Eco-system Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Eco-system - Case Study Example According to lundy.org.uk (1999) provision for the establishment of statutory Marine Nature Reserves was included in the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act. After public consultation, on 21st November 1986 the Secretary of State for Environment declared a statutory reserve at Lundy. The Management of Marine Nature Reserve was given to English Nature by "the statutory advisor to Government on nature conservation in England" (lundy.org.uk, 1999) i.e. the English Nature is responsible to look after the Marine Nature Reserve. Landmark Trust employed a Warden for funding who lease the island in association with the Devon Sea Fisheries Committee that regulates and manage fisheries in the area. Devon Sea Fisheries Committee and English Nature jointly proposed the first statutory No Take Zone which is a 3.3 square kilometer of sea on east side of the Lundy Marine Nature Reserve in the UK. According to this proposal of No Take Zone none of the marine life including lobsters, fish and crabs of the sea should be taken and if any one does he/she is punishable under Marine Life Act. The No Take Zone has received support from every quarter of life i.e. from local fishermen to Lundy management, Advisory Groups and Devon Sea Fisheries. The main purpose of the No Take Zone proposal and according to bbc.co.uk (2006) was introduced to try to reverse the problems caused by over-fishing, which has depleted stocks in the oceans. This step was taken to protect and restore marine life, which dipped a new low because of over fishing that depleted the marine stocks in the ocean. The above figure shows how the Marine Nature Reserve was divided into zones. The following are the zones of Lundy Marine Nature Reserve: Red area: It is a highly restricted area and is protected 24/7 all through the year. Fishing or collecting or catching of sea life of any kind is not permitted and if any one does they would certainly face heavy legal penalties. The No Take Zone that was proposed by Devon Sea Fisheries Committee and English Nature and according to lundy.org.uk (1999) stretches north to Lat 51 12.04N, south to Lat 51 10.07N and east from Lundy's shores to Long 004 39.00W. There are restrictions to divers also. There is no permission of any kind for anchoring or diver shot lines. Yellow area: In this fishing is not allowed except potting or angling. This zone is known as Refuge Zone. Green area: This zone is known as Recreational Zone and is strictly restricted as for the Yellow Zone and it is a protected area. No fishing is allowed except potting and angling. The Black Circles are the legally protected wrecks. Strictly no diving or fishing, only those will be allowed fishing who are having license permission from English Heritage. General User Zone: Any severe laws do not restrict the Blue area as it is in the case of other zones that are heavily guarded zones. It covers the remaining part of the Marine Nature Reserve and is generally termed as General User Zone. In this zone everything is allowed i.e. from fishing or catching any marine life including lobsters, fish, etc., to sailing. Only spear fishing is not allowed. Some of the long term benefits of No Take Zone are as following: Considerable increase in populations of fish and shellfish stock in and outside No Take Zone. Establishment of refuge for fish and shellfish stock effectively in the restricted No Take Zone. Fishermen around the