The UK government is currently developing a Marine Bill, to provide the basis for a more integrated and ultimately sustainable means of managing and protecting the marine environment.
BMAPA welcomes this development. It believes the Bill presents an opportunity to define clear policy objectives for all legitimate marine activities and provide greater certainty for both current and future development. It should also ensure greater consistency in policy, planning, consenting and management of the marine environment. To help inform the development of policy objectives for the marine aggregate sector, BMAPA has commissioned the British Geological Survey to produce a report which examines the strategic importance of the marine aggregate sector to the UK.
Click here to view British Geological Survey report
At present, management and control of the UK marine environment takes place on a sectoral basis. The process is administered by a number of government departments and agencies through a range of controls, only some of which are statutory. This results in an inconsistent and at times confusing approach.
The main driver for legislative change comes from the acceptance that management of the marine environment needs to take place in a more integrated manner. An effective mechanism is required to achieve this, and to move away from the current sectoral approach.
BMAPA’s responses to the Defra-led consultations on the Marine Bill development can be viewed here:
BMAPA is also a participant in the Seabed User and Developer
Group (SUDG), an informal grouping of marine industry sectors
who have a common interest in sustainable development within the
UK’s marine environment. Participants include the representative
trade bodies for a range of UK industry sectors including oil
and gas, renewable energy, ports, cables, recreation and marine
aggregates – the common link being that all require some
form of licence or consent to operate.
The SUDG has been an active participant throughout the various
stages of the Marine Bill’s evolution and in July 2008 the
Group published a brochure entitled ‘Sustainable development
and the sea’, providing an industry perspective on the proposals.
At the same time, a joint statement between the SUDG and Wildlife
and Countryide Link was launched, setting out areas of common
agreement between the two organisations with respect to the contents
of draft Marine Bill. The clear synergy of views between the two
interest groups very much reflects the importance of joined-up
thinking and an integrated approach to planning, managing and
protecting UK’s seas.
More information about the SUDG, including downloadable versions
of the recent brochure and joint statement can be viewed at www.sudg.org.uk
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