The package of proposals sets out in legislation the proposals which were widely supported last year in “A Sea Change – the Marine Bill White Paper”. The draft Bill proposes a new framework for the seas based on marine spatial planning, that balances conservation, energy and resource needs.

The Bill will enable more strategic decisions to be made about what and where activities can take place in the marine environment, including where we wish to have specific areas for conservation purposes. It also simplifies the system for managing our use of natural resources and controlling activities that impact upon them, and introduces measures that are critical for the management and conservation of migratory and freshwater fisheries. The draft Bill also establishes a delivery body to allow the UK Government to manage all these activities as effectively as possible.

Defra are also taking this opportunity to bring forward proposals for greater access to the English coast. The Marine Bill will build on existing access legislation to create a route around the coast of England.