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English Marine Planning

Defra is addressing fragmented English marine governance through the Marine Spatial Prioritisation programme (MSPri), which aims to balance competing demands from fisheries, offshore energy, conservation, and coastal communities. Current arrangements lack a coherent shore-to-sea approach, with outdated Marine Policy Statements and limited stakeholder engagement frameworks, requiring comprehensive reform to support sustainable marine resource management and offshore energy development.

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24 Apr 2026 | Committee report linked

There is growing spatial conflict between fisheries, offshore energy, conservation and other marine users, yet current governance arrangements still lack a coherent “shore-to-sea” approach. Defra’s Marine Spatial Prioritisation programme (MSPri) remains opaque and underused, The Crown Estate’s Marine Delivery Routemap has a limited remit focused on the seabed, and the UK-wide Marine Policy Statements are outdated. Together, these policies fail to provide clear and consistent direction for the...

There is growing spatial conflict between fisheries, offshore energy, conservation and other marine users, yet current governance arrangements still lack a coherent “shore-to-sea” approach. Defra’s Marine Spatial Prioritisation programme (MSPri) remains opaque and underused, The Crown Estate’s Marin

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
7 Jul 2025 | Committee report linked

Effective marine spatial planning will be essential to balance the protection of marine and coastal habitats with the accelerated development of offshore energy infrastructure. (Conclusion, Paragraph 80)

Effective marine spatial planning will be essential to balance the protection of marine and coastal habitats with the accelerated development of offshore energy infrastructure. (Conclusion, Paragraph 80) Type: conclusion | Number: 31 | Response status: accepted Government response: Government, usi

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5 Jun 2025 | Committee report linked

Whilst balancing economic and environmental demands is important, it is critical to ensure a balance between climate action and nature recovery, particularly in enabling offshore renewable energy developments to meet net zero targets without compromising marine biodiversity. Achieving sustainable marine governance that ensures marine protection requires effective, cross-government coordination. Marine governance is inherently complex. However, it is essential that the Government adopts a join...

Whilst balancing economic and environmental demands is important, it is critical to ensure a balance between climate action and nature recovery, particularly in enabling offshore renewable energy developments to meet net zero targets without compromising marine biodiversity. Achieving sustainable ma

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5 Jun 2025 | Committee report linked

Given the lack of coordination, we recommend that one department must act as the lead authority for marine governance and the coordination of marine policy. This department should be responsible for engaging with other departments and bodies, including The Crown Estate, to ensure their needs are considered alongside competing demands. However, ultimate responsibility and accountability for determining how these priorities are balanced should rest with the lead department. This will enable the...

Given the lack of coordination, we recommend that one department must act as the lead authority for marine governance and the coordination of marine policy. This department should be responsible for engaging with other departments and bodies, including The Crown …

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5 Jun 2025 | Committee report linked

A more streamlined and transparent approach to marine governance, underpinned by effective stakeholder engagement, is essential for the Government to meet its marine protection commitments and to ensure a balanced approach to managing the economic, social, and environmental demands placed on the marine environment. (Conclusion, Paragraph 22) 49

A more streamlined and transparent approach to marine governance, underpinned by effective stakeholder engagement, is essential for the Government to meet its marine protection commitments and to ensure a balanced approach to managing the economic, social, and environmental demands placed …

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5 Jun 2025 | Committee report linked

We recommend that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) develops a comprehensive framework for engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, particularly coastal communities and underrepresented voices, early-on in marine decision-making and outline the responsible organisation for leading the engagement across areas of marine policy. This framework should identify a range of stakeholder engagement activities appropriate to the scale and impact of different decisions (e.g...

We recommend that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) develops a comprehensive framework for engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, particularly coastal communities and underrepresented voices, early-on in marine decision-making and outline the responsible organisation

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5 Jun 2025 | Committee report linked

It is critical that the use of marine resources is sustainably governed through marine spatial planning and prioritisation. However, changes to the use of marine space will lead to direct consequences, including the displacement or reduction of activities, on certain marine industries and it is important that these affected industries are supported. (Conclusion, Paragraph 40)

It is critical that the use of marine resources is sustainably governed through marine spatial planning and prioritisation. However, changes to the use of marine space will lead to direct consequences, including the displacement or reduction of activities, on certain …

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5 Jun 2025 | Committee report linked

We call on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to publish an assessment on the impact of changes in marine spatial use on specific sectors. Affected sectors and associated stakeholders should be central to the assessment and planning of the transition. (Recommendation, Paragraph 41)

We call on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to publish an assessment on the impact of changes in marine spatial use on specific sectors. Affected sectors and associated stakeholders should be central to the assessment and …

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20 Mar 2023 | Committee report linked

We have heard evidence suggesting that the Marine Management Organisation may be acting as a stumbling block rather than a facilitator of a thriving maritime economy. The Minister for Maritime needs to work with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to improve operations within the Marine Management Organisation and the service received by ports, which rely on it for prompt advice in securing development while preserving the marine environment. (Paragraph 124) 58 Mari...

We have heard evidence suggesting that the Marine Management Organisation may be acting as a stumbling block rather than a facilitator of a thriving maritime economy. The Minister for Maritime needs to work with the Secretary of State for Environment, …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK