Defra’s HPMA Focus Groups

Defra will be hosting some upcoming focus groups to meet with stakeholders to discuss the proposed Lindisfarne HPMA. Here are the details about their events: –

Defra will be running both in-person events and online events, the details of which can be found below. The in-person events are open to all so please pass on details to anyone that might like to come. Due to considerable stakeholder interest in the candidate HPMA at Lindisfarne, Defra will now be running two (identical) in-person workshops to cater for the high numbers. The first will be held 2-4pm at The Hub in Seahouses. This will be followed by a second workshop 6.30-8.30pm at the Oasis Cafe on Lindisfarne, which Defra would like to prioritise for Holy Island based stakeholders as it is a small venue.

Lindisfarne candidate HPMA – stakeholder events

Presentation and open forum	Thursday 8 September 2 – 4pm	The Hub, Seahouses Sports & Community Centre, Stone Close, Seahouses. NE68 7YL
Presentation and open forum	Thursday 8 September 6:30pm – 8:30pm	Oasis Cafe, Castlekirk Chare Ends, Holy Island TD15 2SE
Drop-in session	Friday 9 September 9am – 3pm	The Hub, Seahouses Sports & Community Centre, Stone Close, Seahouses. NE68 7YL
Focus group	Tuesday 20 September 2pm – 4pm	Click here to join the meeting

Alongside Defra’s consultation on candidate Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) and in person events, they will also be running online focus groups to discuss and gather evidence on stakeholder-specific uses and impacts. They would like to invite you to take part in an online session for Lindisfarne candidate HPMA on Tuesday 20 September 2pm – 4pm. Please use this link to join the meeting: Click here to join the meeting.

They will also be running separate online focus groups for each of the other candidate HPMAs and a non site-specific session during this week. If you would like to attend any of these meetings please contact hpma@defra.gov.uk for the Teams link.

The consultation will close on 28 September and a summary of consultation responses will be published in the months following this. The views and evidence gathered will inform the Secretary of State’s final decision as to which of the candidate sites to designate and their boundaries. Sites must be designated by 6 July 2023. 