Queen announces implementation of Marine Bill
As part of the Queen’s speech last month, the Government announced that it would be introducing the Marine Bill.
The purpose of the Bill is to introduce a new planning system for the marine area, improve and simplify arrangements for managing marine development and ensure greater protection for the marine environment and biodiversity, and provide greater recreational access to the English coast.
The main elements of the Bill are:
- Introduce a new marine planning system for the strategic management of the marine area around the UK, including the creation of marine plans setting the framework for sustainable development in specific parts of the marine area;
- Make provision for a long-distance route around the coast of England with an associated margin of land for access to wider spreading room to include beaches, cliffs, rocks and dunes, for public access on foot for walking and other recreational activities.
- Establish a Marine Management Organisation for the waters around England and the UK offshore area;
- Streamline the law on licensing marine development so that, as far as possible, developers have a one-stop shop for each development;
- Provide powers to designate marine conservation zones (MCZs) for rare, threatened and representative habitats and species, with duties on public authorities and to protect them from damaging activities;
- Strengthen and modernise the licensing and management of marine, migratory, freshwater and shellfish fisheries, including creating new Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities and introducing a scheme to manage live fish movement;
- Streamline and modernise enforcement powers for sea fisheries, marine licensing and nature conservation, providing a civil sanctions scheme for licensing and nature conservation offences and an administrative penalty scheme for domestic fisheries offences.
For further information visit http://www.commonsleader.gov.uk/output/Page2659.asp
or email MarineBillTeam@defra.gsi.gov.uk
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