Written - Marine and Coastal Access Bill

The Marine and Coastal Access Bill was introduced into the House of Lords on Thursday 4 December.        

The Bill will confer executive powers on Welsh Ministers in relation to marine licensing, marine nature conservation and fisheries. The Bill will also confer new marine planning functions on the Welsh Ministers which will enable the preparation and adoption of statutory marine plans for the Welsh inshore and offshore regions.  These new functions are a welcome addition to those under which the Welsh Ministers currently adopt policies to guide marine development in Welsh waters and will give us the opportunity and tools to plan more holistically and with greater statutory effect so as to more effectively manage and guide sustainable development in Welsh waters.  Together, the powers to be conferred by the Bill will enable strategically intelligent and coherent decisions to be made, which recognise the importance of sustainability at the heart of how we use our seas.  

A Marine Policy Statement for UK waters will set out the high level objectives for the marine area. The aim is have an agreed Marine Policy Statement in place within 2 years of the Bill receiving Royal Assent - this will then set the context for Marine Plans.

Welsh Ministers will be the sole planning authority for both the Welsh inshore and offshore regions. Given the complex mix of devolved and non-devolved responsibilities in the marine area, the Welsh Assembly Government and UK Government will work together to develop a holistic system of marine spatial planning.

The Assembly Government is considering how best to take forward marine management in Wales. The creation of a new organisation is not the right direction of travel for Wales.

The licensing provisions within the Bill will streamline existing procedures. It will provide a clear, proportionate regulatory system to protect the environment and to allow activities to take place where appropriate. Conditions may be specified when an activity is licensed. Any breach could incur civil sanctions or lead to prosecution.

Marine nature conservation within the Bill focuses on the introduction of a new system of marine protected areas called Marine Conservation Zones, which may be designated to protect species and habitats of national importance.

The Assembly Government has taken the opportunity this Bill presents to seek measure-making powers for Wales on coastal access. Subject to the approval of Parliament, the Bill will confer measure-making powers on the National Assembly for Wales that will enable the Assembly Government to bring forward proposals that will complement and add value to the aims of our existing Coastal Access Improvement Programme.

An Explanatory Memorandum setting out the background and context to the measure-making powers that we are seeking has been laid before the National Assembly for Wales.

The Bill and accompanying explanatory notes can be accessed at:

http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2008-09/marineandcoastalaccess.html