Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper has opposed the proposed development of a marina on the town’s south beach.

The development is intended to provide a major public marine leisure centre for the area.

The Health Minister is due to address Tynwald today (Tuesday) and ask about the protection of marine nature reserves.

On the Tynwald court order paper it says Mr Hooper will move that ’no development should be undertaken in marine nature reserves’ and as such the Department of Infrastructure ’should immediately end the current process investigating the development of a private marina in the Ramsey bay marine nature reserve’.

He will also move that the Harbours Strategy should be updated to re-allocate funding away from development of a cruise berth in Douglas and towards harbours regeneration and improvement in all harbours identified in the Harbours Strategy’.

Manx Wildlife Trust has also opposed the development, saying ’any proposal directly contradicts [its] vision’.

In a statement, the charity said it has studied the current plans and considered the impacts they may cause and have met with the potential developers for discussion on the necessary mitigations to reduce the impacts on wildlife and the environment.

Its first reason for opposing it was that Ramsey south beach forms part of a ’legally protected marine nature reserve’ that is recognised internationally.

It was the island’s first marine nature reserve, ’highlighting its notable significance to Manx and international wildlife’, and any development would have ’negative ecological implications and reduce the credibility of the Isle of Man globally’.

The statement also mentioned that the zoning of the reserve would ’undo all of the protections for important species and habitats’ and this would potentially ’undermine’ all legally protected wildlife habitats in the island.

According to MWT, there is a risk of ’detrimental impact on the wider oceanography of the area’, for example, seagrass meadows are directly opposite the site and provide a breeding ground for fish.

It believes there will be a negative impact on the ringed plover and oystercatcher, two species of Manx bird, which are legally specially-protected under the Wildlife Act.

Plus, it would conflict with the island’s Biosphere status.

The charity is also concerned it may influence currents, impact on coastal erosion in the area and increase the risk of coastal flooding.

The government’s consultation is open to the public until November 19.