13. Use of the Coastal Environment Volume One (d) the life-supporting capacity of coastal ecosystems; (e) beaches and the shoreline; (f) amenity values enjoyed by residents; and (g) the natural character of the coastal environment of the Marlborough Sounds. These criteria are to be used to assist decision makers in assessing the adverse effects arising from ships that may propagate waves exceeding the energy levels prescribed in the MEP. [C] Policy 13.16.4 – Undertake monitoring to assist in developing appropriate approaches to managing the effects of shipping activity in Queen Charlotte Sound and Tory Channel. The Council will monitor the effect of ship-generated waves as part of its responsibilities for state of the environment monitoring. A monitoring framework and programme have been established by the Council in collaboration with the Department of Conservation following the introduction of fast ferries in 1994. This framework will form the basis for ongoing monitoring and will be amended if appropriate in the future. The results of the monitoring may be used to assist in the review the overall framework for managing the effects of shipping activity or where there is a need to review the conditions of resource consents. [C] Policy 13.16.5 – An adaptive management approach will be used to deal with ship- generated wave issues. Regulation will be an important component of the management framework for dealing with the effects of ship generated waves. The provision of accurate and up to date information on the environmental effects of waves generated by ships is the foundation of an adaptive management regime that continually assesses the overall framework established to manage the issue. Information must continue to be collected, analysed and assessed with regard to the effectiveness and efficiency of the regulatory framework. This process is fundamental to an adaptive management regime, which recognises the uncertainty of understanding the effects of change in the coastal environment. [C] Policy 13.16.6 – The Council will work with the community, Marlborough’s tangata whenua iwi and the shipping industry to continually assess the appropriateness of the overall framework for shipping activities in light of environmental and technological changes or the occurrence of unforeseen effects from shipping activity. An adaptive management method responsive to new information and better understanding must be based on a collaborative approach. This is made possible through the monitoring and shared analyses of existing and future shipping activities, state of the environment monitoring and future technological advances in ship design. This policy is intended to be implemented in part through the establishment of an advisory group representative of the key stakeholders in the management of issues concerning ship-generated waves. Methods of implementation The methods listed below are to be implemented by the Council unless otherwise specified. [C] 13.M.19 Area identification MEP maps identify Tory Channel and part of Queen Charlotte Sound as a National Transportation Route. The route extends from Tory Channel (between East and West Head) into inner Queen Charlotte Sound (between West Head, Ruakaka Bay and a point southwest of Kaitapeha Bay) to the Port of Picton (excluding Grove Arm). Queen Charlotte Sound (excluding the National Transportation Route) has also been defined as part of an established shipping route. 13 – 44