Councillor Dr Buchan introduced the motion on Ocean Recovery Declaration – ‘Motion for the Ocean’. This was seconded by Councillor Evans OBE.

An amendment to the motion was moved by Councillor Kelly (The Leader), and seconded by Councillor Mrs Bridgeman (Deputy Lord Mayor).

The amendment was proposed as follows:

Ocean Recovery Declaration –  ‘Motion for the Ocean’

Plymouth City Council is leading the way in connecting people to the ocean through the development of the UK’s first National Marine Park, in Plymouth Sound, champions of sustainable fishing industry and advocates for good marine management. In 2019 we unanimously declared a climate emergency. This Council recognises the role of the ocean in climate regulation.

2021 is the first year of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The UK has just hosted COP26 in Glasgow and in the summer the G7 came to Cornwall. The UK Government has publicly declared its ambition to be a global leader in marine conservation. All eyes are on the ocean.

There is national and global recognition that the world ocean is in crisis. The impact of the climate crisis on the ocean is profound, including in our local waters. Raised atmospheric carbon dissolves in the seawater and causes ocean acidification, dissolving the shells, reefs and other hard parts of marine animals. The heating of the climate causes ocean heating too, which makes some parts of the ocean intolerable for life and is changing what lives and is caught locally. It also increases the volume of the ocean, causing sea level rise, added to by ice melt at the poles. Thanks to a more turbulent climate, increased storminess and sea level rise is a serious threat to all coastal communities, economies and infrastructure in the world, including Plymouth. Marine microplastics have been found in all marine environments and in the bodies of many species, including humans. Fish stocks collapse from permitted and illegal overfishing. Poor water quality impacts seafood and prevents safe bathing.

And yet the ocean is a place of incredible importance for people, providing food, energy, connections from one nation to another, and regulating the climate system which is so threatened by human activity. We must play our part in securing the sustainability and health of the ocean.

Plymouth Sound is at the heart of our economy, and the health, wellbeing and prosperity of our community. Urgent action is needed to recover the health of our ocean to enable it to deliver the full range of benefits, including capturing and storing carbon through coastal salt marshes and seagrass beds, regulating our climate, supporting a sustainable and equitable blue economy, with equitable access to clean, safe recreation and nature experience for happy, healthy communities. Action is needed at all levels, from national and local government, down to individuals developing their ocean literacy (understanding of the relationship between people and the ocean), and individual and collective marine citizenship (promoting and demanding a relationship with the ocean that is healthy for people and nature).

This Council declares an urgent need for Ocean Recovery.

This Council declares an urgent need for Ocean Recovery. We recognise that we need ocean recovery to meet our net zero carbon targets, and we need net zero carbon to recover our ocean.

This Council pledges to:

1. The Leader to report to Full Council, in line with the development of the National Marine Park, and following the scheduled work of the Brexit, Infrastructure and Legislative Change Overview and Scrutiny Committee in December 2021 on the actions and projects that will continue and improve ocean recovery in Plymouth Sound.

2.     This report will take into account:

a.   Consideration of the impact on ocean recovery in all strategic decisions, budgets, and approaches to decisions by the Council (particularly in planning, regeneration, skills and economic policy), aligning ocean recovery with climate emergency plans.

b.   Ensuring that the Local Plan supports ocean recovery as part of the National Marine Park planning considerations, and through the existing TECF partnership.

c.   Working with partners locally and nationally to deliver increased sustainability in local marine industries, and invest in the development of a sustainable and equitable blue economy, including the local fishing industry and the vital work of Devon & Severn IFCA.

d.   Growing ocean literacy and marine citizenship in the city, including ensuring all pupils have a first-hand experience of the ocean before leaving primary school, and promoting sustainable and equitable access to the ocean through physical and digital experiences, ensuring these are key outcomes in the development of the NMP.

e.   Creating an online portal of the Council website to update on ocean recovery progress, signposting to ocean literacy development opportunities, and marine citizenship pledges.

3. The Leader to write to the Prime Minister to call on the Government to put the ocean into net recovery by 2030 by:
   1. Ensuring Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities have the resources they need to effectively research and monitor our growing number of marine protected areas, and to set and enforce appropriate fishing levels that support local economies and deliver environmental sustainability.
   2. Incorporating social scientific evidence and lived experience to improve community co-production of policy and develop more effective and equitable solutions.
   3. And by listening to marine scientific advice to update the Marine Policy Statement and produce a national Ocean Recovery Strategy which will:

                                               i.     Enable the recovery of marine ecosystems rather than managing degraded or altered habitats in their reduced state.

                                              ii.     Consider levelling up, marine conservation, energy, industrial growth, flood and coastal erosion risk management, climate adaptation and fisheries policy holistically rather than as competing interests.

                                             iii.     Develop a smarter approach to managing the health of the entire ocean that moves beyond Marine Protected Areas and enables links to be made across sectors towards sustainability.

                                             iv.     Establish improved processes for understanding the benefits from ocean management, leaving no doubt the links between this and human lives, livelihoods and wellbeing.

The meeting was briefly adjourned to consider the amendment.

Following a debate with contributions from Councillors Evans OBE, Nicholson, Dr Buchan, Dann, Smith, Penberthy, Jordan, Singh, Corvid and Kelly the motion was lost.

For (26)

Councillors Bingley, Mrs Bridgeman (DLM), Burden, Carlyle, Collins, Deacon, Downie, Drean, Harrison, Hulme, James, Jordan, Kelly, Dr Mahony, Nicholson, Partridge, Patel, Mrs Pengelly, Riley, Salmon, Shayer, Singh, Smith, Stoneman, Wakeham and Councillor Mrs Beer (LM).

Against (27)

Councillors Allen, Mrs Aspinall, Bowyer, Mrs Bowyer, Dr Buchan, Churchill, Coker, Corvid, Cresswell, Dann, Derrick, Evans OBE, Goslin, Haydon, Mrs Johnson, Laing, McDonald, Morris, Murphy, Penberthy, Mrs Pengelly, Rennie, Stevens, Tuffin, Vincent, Mrs Watkin and Wheeler

Abstain/Not present (4)

Councillor Hendy, Loveridge, Lowry and Neil.

Following a debate the motion was carried.

For (27)

Councillors Allen, Mrs Aspinall, Bowyer, Mrs Bowyer, Dr Buchan, Churchill, Coker, Corvid, Cresswell, Dann, Derrick, Evans OBE, Goslin, Haydon, Mrs Johnson, Laing, McDonald, Morris, Murphy, Penberthy, Mrs Pengelly, Rennie, Stevens, Tuffin, Vincent, Mrs Watkin and Wheeler

Abstain (25)

Councillors Bingley, Mrs Bridgeman (DLM), Burden, Carlyle, Collins, Deacon, Downie, Drean, Harrison, Hulme, James, Jordan, Kelly, Dr Mahony, Nicholson, Partridge, Patel, Mrs Pengelly, Riley, Salmon, Shayer, Singh, Smith, Stoneman, and Councillor Mrs Beer (LM).

Not present (5)

Councillor Hendy, Loveridge, Lowry, Neil and Wakeham