Planning MCZs > Regional Hubs

Due to the size of our project area, length of coastline and number of varied interests in the North Sea, Net Gain has established four regional hubs. The Hubs are placed in the following areas, although the boundaries are not rigid:

Northeast: Scottish Border to Hartlepool
Yorkshire and Humber: Hartlepool to Grimsby
Lincolnshire and The Wash: Grimsby to Wells
East England: Wells to Suffolk/Essex border

Each Hub has about 40 members representing all stakeholder sectors with an interest in our project.

The Regional Hub meetings are where the main focus of the planning work and deliberation over sites will take place, the real ‘hands on’ part of the work. Members work together in facilitated sessions to develop recommendations on MCZs. Regional Hub members will make recommendations on the size, location, boundaries and conservation objectives for proposed sites to pass to the Stakeholder Advisory Panel.

The overall objectives behind the formation and operation of the Hubs are to:

	engage with sub-regional and local communities of interest (stakeholders) who may be impacted by the recommendations;
	ensure that all stakeholder interests are understood and considered;.
	access stakeholders' experience and knowledge
	maximise areas of agreement;
	establish and maintain an open and transparent working process including information sharing, reporting and communication.

In summary, the Regional Hub members are working together to recommend to the Stakeholder Advisory Panel (StAP) Marine Conservation Zones that have the widest possible support and are based on the best available evidence.

The Regional Hubs will work In accordance with the Ecological Network Guidance and other guidance from Natural England, the JNCC, the Science Advisory Panel and other economics and social science experts in planning and recommending to the StAP:

	The location, size and shape of MCZs.
	The features to be protected within the MCZs.
	The conservation objectives of the MCZs.
	An assessment of environmental, economic and social impacts of the proposed regional MCZs, presenting the results in a formal impact assessment document.

Latest News

[Net News]

2010-07-23
Socio-Economic Impact Assessment Report now available.

2010-07-18
Project Delivery Guidance and Ecological Network Guidance now available

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