An Appetite for Change: Suffolk & the Sea

Friday 23 September 2011, Hoffmann Building, Snape Maltings, Suffolk

The Aldeburgh Food Conference takes place at Snape Maltings in Suffolk on Friday 23rd September, the day before the main festival weekend. It brings together scientists, professionals and local people, all with expert knowledge. Its purpose is to discuss some of the major food-related challenges facing society, how they affect Suffolk and how Suffolk is providing its own solutions.

This year the subject is Suffolk and the Sea. Once again the emphasis will be on the need for change – change in our management of the seas and change in our approach to preventing or mitigating flooding.

For the world and for Suffolk the sea is an essential resource. However, it has been over-exploited and is endangered in many ways, particularly by over-fishing and pollution. At the same time the sea itself is a threat. Sea level rise, sinking land, coastal erosion and flooding have long been familiar problems in East Anglia but climate change will make them more severe.

The purpose of the conference is to look at these two issues – the sea as a threatened resource and the sea as a threat to coastal communities, agriculture and wildlife. Several speakers will explain the problems from international and national perspectives, recommending broadly based solutions. Others will concentrate on the East Anglian North Sea and how Suffolk is finding its own answers.

MORNING PROGRAMME

The morning session will focus on the major problems relating to climate change, sea level rise and over-fishing, and we will hear from:

Dr Jason Hall-Spencer
Associate Professor – School of Marine Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth
>>“Newly discovered marine species and habitats under threat worldwide.”

A school of fish the size of Manhattan Island, a crab with fur, a habitat at the bottom of the ocean that reaches 407 degrees Celsius yet sustains an ecosystem… Weird and wonderful new discoveries are continually being made in the unexplored depths of our oceans, but could disappear forever – before we even learn of their existence – warns one of the UK’s foremost marine biologists, the University of Plymouth’s Dr Jason Hall-Spencer.

In this presentation, Jason will share his fascinating research into the dangers facing pristine habitats and what underwater volcanoes can tell us about the effects of increasing CO2 levels in seawater.

Dr Stuart Rogers
Divisional Director, Environment and Ecosystems at the Centre for Environment,
Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Lowestoft
>>“Sustainable development of the East Anglian marine environment – threats and opportunities.”

This presentation will briefly describe the range of human activities that take place in the marine waters off the coast of East Anglia, and the contribution these make to the local and national economy. It will highlight the opportunities for energy generation from new tidal, wind and wave generated power devices, and the rich natural resources of fish and shellfish, marine aggregates, and the strong transport links across the southern North Sea.

New European legislation is encouraging sustainable use of our seas, and ensuring that the natural resources and biodiversity on which the region depends are maintained. The talk will highlight the challenges that this presents with some local examples, focusing on:
a) maintaining productive inshore fish and shellfish stocks in East Anglia as our seas warm through climate change, and following plans to reform the Common Fisheries Policy and reduce discarding,
b) ensuring sustainable use of other local natural resources (eg. offshore sand and gravel) and long-term energy supply (offshore renewables, nuclear) without adversely affecting local coastlines, and
c) improving the status of local coastlines and beaches by addressing contamination and marine litter.

Jeremy Ryland Langley
Specialist Buyer Fish and Shellfish, Waitrose
>>“ Bringing about change and the role of the retailer: responsible sourcing of fish and shellfish the Waitrose way”

This presentation will cover Waitrose responsible Fish Sourcing policies and give an insight into why such policies are needed, covering how Waitrose makes them work in practice and what it all means for the customer.

James Thornton
Chief Executive Officer, ClientEarth
>>“Fixing our Fisheries”

In the conference’s keynote address, James will explain that fisheries across the whole of Europe are in steep decline, with over 80% already overfished. The reason is the Common Fisheries Policy, which gives the wrong incentives and requires almost half of fish caught to be thrown back dead.

Europe is now in a two year process of reforming the law. And James knows how to do it. In the talk he will explore:
* The key structural changes that are needed now
* A long term solution that gives fishers maximum flexibility

AFTERNOON PROGRAMME

In the afternoon, we will turn the spotlight onto Suffolk initiatives and solutions to these challenges, with presentations from local organisations and people including:

Bill Parker Suffolk Coast Futures Officer
>>“Our Coast, Our Future”

The long term viability of coastal communities is dependent on the relationship between the land, sea and the evolving coast. This presentation highlights Suffolk’s innovative approach taking a holistic view and utilising the creativity of the local community to resolve the issue around the Alde and Ore.

Jerry Percy
Chief Executive Officer, New Under Ten Fishermen’s Association
>>“Is Sustainable Fishing Becoming an Unsustainable Industry?”

This presentation will ask the question whether traditional inshore boats with their sustainable methods can survive against the pressures of competition from energy and aggregate companies, and the indefensible restrictions of the Common Fisheries Policy quota management scheme. Jerry will outline the history of the artisanal fishing industry along the Suffolk and Norfolk coast. He will explain the methods used to find and catch target species, how this is sustainable and why this sustainable industry, both locally and nationally, is under threat from many factors, outlining the knock on effect this will have on the economy of the region and other coastal communities.

Sir Edward Greenwell
Farmer and Landowner
>>“The Threat from the sea to Suffolk farming and how we can respond to it.”

A summary of this presentation will be provided shortly.

Eastfeast

>> ”Growing Stories from Suffolk Seas”

Eastfeast’s ‘Growing Stories from Suffolk Seas’ has used art and horticulture to connect school children, teachers and young people with the sea, their heritage and their own self-development. The young people will celebrate their stories and share their learning with us in their own creative way!