KEY DEALS

UK Marine and Coastal Access Act becomes law

17 years ago

The UK Marine and Coastal Access Act became law last month, committing the UK to an ambitious new project to help manage the marine environment and protect it from horrors such as sewage, rubbish, overfishing, bottom trawling, and others.

The project will include establishing Marine Conservation Zones, a marine planning system, inshore fisheries reform, streamlining of licensing, establishment of a Marine Management Organisation, and coastal access provisions. It is also hoped that opening up the entire coast of England to public access should help encourage low carbon tourism and generate more local employment, something that many argue the 630 mile South West Coastal Path has already demonstrated. Coastal access will be provided with one footpath around the whole of England which will primarily be along the open coast.

New Marine Conservation Zones will be established which will protect nationally important habitats and species such as eelgrass beds, seahorses and sea fans. The general public is being asked to vote on where these zones should be created via the website www.yourseasyourvoice.org.

A marine planning system will enable forward planning of all marine activities for the first time. A UK Marine Policy Statement will be produced along with regional marine plans for all UK waters.

Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities will replace Sea Fisheries Committees and they will have improved regulation tools. A Marine Management Organisation is being established that will be responsible for marine planning, licensing and fisheries. It will be based in Newcastle. Licensing will also be reformed and simplified, making it easier for industry and civil servants

The Act follows a long collaborative campaign led by the Marine Conservation Society (MSC), RSPB, The Wildlife Trust, WWF and other charities, working together under the umbrella group Wildlife & Countryside Link.

Dr Jean-Luc Solandt, Biodiversity Policy Officer at the MSC said to MJ, ‘The new Act is a nod to conservation and a nod to business. It is a new approach to managing resources at sea. This is not just a conservation issue but a political issue also, people’s livelihoods are affected. But in the medium term we hope that this Act will help call a halt to the loss of biodiversity of our seas.’

The MSC is also campaigning for a Scottish Marine Bill that is expected to become law by Spring 2010.