bit to help prevent ‘fatbergs’, by properly disposing of FOG, causing blockages which pollute our seas & contaminate beaches.#binitforbeaches

Tags: Dorset & East Devon FLAG, Dorset Coast Forum, Dorset Coastal Connections, Litter Free Coast & Sea