Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial sea (12 nm zone): 51,709.16 km²
- Exclusive Economic Zone: 178,591.46 km²
National practices
Overview of MSP related maritime uses
Current main uses:
| Offshore renewable energy | Shipping |
| Ports | Nature conservation |
| Fisheries | Aquaculture |
| Military | Scientific research |
| Coastal protection | Oil and gas |
| Cables and pipelines | Tourism and leisure |
| Underwater cultural heritage | Marine aggregates extraction |
| Dredging and disposal of dredged materials |
Which marine spatial plans exist?
Name of the plan |
East Inshore and Offshore Marine Plans |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
Sub-national |
Pre-planning |
Status: Complete |
Analysis for planning |
Status: Complete |
Development of the management plan |
Status: Complete |
Completion of the management plan |
Status: Complete |
Approval of the management plan |
Status: Complete |
Implementation of the management plan |
Status: Complete |
Revision of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Name of the plan |
South Inshore and Offshore Marine Plans |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
Sub-national |
Pre-planning |
Status: Complete |
Analysis for planning |
Status: Complete |
Development of the management plan |
Status: Complete |
Completion of the management plan |
Status: Complete |
Approval of the management plan |
Status: Complete |
Implementation of the management plan |
Status: Complete |
Revision of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Name of the plan |
South East Inshore Marine Plan |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
Sub-national |
Pre-planning |
Status: Complete |
Analysis for planning |
Status: Complete |
Development of the management plan |
Status: Complete |
Completion of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Approval of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Implementation of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Revision of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Name of the plan |
South West Inshore and Offshore Marine Plans |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
Sub-national |
Pre-planning |
Status: Complete |
Analysis for planning |
Status: Complete |
Development of the management plan |
Status: Complete |
Completion of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Approval of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Implementation of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Revision of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Name of the plan |
North West Inshore and Offshore Marine Plans |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
Sub-national |
Pre-planning |
Status: Complete |
Analysis for planning |
Status: Complete |
Development of the management plan |
Status: Complete |
Completion of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Approval of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Implementation of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Revision of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Name of the plan |
North East Inshore and Offshore Marine Plans |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
Sub-national |
Pre-planning |
Status: Complete |
Analysis for planning |
Status: Complete |
Development of the management plan |
Status: Complete |
Completion of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Approval of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Implementation of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Revision of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
National authority in charge of MSP |
Marine Management Organisation (MMO) The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) retains certain functions including adoption of marine plans |
Financing |
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is MMO’s lead sponsor and provides funding through Grant-in-Aid |
Time required to complete the plans |
East Marine Plan: four years (2011-2014) South Marine Plan: four years (2014-2018) South East, South West, North West and North East Marine Plans: four years (2016-2020) – all completed concurrently over the same four-year period In other words, the first published version of all plans will have been produced during the period 2011-2021 |
Drivers of MSP |
Enabling efficient use of space and coexistence; enabling communication and negotiation between different stakeholders in the marine area; giving greater certainty to those seeking development consent within the marine area; safeguarding of future marine resources; general sustainable development of the English marine area |
Stakeholder participation |
The extent of stakeholder participation during the preparation of the marine plans is set out in the various statements of public participation: East Marine Plans South Marine Plans North West Marine Plans North East Marine Plans South East Marine Plan South West Marine Plans The four marine plans currently under development (North West, North East, South East, South West) have been through three formal engagement points in addition to the statutory consultation. Stakeholders are also generally engaged throughout the marine planning process through local marine planners, spread across the country |
Sectors included in planning |
The English marine plans are a set of strategic plans aimed at ensuring the sustainable development of the English marine area. To that extent, any sector with an interest in or the potential to affect the English marine area can be included within the marine plans. This includes both economic, environmental and social aspects. Sectors to be included in the marine plans were identified at an early stage through stakeholder-led “call for issues with evidence” workshops, as well as MMO-led research and evidence projects |
Relation to coastal management |
As an issue which may affect the English marine area, the marine plans have policies relating to coastal management. In England, coastal management is also covered by other ‘plans’ such as non-statutory Shoreline Management Plans |
Relation to marine protected area management |
As an issue within the English marine area, the marine plans have specific policies relating to marine protected areas. The broader management of marine conservation zones (MCZs) fall within the MMO’s remit, other protected areas (SPA, SAC, SSSI, RAMSAR, pSPA, cSAC, SCI) fall within the remit of Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Decisions made within and regarding marine protected area management would need to be in accordance with or have regard to the marine plans, in line with section 58 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 |
Plan approval |
The English marine plans are submitted to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for approval in line with the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 |
Legal status of the plan |
The English marine plans are enforceable statutory planning documents. The requirements placed on decision-makers in regards to plan use in decision making is outlined in Section 58 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 |
Plan revision |
In line with Section 61 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, the MMO must lay a report before Parliament no more than every three years after the date of adoption of any marine plan regarding the effect of the policies in the marine plan; the effectiveness of those policies in securing the objectives for the marine plan and the progress being made to securing the objectives
Following the report a recommendation is made to Parliament to either keep, amend or replace the plan. In the event of the latter two options, the planning process would start again |
Performance monitoring and evaluation |
As above, as required by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 a report on the effectiveness of the policies in the marine plan, and the progress made towards securing the objectives set out in the marine plan, is prepared and laid before Parliament at a minimum of every three years. The plans and the policies and objectives within the plans are monitored using a logic model with indicators for policies at different stages in the logic model. More information can be found here
Indicators to measure policy effectiveness include stakeholder views gathered through surveys, usage of policies through MMO marine licensing decisions, and the spatial distribution of certain activities |
Legal framework
Marine planning is a requirement under Part 3 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. This act details the relevant marine planning authorities for England (the Marine Management Organisation has delegated functions from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), the requirement to prepare a Marine Policy Statement, and the process under which the plans should be approved, implemented, reviewed and amended/replaced.
Marine planning functions for the Scottish and Welsh marine areas have been devolved to Scottish and Welsh governments, respectively.
Contact
Marine Management Organisation
Mr. Paul Gilliland – Head of Marine Planning
Lancaster House
Hampshire Court
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 7YH
United Kingdom