Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to issue new leases of the foreshores of Strangford lough; and if he has any plans for its future management under a locally based democratic and representative structure.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe issuing of leases of the foreshore of Strangford lough is a matter for the owners. The Crown Estate is the major owner of the foreshore.
The future management of foreshore contained in the Strangford lough area of special scientific interest is a matter between individual owners and occupiers and the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. The Department will consult widely regarding the formulation of management plans for Strangford lough in the context of the proposed marine nature reserve.
Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has any proposals for the leasing of the beds of Strangford lough; and what proposals there are for its future management under a democratic representative structure based within the local community.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe issuing of leases of the sea bed of Strangford lough is a matter for the owners. The Crown Estate is the major owner of the sea bed. The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland will consult widely regarding the formulation of management plans for Strangford lough in the context of the proposed marine nature reserve.
Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he commissioned the Queens university Belfast marine biology station in Portaferry to prepare a survey and report on a management structure for Strangford lough; whether this survey is completed; and if he proposes that this report will be made available to the public.
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§ Dr. MawhinneyOn 9 January 1989, the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland commissioned the Queen's university, Belfast, to carry out a study of the human and physical factors affecting Strangford lough, especially the natural resources of the lough. The final report has not yet been received. The report will not be published, but much of the material will be used as the basis for a consultation document on the future management of Strangford lough.
Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what dates he declared the area of special scientific interest (part 3) for Strangford lough; how many applicants have since been issued with consents; what is his estimate of the total remaining potential applicants; and if he will make a statement about his proposals to make this area of special scientific interest acceptable to those landowners and users who have not applied for consent.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Strangford lough (part 3) area of special scientific interest (ASSI) was declared on 21 April 1989. Thirty-five applicants have been issued with consents to carry out notifiable operations under article 25 of the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. It is not possible to estimate the number of remaining potential applicants. The indications are that the ASSI is gaining widespread acceptability with landowners and occupiers.
Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many consents have been issued by the Department under the ASSI (part 3) for Strangford lough; and how many of these consents were in respect of notifiable operations which are not such as would cause any damage to the scientific interest but which are required by article 10 of the 1989 amending order No. 492 to the Nature Conservation and Amenity Lands (NI) Order 1985.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland has issued 35 consents to the carrying out of notifiable operations within the Strangford lough (part 3) area of special scientific interest.
It is a legislative requirement that a single list of notifiable operations should be drawn up for each ASSI as a whole. Each of these operations has the potential to damage the scientific interest in some part of the ASSI but may not cause damage in other parts. The 35 consents to notifiable operations so far issued are for operations which will not damage the scientific interest in the locations concerned.