Professor Worsley is a Chartered Geographer with an impressive academic background, graduating from and obtaining her doctorate at University of Liverpool where she became a research fellow and going on to lecture at Edge Hill University, where she was awarded a personal chair in ‘Environmental Change’ in 2009. She is also an Honorary Professor, University of Exeterand Visiting Professor, University of Liverpool. In December 2011, she joined Strata Environmental as a consultant.

She is a member of several internationally recognised geographical societies, an elected board member of the International Society for Geochemistry & Health, an advisor on several national and international groups, a member of the UK Resource Centre for Science, Engineering & Technology for women and the United States’ Graduate Women in Science. She has also acted as a reviewer for the Royal Geographical Society, The Royal Society and the Czech Academy of Sciences.

Her particular research interests lie in the relationships between people and their environments, their impacts on each other and their mutual interdependency. Here in theNorth West she has worked on the long and short term changing nature of coastal environments, the impacts of human on coasts and the implications of and adaptation to current global climate change within coastal zones. In 2005 she appeared on the BBC programme ‘Coast’, alongside Gordon Roberts of the National Trust. The programme featured the prehistoric footprints on Formby beach. Professor Worsely’s part in the investigative work was to help reconstruct the local environment through a forensic examination of the sediments and organic remains held within the deposits.

She also has experience of coastal partnership work, being involved with the Sefton Coast Partnership since its inception in 2000 and serving on both the Sefton Coast Partnership Board and on the Research Task Group.

Professor Worsley takes over at an exciting time for the Forum as we move towards delivery of our biggest biennial conference yet. Delivering Sustainable Coasts on 18^th and 19^th September, which she will chair, is also the final conference of the international SUSTAIN project.

On her appointment as Chair Professor Worsley said:

“Coastal zones are amongst the most important areas on our planet, not least because they are where many of us work and live, but also because they are so reactive to changes in climate and human activity. As we enter a period of considerable natural change, the work of the North West Coastal Forum becomes even more important.  Interactions between people and coast are critical; coasts both provide for, and respond to, what we do, generating enormous challenges for coastal professionals, practitioners, end-users and academics in terms of management, knowledge-sharing and planning for the future. The future is uncertain; energy requirements are growing, the demand for economic stability is very clear and the need for coastal communities to work together is essential. The scientific evidence for global climate change is clear, with coastal communities at the interface between climate, ocean and terrestrial environmental interactions. This makes the sharing of scientific understanding alongside and in partnership with the wealth of local knowledge and expertise absolutely vital. As someone who is deeply passionate about coasts, mindful of the challenges of global climate change but at the same time, keen to ensure the continuation of the process of sharing knowledge and understanding for which the North West Coastal Forum is well known, I look forward to supporting the work of the Board.

To date the North West Coastal Forum has been very active in bringing together key stakeholders to explore ways in which such knowledge and understanding may be shared, and it has also explored the potential impacts of climate change in its work on adaptation and mitigation. To continue this excellent work is essential and together the Forum will strive to ensure this happens; not only will this help to secure long term security for our coasts but it will also broaden the influence of the partnership and of partners across the UK. Key initiatives include the conference later this year, but I would also like to strengthen the bonds between partners and academic/research institutions, seek out new funding initiatives and set our coastal communities at the heart of coastal science.”

The Day is being celebrated in Liverpool with a day of activities and information stalls: Fish Fest!  

The organisers say “Come and celebrate everything marine with us and our crew of marine lovers down at Liverpool 1. We have a little bit of everything to tickle your fancy, from information on how you can help to conserve the worlds oceans and all that live in them, to hands on games and some very fishy arty fun. You can even have a look and feel of some real life sea creatures! Or could get your face pained like a lion fish or a great white and even chat to beautiful mermaid……. Click Fish Fest! for full details”  If you want to follow progress on twitter or tumblr use the following links: Twitter or  Tumblr

For more information on World Ocean Day, what events are running in other regions and how to get involved see World Oceans Day

It aims to collect information and data on recreational sea angling to improve scientific understanding of fish stocks off the coast and to ensure that the needs of sea angling are represented as effectively as possible in future marine policy development. The sea angling community will benefit by having information to help them develop their own views and policies.

The project will look at how to provide the most cost-effective information on:

• the number of people who go sea angling during the year
• how often they fish from the shore or from boats in different parts of England
• numbers and sizes of fish caught or released to the sea
• the social and economic importance of sea angling in England

For more information see the project page on the MMO website.

Part 1 of the report introduces key concepts such as ecosystem resilience, resource efficiency and green economy. Part 2 provides six thematic assessments building on a selection of over 200 environmental indicators. The themes are:

• Carbon emissions and climate change:
• Air pollution and air quality:
• The marine environment:
• Stress on water resources
• Use of material resources:

The report was presented to members of parliament from more than 20 EU Member States during a visit to the EEA on Monday 14 May 2012.

Joan Walley, MP, Chair of theUKgovernment’s Environmental Audit Committee said: “Everyone understands what is meant by business as usual but few have signed up for the step change now urgently needed if we are to withstand the pressures on the earth’s natural resources. The EEA’s measured and robust research is the necessary point of departure if we are to safeguard our future. Their work needs to be understood, applied and used by all government departments including the Treasury.”

To download a copy of the report visit the EEA website

A range of environmental, economic, social and health partners are working together across Liverpool City Region to put forward a submission to Government to form a Local Nature Partnership. The Partnership will value and maximise opportunities from the City’s Region’s natural environmental assets and services to help ensure that the natural environment is a key criterion in all strategic decision-making and that the quality of the City Region’s natural assets attracts and engages investors, businesses, visitors and residents.

The forum is being held on 24 May from 9:30am – 2:30pm at the World Museum, William Brown Street, Liverpool to provide local stakeholders – businesses, local authorities and other public bodies, environmental organisations, health bodies and community groups – to voice their opinions on the overall aim and objectives of the Local Nature Partnership and its key priorities.

Attendance at the forum is free, but we are expecting a lot of interest and places will be booked on a first come, first served basis so please do get in touch as soon as possible. If you want to book a place or find out more about the Liverpool City Region Local Nature Partnership, please contact Bo White (bwhite@sqw.co.uk or Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service on 0151-934-4951).

The Welsh Government is consulting on the 10 potential MCZ site options in Welsh Waters which have been identified by MCZ Project Wales.

The aim is to reduce the number of sites to 3 or 4 through an iterative, phased, consultation process of which this consultation is the first (there will be two further consultations following this one). A series of public and sector specific events will be held during this consultation phase. A web mapping application is also provided to supplement the consultation document.

To view the proposals and maps, find out how to respond and for more information on the consultation events see: Welsh Government website

 The event is open to all with an interest in the Irish Sea. It will feature a range of presentations including an opening address from Minsiter Alex Attwood, MLA, Dept of the Environment, Northern Ireland. The morning session will provide stakeholders with an opportunity to hear the latest news on marine planning across all six Irish Sea administrations. The afternoon session focuses on key areas for the Irish Sea Maritime Forum’s future activities and includes 2 contributions discussing the emerging European Union Atlantic Strategy and howIrish Seastakeholders might engage with and benefit from this very significant new development as well as a workshop session where stakeholder views on the focus of future events, website development and financing will be discussed.

The final programme will be available shortly. You can book your place for what we think will be a very popular event by following this link or by following the link on the front page of the NWCF website.

ATTENTION EXHIBITORS: If you are interested in exhibiting at the event please contact Caroline Salthouse on 0151 934 2966 or email her at caroline.salthouse@nwcoastalforum.org.uk