A NEW group has been set up in North Devon to co-ordinate local input on the creation of Marine Conservation Zones.

Under the Marine Act 2010 a network of conservation zones is to be created around the country with appropriate levels of protection.

As a result a new Marine Working Group has been formed by members of the North Devon Biosphere Reserve to co-ordinate local representative input.

Robert Down, chairman of the working group, said: "All of us acknowledge the need for conservation.

"Our aim is to identify and then safeguard the most precious North Devon marine environments by proposing levels of protection for them on which we hope to reach consensus."

The new biosphere working group includes representatives from environmental organisations, fishing, tourism and water sports.

Key organisations have also provided support and expertise including Natural England, the Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Agency, and Finding Sanctuary, the South West agency responsible for submitting proposals for Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ) to the government by next summer.

Andy Bell, co-ordinator of North Devon's Biosphere Reserve, said: "Identifying MCZ areas is an important job and the biosphere partnership, with its broad membership, is uniquely well placed to help.

"The government has established the targets and created a process for identifying the zones, which we think will greatly benefit from the input we can give.

"Our aim is to add local knowledge and experience to the limited scientific data available and send proposals representing a balance of interests between conservation and livelihood."

A recent presentation by the biosphere's Marine Working Group to the Devon MCZ group identified potential areas on which they would focus, including the estuary, stretches of coast, and a possible extension to the Lundy MCZ.

Work will continue on refining the areas to be considered and there will be opportunities for revision until early in the New Year.

Andy Bell added: "Never has there been a more significant time for our sensitive and important marine area, the importance of which has been recognised at Lundy, the country's first Marine Nature Reserve, and in the Voluntary Marine Conservation Zone between Combe Martin and Croyde."