Corporate information
One of the most notable changes for the Agency recently is its change of name: the Marine and Fisheries Agency.
This change reflects the
new marine environmental responsibilities we are taking on this
year.
These new responsibilities are listed below:
- the marine consents and licensing work previously undertaken by core-Defra
- advising ports and offshore oil companies and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on fisheries and marine environmental matters in the context of preparedness and response to maritime oil and chemical spills
- approving oil treatment products for use on maritime oil spills and their specific use in shallow and coastal waters
- issuing dredging permissions for marine minerals extraction
- monitoring, control and enforcement of the offshore marine regulations for implementing the EU Habitats and Wildbirds Directive which will come into force later this year.
These duties fit in very well with the work the Agency already does (see About MFA/MFA Duties). Bringing these functions together will deliver efficient and joined up services for management, monitoring, control and enforcement within the marine environment.
These are exciting developments and mark a significant and important step in our direction of travel towards creating a truly balanced organisation delivering services to the marine environment and fisheries sectors.