All are aimed at ensuring well managed and affordable waste reception facilities and encouraging their use.

At present, recreational craft get off lightly as the changes are directed at craft that carry 12 or more passengers - even fishing craft are exempted.

These craft now have to provide prior notification of waste to be discharged and will have to pay a mandatory charge to help cover the cost of the waste facilities.

While inland waterways users have long been used to working with holding tanks and pump-out facilities, owners of boats used on open waters will soon have to get used to the same procedures.

This will be easy, provided their boats have holding tanks and the pump out facilities are readily available.

We will investigate the penetration of waste facilities and talk about the various deck fittings and hose fittings in future BB article.

The BMF and the RYA, in consultation with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Department for Trade (DfT), have produced Port Waste Planning, a guide for marina owners and coastal clubs on how to plan for waste reception and disposal.

The guide also contains a useful proforma for reviewing existing plans for marinas that already have Port Waste Management plans.

Copies are obtainable from the BMF - email environement@britishmarine.co.uk - or the RYA - email environment@rya.org Maintenance dredging This thorny subject now has a draft protocol, within areas subject to the Habitats Directive, that was agreed at a meeting held at the Cabinet Office just before Christmas.

According to Dr Banham, the initiative is aimed at streamlining the process involved with application and renewal of the consents required for maintenance dredging and disposal, whilst ensuring that the requirements of the Habitats Regulations are met. The protocol is based on the following key principles:

1. Maintenance dredging is recognised as essential to the safety and continued operation of ports, harbours and marinas.

2. Maintenance dredging has been going on for many years in most locations and wildlife sites were, in many cases, designated with these operations already taking place.

3. Existing current and historical information on dredging activities within the area concerned will be pulled together to provide a baseline document, which will provide the foundation for consistent and informed decision-making.

Once an evaluation of the impact of maintenance dredging has been undertaken and any necessary measures to avoid any foreseeable adverse effects put in place, future consents should be considered taking account of the condition of the European sites.

Once the Habitats Directive issues have been dealt with satisfactorily, where nothing has - or will - change in the baseline situation, future assessment of maintenance dredging in keeping with established practice to date, will rarely be found likely to have a significant effect.

Pilot schemes, co-ordinated by the local harbour authorities are now being run - on the Medina, The Humber and the Fal/Penryn. The aim being to work out practicalities and get those who carry out maintenance dredging and key consultees at a local level involved. The pilots are due to report at the end of next year.

Banham says the BMF has contacted both members and non-members from the marinas sector in these areas and appointed Mike Ward, previously of MDL and now with Marina Projects Limited, as an advisor.

The BMF asks our readers based in these areas who carry out maintenance dredging to get involved in the pilots. This is their opportunity to offer a practical insight into how to improve upon the current system and ensure costs for businesses, particularly the smaller ones do not remain disproportionate.

EA launches plan for its rivers We will set new standards for boating on our navigable rivers says the Environment Agency (EA) in its new strategy for navigation, 2004 to 2007, launched at the Schroders London International Boat Show.

While some suggest there is nothing new in the ExCeL launch, the EA insists that, based on extensive consultation, the new strategy Y our Rivers for Life , sets out for the first time an integrated plan for the development of the agency's navigation business.

"We want to develop our rivers so they offer facilities comparable with the best in Europe, " said Barbara Young, EA chief executive.

"Our rivers are cleaner than they have ever been, and provide wonderful opportunities for leisure and relaxation. Yet too often the boater, rower, sailor, walker or just the casual visitor finds it more and more difficult to access the river, is faced with disappearing marine and leisure facilities as well as an aging infrastructure. Rivers used to be the lifeblood of their communities, and we would like to see them return there."

Your Rivers for Life sets out a strategy for how the agency will restore, conserve and develop its navigable rivers in line with the needs of modem society. For 957km of rivers, which include the Thames, the Wye, the Medway, and the East Anglian Stour, Nene and Great Ouse, it sets out a 20-year vision that will deliver new standards of facilities and infrastructure, protect existing jobs, create new opportunities for business, and deliver wide ranging benefits to local communities while safeguarding the environment and the interests of all river users.

The agency is focusing on three main projects - the rejuvenation of the Thames, the regeneration of the Fens and the restoration of the River Wye.

The agency says it needs £5m a year for the next five year sto return its assets to their proper condition and leverage additional funding from local partners and funding agencies.

Alun Michael, MP an minister for inland waterways, commented:

"The three principal schemes outlined in the strategy show ambition, whilst the supporting policies show a clear grasp of the day to day challenges ahead."

The whole strategy can be found at www.environmentagency.gov.uk/yourriversforlife