Getting everyone involved
The Stakeholder approach - a first for North East Kent
The Stakeholder approach was unique in that it was the first time in this country that many different representative coastal users were brought together through a series of "consensus building" workshops (during the 1990s) to help produce a coastal management scheme.
These Stakeholders identified the problems which their own activities may cause to wildlife and worked together to develop a way forward. They agreed a number of key actions, including action required to tackle obvious gaps in management and information. These actions included the development of a new Coastal Wildlife Project (the Thanet Coast Project) and a series of voluntary codes for various coastal activities.
The management and advisory set up.
Management Group: oversees the management of the NE Kent Marine Protected Area (meets 2/yr)
Advisory Group: identifies and encourages research to help with future management decisions (meets 2-4/yr)
Stakeholders: representatives of coastal users and activities.
Thanet Coast Project: ‘not-for-profit’ initiative (1 member of staff* and volunteers) with Thanet Council as the lead/employing authority. *Thanet Coast Project Officer (and in 2017-20 one 'Guardians of the Deep project officer').
Background Information for new Stakeholders:
NEKMPA (NE Kent) Stakeholders - 2014 (204 KB, Pdf)
Thanet Coast (NEKMPA)
c/o Thanet District Council,
PO Box 9, Cecil Street, Margate, Kent CT9 1XZ
United Kingdom
E-mail:
Tony Child
Thanet Coast (NE Kent Marine Protected Area) Officer
Telephone: +44 (0) 1843 577672
(based in Manston Road Depot)