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| UK Marine Policy Statement | |
|---|---|
| Name | UK Marine Policy Statement |
| Jurisdiction | United Kingdom |
| Adopted | 2011 |
| Authority | Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 |
| Administered by | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Scottish Government; Welsh Government; Northern Ireland Executive |
| Status | Primary national marine planning guidance |
UK Marine Policy Statement
The UK Marine Policy Statement provides a framework for marine planning across the United Kingdom, aligning national policy with regional decision-making in the seas around England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It sets strategic direction for organisations responsible for activities such as marine licensing, fisheries management, offshore energy development, and conservation designations including Marine Protected Area networks and Special Area of Conservation. The Statement connects legislative instruments, regulatory bodies, and sectoral actors to support sustainable use of marine resources while meeting international obligations such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
The Statement was developed following the passage of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and the Marine Bill process in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, responding to reviews including the Crown Estate management debates and the outcomes of the Copenhagen Summit-era discussions on marine governance. It aims to integrate policy from departments including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, devolved administrations—the Scottish Government, Welsh Government, and Northern Ireland Executive—and statutory bodies such as the Environment Agency and Marine Management Organisation. The Statement supports delivery of objectives in international agreements such as the OSPAR Convention and the European Union Habitats Directive legacy obligations retained in UK law. It was informed by stakeholder input from sectors represented by organisations like the Fishing industry of the United Kingdom, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and the Offshore Petroleum Industry Association.
The Statement sits within the statutory architecture established by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and complements instruments including the National Policy Statements (NPS) and the planning regimes of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 where cross-cutting issues arise. It interfaces with regulatory authorities such as the Marine Management Organisation for marine licensing, Natural England for conservation advice, and the devolved agencies Marine Scotland and Natural Resources Wales. The Statement guides marine plans consistent with international law exemplified by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, treaty commitments under the Habitats Directive/Birds Directive frameworks, and regional cooperation mechanisms like the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission and International Maritime Organization standards.
The Statement establishes principles including ecosystem-based management promoted by bodies such as the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, precautionary approaches endorsed by the IUCN, and adaptive management advocated in reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Objectives address sustainable development balancing sectors such as offshore wind power developers, the fishing industry of the United Kingdom, maritime transport represented by the Port of London Authority, and conservation interests like RSPB and Wildlife and Countryside Link. The Statement emphasises safeguarding cultural heritage protected under instruments such as the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 and supports scientific monitoring partnerships with institutions like the Natural History Museum and universities including University of Oxford and University of Edinburgh.
Guiding marine plans use spatial management tools to reconcile competing uses including renewable energy zones associated with developers like Ørsted (company), aquaculture enterprises linked to stakeholders in the Scottish salmon industry, and shipping lanes managed by authorities including the Trinity House. The Statement informs designation of Marine Conservation Zones and coordination with networks such as Natura 2000 where overlapping designations exist. Spatial planning approaches reflect methodologies discussed in reports from the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution and pilot initiatives run by agencies like Cefas and the British Antarctic Survey for marine spatial data and cumulative impact assessment.
Implementation responsibilities are shared among the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Marine Management Organisation, Scottish Government, Welsh Government, and Northern Ireland Executive, with statutory consultees including Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. The governance model employs plan-making, licensing decisions, and monitoring frameworks influenced by international practice from organisations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the European Environment Agency. Oversight and review mechanisms draw on audit and evaluation traditions exemplified by the National Audit Office and parliamentary scrutiny through committees in the House of Commons and House of Lords.
The Statement prioritises protection of habitats and species listed under the Habitats Directive and Birds Directive and supports achievement of targets under the Convention on Biological Diversity and national biodiversity strategies led by agencies such as Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. It addresses pollution prevention in line with commitments under the MARPOL convention and regional agreements like the OSPAR Convention, and promotes sustainable fisheries consistent with guidance from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Climate resilience measures reflect scenarios and recommendations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and national strategies such as those developed by the Committee on Climate Change.
The Statement was developed and is reviewed through consultation processes engaging industry bodies including the British Ports Association and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), NGOs such as the RSPB and Greenpeace, academic stakeholders from institutions like University of Southampton and Plymouth University, and local authorities such as Cornwall Council and Aberdeenshire Council. Formal consultation and stakeholder engagement practices reference standards used by the Cabinet Office and are subject to parliamentary oversight via select committees including the Environmental Audit Committee.