Protecting and sustainably using the marine environment
Issue
Our seas give us vital goods and services, including healthy, secure food supplies and transport routes. They also help to regulate our climate and give millions of people the chance to enjoy the natural environment.
The UK has some of the richest marine ecosystems in the world, including over 8,000 different species and important seabird populations.
The competing demands for uses of our seas can put pressure on the marine environment. Some habitats and species are threatened, for example by climate change and ocean acidification. Many species have been depleted by fishing and are now at very low levels.
Actions
Planning the future sustainable use of marine resources
We’re working with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to have marine plans in place for all English seas by 2021.
The MMO has published the east inshore and offshore marine plans and is now implementing them.
The MMO has started preparing plans for the south inshore and offshore areas. Read the statement of public participation which explains how interested people and organisations can be involved in the planning process.
Protecting the seas from pollution
We’re protecting the marine environment from pollution through the marine licensing system. This prevents people from dumping waste and other matter into the sea.
This means we’re meeting our international obligations under the London Protocol on dumping, the OSPAR Convention and EU legislation.
Work is underway for the UK to approve the amendment of the London Protocol. This will result in an international binding system of permits for ocean fertilisation research. Ocean fertilisation is a form of geoengineering in the marine environment. It involves adding nutrients to nutrient depleted areas of the ocean to increase plankton production. Ocean fertilisation could be used to increase fish stock as well as being a potential technique to counteract climate change. These permits will ensure effective international regulation while our understanding of the effects of geoengineering on the environment is still limited.
Simplifying marine regulations
We’re simplifying marine regulations. This is part of our wider work to reduce the burden of regulation on businesses.
Following the Red Tape Challenge website, we prepared marine proposals. These were used to develop the water and marine implementation plan. We’re now taking forward the actions in the implementation plan.
We’ve implemented reforms to the way regulations for coastal projects and investments are implemented and enforced. This includes introducing exemptions from marine licensing to reduce the burden on operators and fast tracking licensing of low risk activities.
We’ve agreed a Coastal Concordat between Defra, its regulators and local government to improve co-ordination for coastal development projects and simplify the application process. Thirteen local authorities are acting as early adopters of the Concordat and we are preparing a report on progress.
Protecting and conserving marine biodiversity
We’re establishing a network of marine protected areas by 2016, including:
• European Marine Sites (Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas)
• SSSIs with marine components
• Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs)
We’re modifying our approach to the management of commercial fisheries in European Marine Sites to make sure the sites are protected in a way which meets the requirements of the EU Habitats Directive.
Protecting the most threatened marine species
We’re working in the UK and around the world to protect endangered marine species, including whales, dolphins, sharks, skates and rays, and seabirds. We’re taking a range of actions including:
• banning people from catching or killing certain species, and seeking ways to avoid their accidental capture in fisheries
• regulating the trade in products of some threatened species like sharks through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
Improving the marine environment
All the actions we’re taking to protect and sustainably use the marine environment are helping us to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. We’ve set targets for a healthy marine environment by 2020 under this directive.
We published the first part of our strategy to do this in 2012. The second part of our strategy was published in 2014.
Supporting marine science and research
We’re working with a range of scientific organisations to make sure that our policies are based on sound evidence provided by high-quality marine science.
Background
Marine planning system
The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 introduced measures to enable the sustainable management and use of marine resources. These included the marine policy statement, marine plans and marine licensing.
Marine policy statement
With the devolved administrations, we published the ‘UK marine policy statement’ in March 2011. This:
• applies to all UK waters
• is the framework for preparing marine plans
• sets out the general environmental, social and economic considerations that need to be taken into account in marine planning
• provides direction for marine licensing and other authorisation systems in each UK administration
• provides guidance for decision makers when planning for, and permitting development in, the UK marine area
It’s based on the objectives set out in ‘Our seas – a shared resource: high level marine objectives’.
Marine planning
Marine plans must be consistent with the ‘marine policy statement’, so that there is a strong link between national policy and individual developments. Plans will set out policies for managing marine resources and activities. Regulators will make licensing and enforcement decisions in accordance with marine plans.
The Marine and Coastal Access Act requires the secretary of state to consider, after the public consultation and before adopting a marine plan, whether there is a need for an independent investigation of the plan to resolve any outstanding issues.
Marine licensing
The new marine licensing system took effect in April 2011.
The marine licence covers removals from the seabed and dredging, as well as construction and deposits. Certain low-risk activities, or activities that are regulated through other legislation, are exempted from the requirement for a marine licence. This reflects our aim to minimise burdens on marine users whilst protecting the environment.
The MMO is responsible for licensing and enforcement in all waters adjacent to England and all UK offshore waters, except those adjacent to Scotland.
Integrated Coastal Zone Management
Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) aims to get policy makers, decision makers and stakeholders to work together in their approach to coastal areas, on land and at sea.
In 2002, European member states adopted a recommendation on implementing ICZM in Europe. Following a review of progress in 2007, the European Commission (EC) concluded that no further actions or new legislation were needed at that stage.
In 2010, the EC asked member states to report on ICZM implementation since 2006. The UK government responded to the Commission.
The principles of ICZM are integrated into the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. In particular marine planning will contribute to ICZM. When preparing marine plans, the MMO will try to make sure the plans are compatible with land planning in England.
Who we’ve consulted
We are currently consulting on:
• proposed measures to implement the Marine Strategy Framework Directive
• proposals to change marine licensing so that the Secretary of State can make certain licence decisions
• proposed designation of 23 Marine Conservation Zones, and updates to the features protected in 10 existing zones
In January 2014, with the devolved administrations, we ran a consultation on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive monitoring programmes.
In July 2013 the Marine Management Organisation launched a consultation on the draft Marine Plans for the East Inshore and Offshore areas.
We consulted on proposals for the designation of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in English inshore and English and Welsh offshore waters, in December 2012.
In 2012, with the devolved administrations, we ran a consultation on the initial stages of the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
In 2010, with the devolved administrations, we consulted on the marine policy statement and supporting documents. The policy statement was subject to parliamentary scrutiny in January 2011.
Following a consultation in 2010, we published a description of the Marine Planning System for England and its related impact assessment (which summarised the expected costs and benefits of marine planning in England). The MMO uses these documents in preparing marine plans for England.
In 2009 we consulted on the Marine Plan area boundaries for English inshore and offshore regions and the criteria for selecting the order in which the Marine Management Organisation should begin planning within those regions.
Bills and legislation
The UK signed up to the 1992 OSPAR Convention and the Bergen Statement. OSPAR helps co-ordinate the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive by EU member states sharing the North East Atlantic.
The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 provides for better protection for our marine environment. Read the impact assessment and research reports.
The act consolidates and modernises the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and the Coast Protection Act 1949 plus secondary legislation. The MMO and Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities were set up under the act.
In March 2010 the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs delegated marine plan functions to the Marine Management Organisation under Section 55 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.
The Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) (Amendment) Order 2013 came into force on 6 April 2013. It exempts a range of activities from marine licensing. See guidance on dredging.
The Marine Licensing (Application Fees) Regulations 2014 as amended by The Marine Licensing (Application Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 established a revised fees and charges structure for marine licensing based on an hourly rate with maximum ceilings for ‘fast track’ and ‘routine’ projects.
The Public Bodies (Marine Management Organisation) (Fees) Order 2014 will allow the MMO to recover the cost of regulatory activities for monitoring, variations and transfers of marine licences. This Order applies from 1 October 2014.
The Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 reflect changes made to marine consenting under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.
The UK marine protected areas network, which protects important marine species and habitats, is designated through a range of legislation including the EU Wild Birds Directive and the EU Habitats Directive; Convention on wetlands (Ramsar sites) and Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Sites of Special Scientific Interest).
The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) Regulations 2012 came into force in England and Wales in August 2012. They cover territorial seas out to 12 nautical miles. The Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 also came into force in August 2012.
Marine Conservation Zones under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 replace Marine Nature Reserves in England designated under Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
In March 2012 Defra published the report of the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives Implementation Review.
Who we’re working with
As well as the devolved administrations, we work with a range of organisations.
Delivery partners and research centres
The Marine Management Organisation has a range of responsibilities, including marine planning, licensing and environmental conservation.
Natural England advises on the natural environment in England. Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) advises on national and international nature conservation.
Centre for Environmental, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) carries out research on the marine environment. Natural Environment Research Council is the UK’s main agency for funding and managing research, training and knowledge exchange in the environmental sciences.
European and international organisations
The International Council for the Exploration of the Seas advises on the effects of human exploitation on marine ecosystems. OSPAR protects the environment of the north east Atlantic. International Whaling Commission manages the world’s great whales and ASCOBANS conserves smaller whales, dolphins and porpoises. CITES ensures that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Marine Management Organisation
The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP
Natural England