the marine code for kayakers

[michaelcheers]

Hi all,

I read Richard O’Briens post about seals, dolphins and otters and was green with envy. But it reminded me of something I read recently called the Kayakers Marine Code for Pembrokeshire. It was written to help kayakers in Pemrbokshire, South Wales to take simple steps to ensure that they minimise stress to wildlife when they come across it.

A lot of the code is common sense but there is stuff in there that I knew nothing about such as behaviors exhibited by birds that can signal abandonment of young, breeding seasons for seals and times to avoid them etc etc.

Its just one page so no great study is required and I feel that is has helped me understand a bit more about the environment in which I play and ways to avoid having a negative impact on it. Have a read, what do you think?

http://www.pembrokeshiremarinecode.org. ... -03-06.doc

Perhaps we as an organization could author something similar, tailored for the Irish context. If the initiative came from ISKA/ICU it would be a good thing.

Kind regards

Mike

[obrienr]

Michael,

Just read your post having read Brian Wilson\'s \'Paddle Loudly\' article in the first issue of Ocean Paddler, similiar theme. He mentions a Scottish Canoe Union document that sounds similiar, I have not read it yet.

I always try and post on www.iwdg.ie and www.biology.ie(are there any others similiar sites ?) when I get a chance, a small token to raise awareness of what can be seen off our coasts.

I would wholeheartedly support any such document from ISKA, and offer any help required.

Last night off Rush/Lambay we had three Harbour Porpoise, a stag silhouetted against the sunset on Lambay and the \'new\' Gannet colony on the north end of Lambay. A good week !

Richard.

[paulmurphy]

Good on Mike for raising this! We could aim to draft a code between a few interested individuals and officially adopt it at the symposium. As mariners, we have the capacity to go where other seafarers dare not follow; we haulout on the most inaccessable storm beaches, wallow in the clap under the most dramatic cliffs and camp in the wildest and remotest spots off the Irish Coast - all havens for wildlife and more often than not, protected habitats under EU legislation (SAC\'s and SPA\'s). While most seakayakers are well tuned into the environment and wildlife, theres always scope for learning more and with that comes a greater appreciation and awareness. As an environmental consultant I might be able to help out here (for a large fee of course....!)

Paul

[michaelcheers]

Hi Paul and Richard,

It would be great to get professional input into this. The usual ISKA daily rates will apply of course....

SAC\'s and SPA\'s ? Are these like SSSI\'s (sites of special scientific intrest) in the UK. I guess part of any code must be information on where the sensitive sites are? This sort of info could then be incorporated into the ISKA webite, Oileain etc so people will be able to incorporate this into their trip plans. Is there a database publically available that we could refer or hotlink to?

When is the symposium? How long does that give us to draft something up?

Mike

[paulmurphy]

They are all conservation designations akin to the UK ASSI\'s but the SAC (special area of conservation) & SPA (special protection area) are derived from EU directives while the NHA (natural heritage area) is based on Irish legislation. Data for all sites is available on the NPWS website and they have now got a mapping tool so you can see where and what designations apply (http://www.archaeology.ie/npwsviewer/mapviewer.aspx). There is also a query facility so you can see whats sensitive in the particular site. Worth reviewing for trip planning especially with an overnite element.

I\'m not exactly sure when the symposium is planned for but probably October - November so theres a couple of months to prep & circulate a draft. Prehaps some of the elder statesmen (& wimmin) of the honorable committee would provide their views on the proposal?

Paul

[paulmurphy]

They are all conservation designations akin to the UK ASSI\'s but the SAC (special area of conservation) & SPA (special protection area) are derived from EU directives while the NHA (natural heritage area) is based on Irish legislation. Data for all sites is available on the NPWS website and they have now got a mapping tool so you can see where and what designations apply (http://www.archaeology.ie/npwsviewer/mapviewer.aspx). There is also a query facility so you can see whats sensitive in the particular site. Worth reviewing for trip planning especially with an overnite element.

I\'m not exactly sure when the symposium is planned for but probably October - November so theres a couple of months to prep & circulate a draft. Prehaps some of the elder statesmen (& wimmin) of the honorable committee would provide their views on the proposal?

Paul