Status of the bill: In Progress

Main purpose of the bill: “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.”

Main points of the bill:

Establishes a Marine Management Organisation (MMO) under which many of the existing, diverse areas of marine regulation would be centralised

Streamlines the law on licensing marine development so that, as far as possible, developers have a one-stop shop for each development.

Streamlines and modernises enforcement powers for sea fisheries, marine licensing and nature conservation.

*Introduces 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.

*Controversy

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds described the bill as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put things right for the marine environment” and urged the government “not to squander this golden opportunity to deliver effective conservation legislation.”

The RSPB said that although the bill contained “many welcome proposals”, the nature conservation provisions were “seriously flawed”, with no reference to highly protected sites and a site designation process “hamstrung by a sub-clause allowing socio-economic interests to interfere with the selection and designation of sites, rather than this being purely on the basis of scientific merit and conservation priorities”.

The RSPB also noted that the bill “still does not prohibit disturbance to marine animals within sites that have been protected for their benefit” and added: “If we are to safeguard the future of our marine environment, it is vitally important that these weaknesses are addressed as the bill progresses through the House of Commons.”

*Introduces new measures to reform fisheries management.

*Controversy

MARINET, the Friends of the Earth Marine Network, insists that the bill “can and must address the issue of the sustainability and re-building of the commercial fish stocks in UK seas”. According to MARINET, “88% of commercial fish stocks in EU seas are being exploited beyond their maximum sustainable yield and 30% are being exploited beyond their safe biological limit.” The group rejects claims that “such reform can only come from the European Commission via the CFP”, and is adamant that the UK Parliament “has the necessary sovereign powers” to do this in the bill.

*Provides a framework for establishing marine conservation zones (MCZs) for rare, threatened and representative habitats and species.

*Controversy

Although conservation groups have welcomed the proposed establishment of MCZs, many are still calling for a “marine reserves network” to be established under the bill. The UK Marine Reserves Campaign launched by MARINET attracted support from many individuals and organisations, including the Co-operative Group. But the campaign’s demand for “an ecologically coherent network of Highly Protected Marine Reserves covering at least 30% of UK seas out to 200 nautical miles” by 2015 failed to win support in the Lords.

Early Day Motion 337, proposed by Tory MP Bill Wiggin, notes that the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution recommended in its 25th report in 2004 that “a widespread network of highly protected marine reserves throughout all UK seas is an important marine management tool which is required in order to rebuild UK commercial fish stocks and to halt the serious damage being caused to marine ecosystems.” The EDM, which has been signed by over 200 MPs, calls on the government to “develop selection criteria under the Marine Bill for establishing a network of protected marine areas based around science-based decision making.”

*Enables the creation of a walkable route around the English coast.

*Controversy

The Countryside Alliance, whilst accepting that improved coastal access could provide “potential benefits to users of the right and to local communities and businesses”, nevertheless felt there were also “potential negatives in certain areas to existing users, local residents and some businesses, as well as environmental concerns.” The group thought the bill needed to “strike a better balance between giving public rights and protecting existing rights.”

However, the Ramblers, a charity which promotes walking, supports the view that the coast should be accessible to everyone. Chief executive Tom Franklin said: “It’s hard to believe that a child building a sandcastle on a beach could be trespassing. We want to end that staggering situation, and the presumption that you are not allowed on the coast.” According to the Ramblers, the new coastal trail “could see walkers giving an annual boost of up to £128 million pounds to coastal businesses”.

Progress of the bill:

The marine and coastal access bill was included in the Queen’s Speech on December 3rd 2008.

The bill was introduced to the House of Lords on December 4th 2008.

Lords:

First Reading: 04.12.08 Second Reading: 15.12.08 Committee Stage: 12.01.09 to 21.04.09 Report Stage: 05.05.09 12.05.09 19.05.09 01.06.09 Third Reading: 08.06.09

Commons:

First Reading: 09.06.09 Second Reading: 23.06.09