A `moral` Economic Compass? The Failures Of Voluntary Regulation In The Coastal Zone.

The UK employs a non-statutory framework of measures to regulate, manage and protect the coastal zone (Fletcher, 2003). The approach relies on proactive stakeholders to strike a representative balance of interests, and apply a suitable management measure to an area. The very nature of such voluntary regulation means that it is easy to ignore or disobey the measures in place, and often, this is an easier route than compliance. Here, Lyme Bay is used to illustrate the shortfalls of `moral` voluntary regulation in the face of economic, social and recreational pressures. Lyme Bay is the site of a natural reef that provides the habitat for many protected species including pink sea fans and sunset cup corals. Natural England have since described the site as of `national importance` as a result (Clover, 2008). In the early 1990s, a Voluntary Marine Conservation Area (VMCA) was proposed and in 2001 an agreement between local fishermen and Devon Wildlife Trust was made that would prevent harmful scallop dredging over the fragile reefs. In the face of increasing economic pressure, rising scallop prices and fiercer competition, the voluntary agreement fell by the wayside and dredging resumed (Clover, 2008). The moral voluntary agreement collapsed in the face of economic pressures. In 2006 the fisheries minister agreed with the local scallop dredging association to protect 12 sq miles of reef, only 20% of that which was protected under the previous agreement. Defra finally introduced a statutory order in 2008 prohibiting harmful methods of fishing in a 60 sq mile zone (Clover, 2008). Recent reports suggest that the increase in biodiversity and reef health has been significant since the statutory protection order. The major shortfall of voluntary agreements is the non compliance or opt out of the initiative, that has little consequence more serious than social judgement. This consequence weighs lightly on the shoulders of offenders when balanced with the economic gain achieved by non compliance. An interesting paradox is the fact that exclusion of offenders from the initiative gains nothing, and often leads to worse consequences (Prior, 2011). This non-compliance will likely snowball when others feel the injustice that may result from one person reaping the economic benefits of non-compliance.

It is fair to say that voluntary agreements break down as a result of misunderstanding and lack of knowledge in the subject area. For example, if fishermen at Lyme Bay were educated to the fact that the protected area increases biodiversity and productivity, which subsequently spills out of the protected area and can be fished, they may be more supportive and understand better how to reap the economic benefits of protection. The statutory approach to management benefits the whole community and all stakeholders because it provides clear boundaries, rules and regulations and critically; enforceability. There is little room for misinterpretation, and breaches in rules attract more consequences than merely social judgement. It is now time for the wider government to realise not only the value, but the requirement for a national, enforceable, statutory framework for the protection of coastal assets. As it stands, countless fragile, valuable zones are suffering because no such compulsory framework exists. It is fair to say that education and involvement have roles to play in coastal protection, but they should act to compliment statutory regulations, not stand in place of them. References: Clover, C. (2008) `Scallop dredging ban for Lyme Bay`, Daily Telegraph. Accessed online 14/11/11: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthcomment/charlesclover/3344761/Scallop-dredging-ban-for-Lyme-Bay.html Fletcher, S. (2003) `Stakeholder representation and the democratic basis of coastal partnerships in the UK`, Marine Policy, 27: 229-240 Prior, S. (2011) `Investigating the use of voluntary marine management in the protection of UK marine biodiversity`, A Report for the Wales Environment Link Marine Working Group. Wales Environment Link, Cardiff.